What to Do When You Lost Your Job?

Shock, devastation, anger, confusion, depressed these are the emotions one feels when recently faced with a job dismissal.

The former employee walks away questioning what went wrong? He or she may not have felt at peace with the administration's answer. The company may have been vague about their reasons or extremely detailed. All the while, the dismissed employee may be thinking what went wrong? Questioning whether his or her actions were that bad for it to come to this. Others may feel as if there was a conspiracy to get rid of them all along. Despite the reasons, it is now an unwelcoming reality that one has to face. Therefore, how does one get past the upset and on to looking for another job?

First, find a place of solitude after you have received the bad news. Take control of every negative emotion you must be feeling, before you share it with anyone. You do not want to discuss the recent events upset, emotional and confused. Tell yourself, “Everything happens for a reason, although I may not know exactly why, somehow I am going to make the best of this.”

Second, make a phone call to meet with a confidant. This will provide you with the opportunity to vent (get what is off your chest.) He or she may be a good listener and adviser, consider what he or she is saying. State how you feel, but don't wallow in your anger, sadness or any other emotion for too long. You don't need your situation to dominate a good time with a friend. Also, consider your friends may have their own frustrations they may want to talk about too. While you're venting, there will be the temptation to say something about your former employer that even your closest confidant may have to scold you for and that is the last thing you will want to hear is an admonition or what seems to be well-meaning advice. The reality is your buddies aren't experiencing what you are going through and your situation is not up for debate or criticism. 

Avoid people who you know have been un-supportive in the past no matter how desperate you are to make contact with someone. This is not the time to defend your thoughts, or get angry with the person whom you are confiding in; otherwise, that will only result in a heated argument. Later, you may feel even worse for blowing up at your confidant and will have to apologize. Remember you may need this person to help you financially, physically and/or mentally in the future; therefore watch what you say and how you say it.

Lastly, once you have confided in everyone you have chosen, you may be tempted to wallow in your firing, don't. You may not start looking for a job immediately; instead, you may want to take a needed break. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that if you are doing something productive other than sitting on the couch thinking about the job, calling up former co-workers gossiping or mentioning your dismissal every time someone makes contact with you. 

Utilize your free time to apply for unemployment, catch up on all doctor's appointments (before your insurance runs out), meet with family and friends you haven't seen in awhile, take a class in your career field or in one you may desire. Consider taking up a hobby such as reading books, writing, singing, dancing, painting, watching TV (if you haven't been doing much of that in the past), aerobics, hiking, running and many others. However, if you aren't ready for the intense physical activity, then browse stores, walk the beach, tour museums and other places to take your mind off of things. 

Noticed shopping was not listed? That is because spending money is only a temporary fix and since you have no income coming in the last thing you need to do is have a lot of money going out. Be sure to take care of your necessities and save as much money as you can, because unemployment doesn't last forever and can be cut off before you know it.

During this time of rest and relaxation, your motivation to get back in the workforce will be challenged. Who wants to return back to work, when someone is helping you financially, the beach keeps calling your name and you have enjoyed waking up without an alarm clock? As nice as all of this sounds, it is only temporary and if you don't want your free time to come to a crashing halt, dedicate hours each day, like you would working a part-time job, applying for jobs. However, before you begin your search you will need to know whether you would like to stay in the same career field, switch to another or just find a job that is not challenging in the least and will only provide you with a paycheck.

Find out how much others are making in your occupation, what are the latest skills in demand, create your cover letters and tailor your resume for each job that isn't in your career field. Too often people will send the same general resume to every employer and wonder why no one is calling them back. You may have too much information on your resume for what is required or not enough. Consider the following as your job search checklist:

Have different resumes for different career fields.

Join on-line databases that send employment classifieds directly to your email.

Sign up for a subscription to a newspaper.

Register with a temporary agency.

Check with family and friends to see what they know.

Purchase office supplies such as ink for your printer and/or fax machine, mailing labels, impressive envelopes and quality white paper, and stamps.

Create a mailing list of employers that may or may not be hiring. Print addresses on mailing labels.

Send a letter along with your resume requesting that they consider including you in their database for a future job opening. Of course, you can always pick a great location nearby your neighborhood and work one or two part-time jobs. The advantage to this is you will not be stuck at one location everyday, more money can be made this way, and some stores offer great perks.

