When Looking For a Job

Whether you have just been laid off, fired or quit your job that you have been working at for some time its not easy.

What usually happens is the first shock. I was reading somewhere that sometimes its takes a few days to actually realize that you have just been fired, people are convinced that the company will call them to come back within a day or two.

So what now?

In my humble opinion getting laid off is the perfect time to start to looking for something within a different field. To open up all of your option and explore every opportunity.

Lately with many people getting laid off I have tried to help a few people with finding a job, either by sending over leads or directing them to resources. However when someone has been at a company for 2,3,4 years and they were used to doing something very specific every single day - for this individual its very hard to explore new ideas and job opportunities.

Allow me to be a little harsh: Sometimes in life you just got to let go of the old and break into the new... You never know where it will take you.

Just from the few people that I have tried to help in the past few weeks I have come to realize that the problem is not necessarily with the economy - its with the people. Jobs do exist yet people need to open up either to learn a new skill or to take on the responsibility of doing something different (and I don't mean by cleaning streets).

Here are a few tips that may help:

1) Apply for everything that you feel can be or might be relevant.

2) Apply immediately! don't wait to send out your resume.

3) Follow up, follow up and follow up. Sometimes the director of human resources missed your email, sometimes your email may end up in the junk mail box.... When you follow up you are simply letting your "prospect" know that you exist.

4) I always tell people that what ever "lifestyle" they had at their previous jobs they need to put it aside and focus right now on getting a new job. In my humble opinion this holds many people back when looking for a job as they are so caught up with their previous 'lifestyle' that they have expectations to get the same at the next job and they wait and wait for "something to happened".

5) Another issue is - and I may be the only one who thinks this - but you shouldn't update your status on Facebook, Twitter or where ever complaining how their are no jobs out there. You are creating a negative attitude and this reflects in a bad way unto others who may have a lead for you.

6) Take on "in-between jobs. These are jobs that you wouldn't normally do or they are not related to your profession, but you take them on just to have money coming in every month until you find something relevant. This could mean working from home in sales. I worked for a company for two years and it all started out as a 'in-between job', something that I never thought I would do in my life. I ended up learning a new skill and actually enjoying it (that's why I stayed for two years!)

7) Utilize the time that you have to stay in shape and look good. This in general helps to create a positive attitude.

If you need milk from the cow then sometimes in life you just may have to bend down and get it. Everyone is looking for the 'dream job' but sometimes you just have to bend down and do things you wouldn't normally do. When we do bend down - many times we actually find what it is that we are looking for.