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Client Services
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Career Services
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Individual Transition Management
I’m out of work ... So What?
Or Now What?
“My severance is running
out at the end of the month. I really need you to find me a job.” Far
too many people have said that to me in my career as a recruiter. For
many of them, it was too late – severance did run out! Did I fail them?
Talk about stress! The sad truth is, however, that they failed
themselves by waiting too long to start their search for new
opportunities. As a recruiter, I am only one resource – not to mention I
don’t find positions for people – rather – I find people to fill
positions. There’s a difference.
Whether you’re laid off,
downsized, furloughed, displaced (call it what you want), when it
happens to you, you’d be better off to say, “I’m out of work…so what or
now what?
“So what?” Okay,
being displaced stinks (I know, I’ve been there). It’s important to take
the time to let it sink in. You owe it to yourself to take a little time
to do what helps you to accept it and clear your mind. Take a football
quarterback for instance (any one but a Steeler). A good, unexpected
sack can send him into tomorrow or even next week! Off to the sidelines
to “shake it off” (with the support of his coach, teammates, fans, etc).
But then what? After a few plays he’s back on the field ready to go!
Taking some initial time and using it to your advantage can mean
different things to different people. Clean your garage, wash your car,
visit a friend, chill out, work out, laugh, cry, reflect - Whatever it
takes for you to work through the initial feelings you have about your
situation… Just do it, and then move forward. By the end of the first
week you should be getting to the task at hand – your future.
You now need to change
your focus from “so what” to “now what”. What do I want to happen
next? What do I need to do to make it happen? What is in the way of
getting what I want? What can I do to move beyond it? What resources are
available? What steps should I take to begin? There are many questions
to be answered before starting the leg work of the actual job search.
You may decide to pursue work in the same field. Perhaps you want to try
a different type of work than what you did before – how do you make a
career change? You want to start your own business? Maybe this is the
time to go for that “dream” job you’ve often thought about. Severance &
unemployment compensation is offered so an individual who finds himself
or herself out of work can afford to take the time to work through the
issues necessary to identify and engage resources in order to obtain a
suitable position. This is your job now. Networking, researching,
training, applying, interviewing are only part of a process that takes
time if you are to achieve the results you desire. Every minute of this
time should be taken advantage of. In today’s ever-changing work
environment, where it’s not unlikely a person will change careers up to
10 times during his or her work-life and the “gold watch retirement” is
more quickly becoming a thing of the past, it is important to be aware
that change can happen, it can happen unexpectedly and it can happen to
anyone. It’s okay to be surprised, it’s okay to need some “me” time, but
it’s important to move forward and just as important to move forward as
quickly as possible. After all, perhaps you had little or no control
over the past, but you do control your future – so what or now what?
Lisa Guard
Career Coach
CEO, Specialized Staffing, Inc.
Transition Management Services
One-on-one, professional assistance in preparing
for your search for new employment.
Transition Assistance Components
Identifying Skills & Strengths
Creating a Successful Resume & Cover Letter
Conducting a Successful Job Search
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Responding to Ads
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Pursuing Referrals
(Networking)
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Online Job Search
Resources
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Recruiters/Staffing
Services
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Government Career
Assistance
The Interview
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Interview Etiquette
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Effective Follow Up
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Negotiating Compensation
Transition assistance can be conducted on-site at
130 South Main Street, Butler or virtually. Components are completed
using a one-on-one setting and are customized to meet individual needs.
Each component is approximately one hour in length.
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"What I enjoyed most about my coaching experience was that Lisa
is very understanding and supportive. I have questions but we seem
to work through them together and I end up answering my own
question. Lisa challenges me and helps set goals that I try to meet."
Joni
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