With the U.S. unemployment rates topping out in September at 9.7 percent, the highest rate in more than 26 years, more Americans than ever are looking for work. The statistics are enormous, and for the person left holding the proverbial pink slip, the implications are personal: how long will it take me to find another job? How will my family survive in the meantime? Here are some tips to help you deal with these stressful economic times.
1. Grieve well: Honor yourself and be aware of the importance of what you’ve lost. Be proud of the fact that you took your job seriously. Understanding that you’re grieving, and monitoring your attitude throughout the process, will help put you in the positive mental place you need to be to move on.
2. Act quickly: File your claim for unemployment as soon as you know you are unemployed. If you are unsure as to whether or not you are covered, let your state figure it out for you. That’s their job.
3. Figure out what you take with you when you leave your job: Maybe you have strong client relationships that will open new doors. Or maybe you’re walking away with a new set of skills that can translate into better opportunities. Assess your assets and then consider how those strengths can help you figure out what comes next.
4. Your new job is to find a new job: Develop a plan for the job search process, and work hard on it each day. Be your own boss – have a daily strategy session with yourself. Don’t let yourself down.
Edie Milligan Driskill’s book, Pink Slipped: A Post-Layoff Survival Guide outlines this advice and more. It serves as a financial first-aid manual for those who have recently joined the ranks of the unemployed, and it will help prepare those still employed who worry their jobs may be at risk if their time does come.
Valery Amador, Daily Venus Diva -- Daily Venus Diva.
Join the Curvy Conversation