| Thursday, January 8, 2009 |  |
Lost Your Job? You're Not Terminated
Blame it on laborsaving technology or globalization or international turmoil. Whatever the reason, the churning of America's work force is accelerating. Layoffs are on the rise.
Still, labor economists see a generally tight demand for workers for the next three decades, largely because there aren't enough people to replace the millions of baby boomers as they retire. Some employees will be more in demand than others. For instance, the national unemployment rate for college-educated workers tends to run about half of the overall rate. To know that you're not the only one who's ever been laid off might provide little comfort. To consider that for every job lost there are still more created might not console you. But it should. "There's no question that for workers who have kept their people and professional skills well-honed that they will be re-employed or engaged in a new opportunity within a very short period of time," says Jane Lommel, senior fellow at the Center for the 21st Century Workforce, in Indianapolis. Getting laid off can be disruptive and demoralizing and even, for a time, debilitating. But it's important to know that the survival rate is high. And there are steps you can take to help yourself. Don't take it personally Employers say they can smell bitterness in job applicants who harbor ill feelings for their previous employer. They're inclined not to hire those who cast themselves as victims.
Understand your benefits Secure letters of recommendation and references. Be professional, but don't shy from asking for what you need to move on. Unless your old employer is going out of business, it still has a reputation to uphold. To see what other resources are available, check with fellow laid-off workers as well as government programs, such as those for dislocated workers. Spend less Even with severance pay or unemployment insurance benefits, you can't afford to go on spending as if you still were working. As a family, put a budget together and identify discretionary spending you can cut.
Don't tap your 401(k) or other retirement funds because it will trigger tax penalties and rob your future security. If money gets tight, write to creditors, explain your predicament, and ask if there's a payment assistance plan. "Don't write bad checks," Kilmark says. "That only makes a bad situation worse." Send out "birth announcements" This is a good time to remind yourself of the friends and family who will stand by you and to let them try to help. Explain your circumstances without coming off as feeling sorry for yourself. Tell them what opportunities you're seeking and why. Ask them to keep their ears to the ground for you.
She belongs to a Monday morning gathering of college-educated, middle-age women in Indianapolis and has seen the benefits of such membership for those who have lost jobs. "Women in this group tend to find new jobs sooner," she says, "because they are better networkers and not afraid to ask for help in writing their resumes or asking the right questions in interviews." Cold call Identify places you want to work. Do research on them by talking with workers there, getting familiar with their products or services and learning about their business at the library and such sites as Hoover's Online. Figure out specifically how you could make that business better by working there. Present yourself in terms that you know the company would appreciate. Try to bypass the personnel office initially. Find out whom you'd be working for and communicate with them directly. They'd have the best sense of how you'd fit in and contribute. They also would know of other opportunities in the field. Persist; keep your focus "Structure is important," Kilmark says. Schedule your days as if you're still working. Look for leads in daily newspapers to see which companies are coming to town or expanding.
Getting laid off can feel disturbing and demeaning, but you also can use this setback as an opportunity to put your priorities in order. Chances are, you'll land back on your feet. In the long run, you might even have a better position than before. In the meantime, stay close with your family. Make this a shared experience through which you grow together. Find age-appropriate ways for everyone to help. "Keep communicating with your spouse," Kilmark says. "It's a stressful time for relationships."
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