If you have ever lost your job, unexpectedly, it can be a depressing situation, and one that is hard to fully process and bounce back from. However, it is something that most people will face over the course of their careers. Like all things in life, the better prepared you are for this, the easier it will be to search, interview for, and land your next role. Attitude and resilience is crucial in any job hunt. It dictates how confident you are, how you present yourself, and how you come across in interviews. In order to focus on the future and not be drawn, mentally, into a negative vortex, here are some practical tips. 1. More often than not, depending on where in the world you are based and how long you have been employed, you may be offered a retrenchment package. Some countries have rules and regulations around this while others don't. Ask around externally to get a guide on what your package should be. Also, sensitively, ask around any ex-colleagues who have been through this situation. 2. Immediately get your CV together. It's never too early to start this, and ideally you should always have a semi up-to-date CV ready to go. Some companies may offer the services of an outplacement company to help with getting your CV ready. 3. Contact the relevant recruitment agencies. Try to find ones who concentrate on either your industry or your specialisation. If possible, approach multiple contacts unless you are exceptionally confident in one. Generally speaking, the wider you network, the better. 4. Update your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is now a powerful tool to search for jobs and also to be noticed by both recruiters and prospective employers. Like a CV, check the grammar and flow of your description and text. Be sure to update your picture. Ideally you can rely on a combination of 3) recruitment agencies and 4) LinkedIn to find your a role. 5. Make finding your next job a full time job. Keep yourself focused on getting a certain number of applications out per day/week. Use your network to be an advocate for you or to find opportunities for you. Meet as many relevant people as possible. Some proactive people keep a detailed spreadsheet tracking their daily activity of phone calls, emails, interviews and applications. An unexpected redundancy can be a difficult thing to handle both professionally and personally, and it can challenge even the most successful professionals. It is not an easy time, and it is normal to feel anger, a sense of betrayal, and loss. However, keeping a positive mind-set is vitally important.
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