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The Next 20 Years - After a Layoff:

Thank you for being such a strong, competent, dedicated, personable employee… Now here’s your Pink Slip!

It used to be that the only way to be let go from a company was to do something detrimental to the organization (or get caught with a lampshade on your head at the company Holiday Party). Today, however individuals of the highest caliber are being laid-off for a variety of reasons, most of which are due to no fault of the employee.

* Bad financial quarter

* Need to cut costs

* Merging with a competitor

* Duplicate roles

* Downturn in the economy

* And the list goes on…


If you have been “lucky” enough to go through a company wide lay-off and survive, congratulations, you know what it feels like see your peers, staff, and or manager swept away, while you are left doing not only your job, but their job too. And if you are the one who has been laid-off… Well, then welcome to the family. Your new life starts here!

This article will highlight four strategic steps that you might want to consider taking on your path back to gainful employment!

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

* Relax. Take a vacation. You deserve it!

* Register on eBay so you can Sell Your Items to generate revenue and Purchase Items at a discounted rate.

* Get your ducks in a row. Organization breeds success!

* Go. Get your network working for you!

* Help thy neighbor. Share this Article with your friends, coworkers, and other affected by layoff.

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1. BREATHE – Relax, stop, rest, take a time out, chill. Though you surely have anxiety about what you are going to do financially, socially, medically, etc., you also need to realize that you have been doing to the same thing for years and years… Without a break, without a change, without an end in sight. Now is your chance to take that break, do that change!

Before you decide to jump back on that horse and get back into the employment game, DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOURSELF!

* Take a vacation. Get away for a while. This is probably the only time in the last several years that you have been able to just go and not worry about when you need to get back and what you need to do when you get there. Check out these offers from Hotels, Airlines (Aloha), Resorts (Sandals), or get a whole package through Travelocity.

* Buy yourself some jewelry. Buy a trinket to commemorate this life transition point. Celebrate yourself. Perhaps a necklace, earrings or a watch. Or just check out the Jewelry selection on eBay.

* Plant a garden. Do the things that you have been neglecting over the past several years. Check out these gardening sites - Yardiac.com, Bloomingbulb.com

* Go bird watching. It’s a great way to just relax and reflect on your life. Check out ABirdsWorld.com

2.

STABALIZE – First things first. You’ve had a steady income for a long time. There are some quick and EASY things that you can do to bring in some extra money to help subsidize your being unemployed. Just a little cash will help you to feel less anxiety, and more importantly, live the lifestyle that you are used to living.

Build a Business on eBay! – Its easy and its Free to get signed up and with mere pennies to list items, you can turn those items in your garage, under the bed, in the closet, and outside in the shed into actual cash. Nearly 500,000 people in the US make a FULL-TIME living on eBay each year. Surely you could find some things that you have been meaning to get rid of or sell, which could make you some money.

Do this NOW! – START HERE

1. Click this link to Register on eBay.

2. Take a walk around your home with a pen and paper and write down a list of items that you could sell. It doesn’t matter what the item is – small or large, collectibles, jewelry, new or used items, toys, electronics, books, even cars!

3. Sign in to eBay and sell your items (use this link to learn how to fill out the form).

4. Collect your money!

By generating some extra money on eBay, you can have a little more breathing room. Register NOW!

3. ORGANIZE. So, once you have a supplemental income (i.e., through eBay), you should get your “ducks in a row”. You are about to start a process for getting back into the workforce. Whether you are getting into the same career or just looking for a job, you will need to organize your search.

Here are a few key items that might help you with your search.

* Get broadband access (DSL, Cable Modem) if you are searching for jobs online, you don’t want to be using dial up. Try Juno Speedband, Netzero, Verizon or Comcast High Speed Cable Internet

* Get a computer for your home. Since you probably had a Desktop or Laptop computer at your company before, you may need to get a new machine for your home. You can get a new machine or save money and get a used one. Try eBay for a GREAT selection and discounted prices.

* Get your home office supplies set up for your search. Do it now, don’t wait until you’re out of something that might stall your progress. Stock up on the required supplies. And don’t buy them at the large chains, get them online and have them deliver to you. Get your Stamps at Stamps.com

* Be sure to have enough copies of your resume and make sure that your printer has the high quality and dark Printer Ink!

* When you represent yourself in the interview make sure that you don’t have your resume in a tattered old notebook or file folder. Keep your materials in a nice Leather Portfolio!

* After you have completed your interview, be sure to follow up with a hand written note on quality stationary. ORDER quality stationary that will get you noticed!

* When you attend networking functions and meet people that may be able to help you out, be sure to have personalized business cards. Be sure to have crisp Personalized Business Cards!

4. EXCECUTE. With all of your resources lined up and a bit of spending cash ready to come in, its time to get that engine working for you. Now is the time to capitalize on the networks that you know of and those that you don’t. Its time to get your brand out there onto the market and get that market coming to you.

* Take advantage of organizations that are free or inexpensive to join.

o If you were given an early retirement package, join the retirement group (AARP). They have discounts all of the time on things, as well as give members resources. Join for the cost of one day’s lunch ($12.50)!

o Join Networks such as LinkedIn to get connected with people who may know someone at a company that you may be interested in.

* Get in touch with people still at your former company. Just because they have a job, doesn’t mean that they aren’t looking. Odds are that because of the layoff, they are nervous about their jobs still existing and are looking. Maybe they will share those with you.

* Educate yourself. Determine if now is the time to go back to school, to finish up your college degree, to learn a new trade, to learn another language. You can do many of these courses and degrees online and never have to step foot into a classroom. Having this education on your resume might be the difference of getting the interview or not.

* Familiarize yourself with the Online Job Boards.

o Large Job boards show you local as well as national and global positions. Use these to learn what is out there for you and also what companies are looking for. (Monster, Dice, Craigslist, etc.)

o Local Job Boards help you with positions that are local to your area. These might be a good starting point for those that are restricted to a specific geography. Check out this Massive list of job sites.

* Keep up to date with the latest industry trends. You can use online sites or newspapers such as the Financial Times, Forbes Magazine, USA Today, New York Times, or Wall Street Journal.

* Read books from those people that have been through this same event.

o Life After Layoff: Six Proven Courses of Action: This book offers a structured guidance system for life/career choices. “Life After Layoff, provides you with the knowledge, tools and strategies to manage your career during these turbulent times. This book provides a road map for traveling a new career path that increases the chances for success and financial security. Life After Layoff, is packed with proven strategies that have worked for others and can work for you or someone you know.”

o Do What You Love and the Money will Follow: This is a wonderful guide for finding work that fits your talents and fulfills your passions. It is a step-by-step guide to finding the work best suited to your needs and talents.

5. Share your Knowledge

* What goes around comes around - Pass this URL (http://thenext20.blogspot.com/) on to other friends that have lost their jobs. Also pass this on to your friends at your previous company, this insight might be able to help them too. They will in turn do the same and be looking on your behalf. Expand that Network!

* Provide us with feedback as to how we can improve this page. It would be great if you had ideas where we can make this more and more valuable. Send a note to Jay Kreshel (jay@kreshel.com)

NOW TAKE ACTION

Take a vacation

Sell stuff on eBay

Organize your things

Get busy searching

Help your friends