Most of us probably don’t remember a time when there wasn’t such a thing as job cuts. It wasn’t too long ago that people stayed at jobs for 30 years or more and often retired with a generous pension plan and benefits. Times have certainly changed. During the course of our careers, we’re probably all in danger of being on the chopping block by a layoff, a restructuring or a firing. How can you make it through something like this?
Panic is a natural reaction for many people in this situation, but there are ways to make an experience like this be more positive than negative. First, give yourself some time to absorb the situation. Your layoff or firing could have been justified or maybe it wasn’t at all. Your attitude about it will make all the difference. If you’re angry and can’t get past the anger over your situation, it will show up in every job interview you have. Having the mindset of moving on to better things and a better life instead of constantly replaying what happened will help a lot.
A good starting point when you find yourself without a job is to figure out what your finances look like. Think about where you could cut costs (at least temporarily) for things you don’t necessarily need or have to have. Maybe it’s better for a few months to get rid of all the expensive cable channels and just watch the basic stuff. Cutting back on dining out is also a huge money saver. Consider additional sources of money to get you through the time period when you aren’t working. Perhaps a loan from friends or family, part-time or temp work, or a large garage sale could contribute funds in the short term.
The time you have being at home after a layoff or firing is actually precious. It gives you an opportunity to look at your life and what you want to do with it. Maybe it’s time for a career change or going back to school for a degree. Perhaps you could start your own business like you always dreamed about. Whatever the case, you’ll be most productive if you set a schedule for yourself every day and stick to it. Get up at the same time and establish a routine. During this time, you can look for jobs, work on your resume, and really, really think about what you’d like to do next.
How long you go without a job varies greatly depending upon your skills and the job market. Plan on being out of work a little longer than you expect. It’s so true that when you are looking for a job, employers are on their timeline and not yours. It means the entire hiring process – from start to finish – could take weeks.
Layoffs and restructuring are a bit easier to understand and explain during an interview. Being fired is more difficult for employers to forgive, so it’s important to have a good explanation. Don’t lie about what happened, because that could get you fired again if they ever find out. If you were fired because you didn’t fit in or meet expectations with a new manager, explain that. If you were fired for offenses that are more serious, such as abuse of company policy, sexual harassment or drug/alcohol violations, it will be more difficult for you. Don’t go into detail about it, but admit you had performance issues and change the subject if possible. Make sure you are clear that you’ve learned a lesson and it’s no longer an issue, then point out some of your strengths and accomplishments. Show that you have learned and grown from your shortcomings, and always play to your strengths.
With a positive attitude and some planning, you will definitely survive a layoff or firing and likely find yourself in a better position than you were before.
