Facing Your Fear of Getting Laid-off
Lay-offs have become an everyday thing in today’s economy, with companies trying to cut costs and avoid bankruptcy. If your company is in dire straits and you can see yourself getting the pink slip very soon, there is every reason to worry. However, this does not mean you cannot do anything about it.
Losing your job
If you have recently lost your job, you may be facing the fear that comes with no regular income, the loss of health insurance, and the stigma that comes with being laid off from work. However, there are a lot of things you can do to help yourself get back on your feet again. If looking for a new job is harder than you expected, you may be eligible for special assistance programs such as the US Trade Adjustment Assistance Program and Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance Program.
The US Trade Adjustment Assistance Program takes care of those who have been laid off or face reduced wages because their jobs have been moved to another country. The Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance Program also does the same for those who meet the criteria for trade adjustment and who are over the age of 50. Services offered by these programs include career counseling, basic education, retraining, provision of a job search allowance, relocation assistance, and income support while in full-time training.
Let out all your worries and concerns.
Lay-offs can be emotional and traumatic for all parties concerned. It is helpful to find a counselor, a network of close friends and family who can hear you voice out your concerns and emotions. A support network should also be composed of people who won’t let you get away with feeble excuses on why you cannot get a job or why you stay home and watch TV forever.
Have a backup plan and work on achieving it.
The first backup plan should be hunting down another job. You need to do this methodically, and do not get lazy. The sooner you get off from your post lay-off depression and out there pounding the pavement, the sooner you‘ll find a job. You can start by looking for part-time jobs if money is really tight. This way you can still find time to look for jobs that are really suited to your experience and skills in your free time.
Lay-offs can lead to a lot of entrepreneurs coming out of the woodwork. You just may have some of that entrepreneurial gene inside of you waiting to be put to good use. Although there is nothing wrong with hunting for a job, getting multiple rejections time after time can take a toll on you. To avoid getting disillusioned, try another route: start your own business. Starting small and using skills that you have can keep you busy and earning at the same time.
Be positive and confident.
Being laid-off in this economy is not an isolated incident. Companies all over the world are downsizing and as a result, millions of workers have been out of jobs. The shame that comes with being laid off from a job should therefore not be a factor, since in this economy, lay-offs tend to be the norm. Being laid off should not rob you of your confidence that you can do your job well and that you can find a job despite your recent loss.
Lay-offs are normal in a tight economy. If you are expecting to get laid-off anytime soon, there is no reason to panic. Start looking for a job as soon as you can, be positive, surround yourself with positive people. Do not be afraid to think of new ways to earn money. There are ways to stay afloat in tough economic times if you work hard enough and use your creativity.
Photo Credit : Mike Licht
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