Employment
Surviving a Layoff
Job Search Strategies
- Review yourself. You’ve had job evaluations in the past. Now it’s time for you
to evaluate yourself. What are your skills? What have you most enjoyed in your
past jobs? What didn’t you like? What would you like to do more of? Spending
some time in reflection may help you think of new jobs or careers you’d like
to try.
- Prepare the paperwork. You’ll likely be filling out a lot of applications,
so gather your information together. Where did you work, and when? What were your
job duties and accomplishments? You may want to put all this information, perhaps
in a resume format, so you’ll have it if you need it.
- Review your credit report. Most employers these days conduct a background check,
and that often includes a review of the employee’s credit report as well. Check
yours in advance to make sure it’s correct and up to date. Several free booklets
in Consolidated Credit’s Learning Center will help you understand credit reports
and scores, and fix mistakes.
- Keep your eyes open. Personal references are the best way to find and get a job.
So contact everyone you know for ideas and suggestions of potential jobs and
employers. Ask if you can use their name when contacting a referral, and don’t
forget to thank them afterward.
- Go on a hunt. Look for jobs online, in your local newspaper, and through local
employment agencies.
- Visit the library. Your local library should have a large number of books that can be helpful for everything from writing a resume to figuring out what you want to do next. Changing Careers for Dummies by Carol McClelland and Cool Careers for Dummies by Marty Nemko are just two examples.
- Prepare for job interviews. Choose clothing you want to wear to interviews
and ask for feedback from family members or friends. Practice answering
interview questions. Pull together documents you’ll need (generally your
driver’s license and Social Security card).
- Consider a career change. If you worked in an industry that is declining or
sending jobs overseas, you may want to consider a career change. Before you
do, however, see if you can find a way to work or intern in some capacity in
that new field. You don’t want to spend two years becoming a medical assistant,
for example, only to learn you don’t like working with patients!
- Start your own business. Your own business could be a way for you to shift gears and earn good money doing what you choose to do. But it’s also very risky. Most new businesses don’t make it through the first two years. So if you are going to start a new business, choose one with a solid track record and get advice from others with experience. Consider temping and starting your business on the side until it takes off. Unless you have plenty of money in savings and investments, now is not the time to take a chance on an unproven idea.