Depending on how much money you have in savings, you may think about starting a business from home. A successful business doesn't become that way if you don't have the necessary tools to make it happen. Spend the time reading about what type of business you would like to start, how to develop a business plan so that you will know what to expect in the future, where you can get additional money to get it started, and any other information that will help you make a determination on whether this is a good time to start it or not.

Lastly, while you wait for responses from employers, be sure that you can be contacted. If you have a single phone line with no call waiting, you may want to have your cell phone number and email address on every cover letter, resume and/or business card you send out. Don't become discouraged when week three passes by and you still haven't heard from anyone. Instead, you will need to change the way you have been marketing yourself. Request a person knowledgeable in writing cover letters and resumes to review yours. Search the Internet, ask for comments from a job headhunter, or purchase a book that will provide you with tips on how to best edit your cover-letter and resume. Asking a family member or friend isn't the best way to get an unbiased opinion; therefore don't request their opinions unless they know about your industry. Be sure that you have tried every way to market yourself. 

Have you posted a classified of the services you can offer to your community? Have you sent a mass mailing out to employers rather than just two or three resumes? Did you include yourself in a variety of databases both on and offline such as visiting temporary agencies also known as headhunters? Did you send copies of your resumes to people who would be willing to help you market yourself? When did you last follow up with an employer about your resume (are you keeping record)? Are you allowing yourself to be reachable?

When you do hear from a prospective employer, be sure that you are prepared! You have the business attire picked out that you will be wearing, updated copies of your resume (error free and readable,) list of references, a social security card and an updated id or driver's license, copies of any necessary certification or medical information, samples of your work that is related to the position, and a nice briefcase or similar business accessory.

Think about the kinds of questions you may be asked during the interview, and turn every negative event you have ever had at any job into a positive one. For instance, when asked what would you consider one of your weaknesses? Your answer may be, “Not knowing when to go home, I become very engrossed in my projects and my former bosses have had to cut the lights off on me.” The employer will be watching for signs of mental stability, whether you are responsible, truthful, positive, professional, goal oriented, loyal, and many other attributes that will convince them that you will be an asset to their organization. Put your best foot forward!

By Nicholl McGuire author of What Else Can I Do on the Internet?

How Do You Make Yourself Relevant on the Job?

You may not be the go-to person for very many things at work. But just because you aren't, doesn't mean that your job title is unimportant. So how do you make yourself relevant? What do you do to keep your boss and co-workers interested in your skills?

Here is a short list of some things you can start doing today!

1. Schedule time with your boss to find out if there are any upcoming tasks that he or she may need assistance. By doing this, you are actually one step ahead of the rest of the team and your boss may keep you in mind when the next task comes up.

2. Create a program or project that would help with current tasks. Win your manager's approval and you will cause others to have to come to you for information and training.

3. Organize an event that includes other co-workers and not only will you remain relevant for awhile, but so will others.

4. Brief your boss about ongoing happenings around the workplace that he or she may not be aware, this will not only keep him or her in the loop, but eventually he or she will come to rely on you for information.

5. Volunteer for projects in other departments (of course with your boss' approval.) This too will help you stay relevant.

6. When any boss or co-worker is out of the office, step up to the plate and take the time to update them on what happened in the office while they were away. Not only will your boss and co-worker appreciate your updates, but they will see you are definitely worth keeping around.

Nicholl McGuire

Today is Your Off Day!

For some of us, we rarely have an off day especially if you are a parent of small children. So even if you have a vacation day, you are still working! From preparing meals to running errands, there is never enough time to get everything done!

Yet, we do have those unexpected moments during the day, the personal days we didn't take, and the vacation days that we let accrue! Take advantage of them! Some of us are suffering in our relationships because we don't know how to take off work. Others are hurting all over because the stress has set up in our bodies like a cancer and is slowly killing us. There comes a point when we have to say, "Enough is enough!" Slide back the office chair, get up and just breathe! Take one day more off than what you planned sometimes. Go out of town if a change of scenery does you good. But whatever you do, know that it isn't just you that you are helping, but those around you who have been putting up with your mood swings.

Take today to thank God for what you have and don't have. Hug your family and realize that if it wasn't for them, you probably wouldn't have the drive to keep working like you do! It's okay...give yourself a break!

Nicholl
Take it from me soon after I finish my blog posts, I am turning off the computer and thinking of another time I will fast from being on it. With four sons, a relationship, work at home projects, and a recent relocation, I need the break!

