What to Do If You've Been Laid Off

What to Do If You've Been Laid Off

The first thing to realize if you have been laid off from your job is that you are not alone.  Company closures and downsizing have caused layoffs for millions of people across the United States over the last few years.  As hard as it is to deal with, it’s important that you don’t take it personally.  A layoff isn’t a reflection of you as a worker.  It simply means that your employer is having a difficult time meeting expenses and had to make cuts.

We have put together some ideas of what to do and not to do when you have been laid off.

Do

1. Seek unemployment benefits within 24 hours of notification.  It’s important that you claim your unemployment benefits in a timely manner.  Most states have a 1-week grace period before they’ll start paying your benefits.  If you wait too long, you may end up waiting an additional week or two before you see any payment.  Most state unemployment offices are overwhelmed and behind on getting people into the system.  If you wait, you could delay the process even further. 

2. Start looking for work right away.  It may be hard to let go of your past job, especially if the layoff wasn’t expected.  The worst thing you can do is wait and delay getting back to work.  With so many people looking for work, you’ll want to get back into the swing of things as soon as possible.   

3. Update your information.  Make sure that your resume is up to date with your most current information including the job that you were just laid off from.  Your reference list should have at least three professionals that you worked with in the past. 

4. Find constructive things to do.  You can’t possibly search for a job every minute of every day.  Even if you did, you won’t last long.  You’ll need to find constructive things to do with the time you spend away from your job search.  Avoid doing mind-numbing tasks like watching daytime TV or playing video games.  They won't do much for your morale.  Go for a walk, take a trip to the local library and catch up on some reading, or take some online courses to improve your skills.

Don’t

1. Bad mouth your employer.  When you get the bad news, don’t curse out your employer.  Chances are they aren’t any happier about it than you are.  Laying you off is a sign that they’re business is struggling and that’s not good for anyone.  In addition, don’t put negative comments on your Facebook page or speak badly of them in a job interview.  Employers can and will look at your social media sites to see how you conduct yourself outside of the job.  If they see that you’re badmouthing a previous employer, your chances of getting hired are slim to none. 

2. Let negative emotions overcome you.  No one said that a layoff is easy to deal with.  Again, remember you’re not alone.  Whether you’ve been at the job for a few months or 10+ years, it’s never a good feeling.  If you’re having trouble coping with a layoff, seek professional help.  If that seems a little extreme, start your own support group.  Chances are you weren’t the only one who was laid off at your company.  See if you can start a group with some of your former co-workers or even start a group online through social media.  

3. Ignore opportunities.  In addition to looking for a new job, don’t ignore the opportunity to do something different.  Maybe you’ve been wanting to work in another field but never gave yourself the chance.  Have you been wanting to learn a skill or get a degree?  Now could be the perfect time for you to pursue new career goals.  You may end up doing something that you’ve always wanted to and end up loving it! 

Have you been recently laid off?  What did you do to make the best of a difficult situation?  Let us know your thoughts and comments below.