Community Employment Resource
Centre
With today’s ups and downs in the economy
and work force, no one is immune to a layoff.
In a recent article from the Globe and Mail ((January 30th), a
professional who was caught off guard with a layoff identified some of the
preparations that could be made ahead of time.
This does not take the emotional sting out of the loss of work, but it
does provide a bit of security on a financial/social level. Here are the comments the author shared:
·
Eliminate
credit card debt: review spending activities prior to the
layoff with cut backs identified so that any credit card bills can be paid off
– question every single expense for necessity, hold nothing sacred
·
Build
a War Chest: calculate how much is needed to live on
every month and build a reserve fund of cash to support yourself, family, etc.
This fund can be increased after the credit cards bills have been eliminated or
the layoff postponed
·
Apply
for a line of credit: this should be done while there is still an
income as banks are less likely to issue approvals once the income is no longer
affluent. Do not use this though, until
you really need it –severance and employment insurance is exhausted, savings
are completely gone. It is only to be
used to pay for absolute necessities as a last resort (remember, there is still
a payment involved on the interest!!)
·
Clean
up the office: clean out your personal things early and
maintain the order. When cleaning the
office, keep the following items in mind, as there are many that could serve a
number of purposes in the job search – highlighting achievements, prep for
interviews, portfolios, etc.
o Personal items – mugs, pictures, plants,
clothing items
o Work related items that belong to you
rather than the company – books, manuals, and tools. Those that are needed on an ongoing basis should be kept to a
minimum to avoid disputes later on
o Documentation – letters/memos/emails and
other documentation that records or indicates directions, instructions or
feedback you received regarding your responsibilities
o Items and information that would prove
useful when looking for another job – documents that show your achievements,
samples of your work
·
Know
what’s important: don’t make work your life – it can be
taken away too easily. Cherish your
life outside of work – don’t let work consume you. “If all you are is your job, you will lose yourself if your job
is taken away from you.”
·
Prepare
for the worst: your resume should be updated at least once
every six months. It is much easier to
come up with achievements when you are in a positive mind set. Keep copies of performance reviews and keep
in touch with important contacts – those that may hear of opportunities for you
or be able to act as a reference
·
Have
friends outside of work: if all your friends are
work-related, there is a good chance that you will lose these friends (through loyalty
to employer or you no longer have a common interest) and the support system
they would offer if you lose your job
·
Decide
what you really want: a layoff can become a blessing in disguise
if you were unhappy in your work or at your work place. Take the time to identify what you would
really like to be doing for your work life.
Go back in time to the 10 year old self that knew exactly what they
wanted to be when they grew up and refocus.
Often in a layoff, there are programs available for retraining so don’t
let that be an excuse
While there is no arguing the traumatic
experience that is brought about by a layoff, often there is enough lead time
given that you can be better prepared for the event. Don’t wait until the last minute to try and incorporate these
plans or get a false sense of security if layoff is postponed.