Whether you loved your job or dreaded it, getting laid off hurts. It’s perfectly normal to worry about your financial future, the job search ahead, and the prospect of changing careers. Follow these three steps to recover from an unexpected layoff and land on your feet.
1. Regroup and refocus. It’s tempting to dive right into your job search, but you may need to take a little time to deal with the emotional fallout from your layoff and learn from the experience. Unemployment gives you the opportunity to regroup and refocus. Reflect on your previous job and the reasons behind your layoff. Did you lose your job because of the poor economy, outsourcing, or advancements in your field? If so, it may be time to consider a career change. Likewise, if you were unhappy with your career or felt that there was no room for advancement, losing your job is the ideal time to change directions. In either case, you may need training, which you can acquire at low cost through a local college or business skills training center.
Of course, if you lost your job because you were singled out, you need to understand your part in the conflicts that led to your layoff. What could you have done differently? Was that job really suited to your personality and skill set? A different type of job—or a different company—may be just what you need.
2. Create a standout résumé. Or several. Once you’ve figured out the kinds of jobs you want to pursue, pull out your old résumé. You probably haven’t touched it in years, which means you have a lot of new skills and accomplishments to add. Begin by brainstorming everything you’ve done at work, even the small stuff. Once you see it all written down, you can pinpoint what to focus on.
Like everything else, résumé conventions change. Go to the library or research online to find current résumé writing resources. Also check out résumés posted on sites related to your field to see what other job candidates are putting out there. If you have difficulties, it may be worthwhile to consult with a professional writer who specializes in résumés. Create multiple versions of your résumé, each targeted toward a specific career. Each version must highlight the skills and experience most important or relevant to the job.
3. Seek out a reputable recruiting firm. These days, most companies use recruiting firms to handle the huge influx of applicants that swarm their job postings. For example, recruiters like Austin Nichols Technical Search provide engineering firms and manufacturing companies with a great selection of qualified applicants. In turn, recruiters represent highly-rated organizations that offer competitive pay and benefits.
As a job hunter, your best bet for getting your résumé in front of a hiring manager is to find a regional recruiting firm that serves the companies and organizations you want to work for. For engineering professionals near Kansas City, that would be Austin Nichols Technical Search. For other professionals around the country, a little research yields the top recruiting firms in your field. With a great recruiter, you’re sure to find a job you enjoy at a company that values its employees.
As a premier Kansas City recruiting firm since 1988, Austin Nichols Technical Search has served clients in a variety of fields. Austin Nichols specializes in direct hire and contract recruiting for manufacturing, engineering, and technical positions.
