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Job loss not end of world
Over the past 10 years, Tom Wall of Loudonville, N.Y., watched as his position as commercial photographer for WNYT Ch. 13 changed.
He had been at WNYT for 25 years and had built a career he enjoyed. However, the business of television changed, and Wall noticed that he wasn't having as much fun as he once did.
It wasn't like the early days when he was pinching himself because he "got paid to do this." Many of the special projects he worked on - like the "Kids Follies" and the "Freihofer's Run for Women Post Show" were scrapped to cut costs. His workload was decreasing, and he kept asking himself, "How long can this last?"
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"It's difficult to know how to react - there is uncertainty. How do I tell my wife, my kids? Nobody wants to find themselves in that position," he said.
The reality is that in today's volatile job market, many employees will find themselves in that exact position as Wall at one time or another. Losing one's job, whether expected or not, can throw any employee for a loop. The loss of a job can crush one's self-esteem and rob him or her of a sense of identity.
The trick to working through a job loss, say experts, is to stay active and positive, perhaps easier said than done. Here are some tips on what to do and what to avoid when suddenly faced with an unanticipated job search.
1. Make a graceful exit. Relationship expert April Masini of www.AskApril.com, suggests you suppress the urge to say something you might later regret. "Thank everyone (at your former place of employment) for their time with you. Don't boast false bravado. Be sad if you feel sad. But continue to be professional."
2.Don't panic. Luke Schmonsky, associate director of the Career Center at The College of Saint Rose, agrees that this is easy to say when you're not the one who just got a pink slip. However, he advises job seekers to avoid making a knee-jerk reaction (like accepting the first job that comes along) that could send a job seeker down the same career path as before, even if it's not the right path. "One of the main things that people should do is reflect on why the position didn't work out. Some people become misplaced in the job market and end up with positions that don't necessarily fit their career goals."
3.Assess the positive. When you're feeling down, listing all of your transferable skills can be a positive experience, explains Schmonsky. "Transferable skills are skills that people obtain in various positions that can pertain to another position. Skills make you marketable and often people don't realize how many they have."
4.Step outside your comfort zone. Seven years ago, when the technical firm she was working for went under, "literally overnight," Elizabeth Freedman of Elizabeth Freedman and Company, a Boston-based career development firm, suddenly found herself out of a job. After months of networking and job searching, she signed up for an acting class - a move that dramatically changed the path of her career. She wrote and starred in the one-woman show, "Made Redundant," about her trials and tribulations in the workplace. From there, Freedman developed contacts and soon started her own business.
5.Make it personal. Sure, you know it's important to network, but these days it seems so much easier (and safer) to just send e-mails while hiding behind your computer screen. While it is certainly easy to research and apply for jobs online, Freedman believes that there is "no replacement for picking up the phone - be gently persistent, but break through the tech tools." Along with making phone calls, Freedman urges job seekers to stay active within their fields by attending conferences or maintaining memberships in professional organizations.
6.Remember, it is only
temporary. Yes, you lost your job and are devastated. Freedman recommends you keep it in perspective, though.
"I have an MBA and worked at a gym for months," she says. "You have to be OK with taking something less than perfect" while you search for something better.
7.Put on your game face. You can complain and stress to your friends and family all you want, but when it comes time to interview, a prospective employer doesn't want to hear your sob story. In today's job market, Freedman believes that most recruiters will understand a job loss. When discussing your previous position with prospective employers, she says it's important to "be positive, but make it clear you're moving on."
8.Plan ahead. You can't peer into a crystal ball and predict the future. But you can, however, develop interests and relationships outside of your immediate job that you could call on should your position change. While Wall was noticing changes in his position at WNYT, he also was working hard to build and grow his wedding photography business, Tom Wall Photography.
"I'm thankful that I worked at my business; now it is supporting us," he explains.
Along with maintaining his own business, he is also working part-time for Lab Prints Inc., a Troy, N.Y.-based company that specializes in software for photographers. Years ago, the company had contacted Wall to test their products and offer feedback; the professional contact proved worthwhile.
9.Visit your alma mater. Whether you're across town or across the country from your alma mater, chances are their career center can help you. Schmonsky notes that The Career Center at The College of Saint Rose offers everything from tips on resume writing, mock interviews and assessment skill tests to a career-advising network comprised of alumni and community members. Many of their services and assessment tests can be accessed online. Schmonsky also suggests taking advantage of the books about employment that are available at a school career center. A book he recommends is "Suddenly Unemployed" by Helen Kooiman Hoosier, which offers a practical, step-by-step approach for people coping with job loss.
10.Live your life. Freedman reminds clients that their job search should not be the only thing going on in their lives. Along with staying in touch with friends and family, Freedman suggests staying active by working on projects and activities that showcase your skills. This could mean volunteering or doing pro bono work. This can give your something to show for how you spent your time while unemployed and can boost your confidence.