The Boss that Micromanages: A Former Employee Perspective

He checks over your work two and three times after you have told him, "It's done." He calls two or three times while you are out running an errand just to see that you are doing it. He enlists someone to check up on you when you are given a task. He doesn't want you submitting, uploading, downloading, deleting, or filing anything without him looking at it. You are beginning to hate him!

Bosses like this have a history of being burned by others. They may have trusted someone to get something done and it never was done; therefore, their job may have been in jeopardy because of it. They don't believe employees when they say, "I locked the door...I put that away...the fax was sent...I cc the supervisor...I mailed the package." They need proof, assurance, and most likely some medicine for frequent stomach or headaches from all their worries. However, remind yourself, "My bosses stresses will not affect my mood!" It may be easier said than done, but remember you have an innocent family at home that would like to see you in a good mood on most days coming home from work. Don't let your boss affect you and your household!

These micro managers will lose sleep at night if they don't feel confident that a task is done, their problem, not yours! They will show up at the workplace after hours and during vacations just to be sure everyone is doing what they are suppose to--you can only imagine what their family thinks of this!

So what can you do to put your boss at ease? Just do whatever he or she asks. If it makes him feel good to get a second signature on a document that only requires one, do it. If she feels that a follow up call to a client is necessary, do it. The more you harbor angry feelings about your boss, the more you will want to quit prematurely.

You can always suggest to your boss some things that could be changed at the workplace, but you will have to do an exceptional job proving your case. If your idea will save money or time, you just might tickle the micro managers ears. But by all means, put it in writing and schedule an appointment to go over your suggestions with your boss. Who knows if you have won his or her trust, the boss just might start using your ideas and hopefully give you credit!

Nicholl McGuire is the creator of What About My Job found on Blurb.com

Job Interview - What Not to Do

One of my employees answered the phone, put the caller on hold for a moment, and said to me, "This person is looking for a job. Do you want to take the call?" I really did not have need of another employee at that time, but might in the future. So I took the call.

The caller talked about the place where she was now working and the fact she wanted to move upward in her career. From the way she spoke it sounded like she "knew her stuff," so I made an appointment for her to come talk with me.

When time came for the interview I saw her pull into my parking lot, but she did not get out of her car! Instead she sat in her automobile, with the windows rolled up, and smoked a cigarette. Okay, she is here for a job interview, and she is nervous, but she must have smoked an entire pack while driving to the interview, because when she walked through the front door the odor of smoke was overwhelming.

Take a dirty ashtray filled with cigarette butts, pour in a little water so it gets really stinky, and that is the smell she had about her! She could not smell it. Her nose had become desensitized to the odor of cigarette smoke because she lived with it all day.

While I was interviewing her, we happened to be near one of the cold-air intakes for the building's heating system, and within minutes the smoke odor had permeated the building. Later, after she left the building, we could still detect the smoke smell for a couple hours.

I had quit smoking some thirty years earlier - yes it is very difficult to do, and at the time of this lady's interview it just so happened none of my employees smoked. They gave me the "Oh Don, please do not hire her, she smells bad" comments.

Of course it is someone's own personal decision to smoke, but anyone who does (and is going to a job interview) may want to consider nicotine gum, or a nicotine patch on the day of the interview. Not only does the smoke smell get on the smoker's breath, but it also clings to clothing and hair.
I also remember a fellow who came to see me who smelled like he had just smoked an entire bag of weed. The odor was even stronger than cigarettes. And he was stoned too. Go away!

Other odors too may not be so obvious, except to the interviewer. For example perfume and men's aftershave lotion -- a tiny dab goes a long way. A big dab goes everywhere. Garlic, lots of garlic -- while it may keep away werewolves and other nasties, the smell stays in your body's system almost twenty-four hours and dissipates through your lungs! Do not breathe in the same room as does your interviewer.

Interviewers usually know within 30 to 40 seconds whether or not they want to hire the person they are interviewing. Your first impression happens in an instant. Do not stink.

Don Schenk has been conducting hiring interviews for four decades. The real, insider's secret to Job-Search is not what you think it is! Discover the 3 little-known strategies that will make the interviewer want to hire you within the first 30 to 40 seconds of the interview! Go to:
http://www.HowYouFindAJobFast.com