ALT-4 Unemployment
The loss of employment can be devastating to anyone but especially for those who are the main breadwinners for their families. After the initial shock of being told that you will no longer have a job, the main thing is to keep a positive attitude. There are many cases of people rising above adversity by setting themselves goals and keeping at it with a never-say-die attitude.
It is important to check out what entitlements you will receive in the way of redundancy payments, holiday pay, sickness leave or health insurance. Make sure you get all the entitlements that are laid out in your employment contract. This tells you what you have to live on for the time being. If you are not sure about your entitlements speak to others who may have been in the same predicament or a union representative might be able to help.
Put in place a budget that takes into consideration all your needs for the weeks ahead because regardless of your situation, bills still have to be paid and the family still have to be fed. Belt tightening, bargain hunting and going without luxuries may be the order of the day but as long as your family have their basic needs taken care of that is the main thing. Adjustments might have to be made to help make ends meet but this is something to discuss with the family. Be honest with your family because no matter what situation you find yourself in, family are the ones you can turn to for support and will be the ones to rally around you if times get tough. Don’t try to hide the fact that you have lost your job, so as not to lose face, this will only make matters worse taking more effort than necessary when efforts can be used for more positive things. You are not the first and won’t be the last to be laid off, anybody can be in this situation anytime and anywhere; it is a fact of life.
Plan your next course of action as best you can because in times of economic uncertainty nothing is cut and dried anymore. Taking measures to find new employment is your main priority not only for necessity but for your self-worth as this can easily take a blow. Take into consideration that things will be different on the work front from when you first gained employment. Some things you may not be familiar with if you have been at your job for a long period of time is the resume and interview process you will have to deal with.
A lot of companies use agencies to fill vacancies so be prepared for the different processes, aspects and criteria agencies are looking for in an employee. The agencies will assist you in putting together an appropriate resume for the type of employment you are seeking. One of the best ways of finding gainful employment is by word of mouth and this is where friends and family can play a crucial part. Put feelers out everywhere and at every chance for any possible employment opportunities.
It would be ideal if you could find a job similar to what you already had but you must remember the reason why you were laid off in the first place could be due to cutbacks in your chosen industry. Be prepared to take on something new that may not incorporate your field of expertise or only incorporate a few of the skills you already possess.
Do not be too hasty to dismiss a job that isn’t quite up to the standards you were used to, think of it as a transitioning position that will serve you well for the present but not necessarily for the future. The idea is to get back into the workforce, but you never know, this job may end up fulfilling your needs once you try it. There could possibly be new skills to be learnt and new friends to be made.
As a safeguard, register with the unemployment office as they are there to help you gain employment, monitor your progress and assist you should you have difficulty finding a job straight away.
The loss of a job can mean the opportunity to move in a new direction career-wise or you might want to upgrade some of your skills. Taking adult education night or day classes at your nearest learning institute may be another idea. There are certificated courses that can be gained on-line, but ensure they are with reputable learning institutes that have qualifications and standards recognised by employers or employment agencies. If you are not used to using the computer this can be a fine time to familiarize yourself with its applications. The Internet has so many employment sites where all you have to do is submit your resume online and make as many applications as you want.
Always remain hopeful as this attitude will shine through in an interview more than one of hopelessness. If the time it takes to get a job takes longer than you anticipated It is important to follow a good daily routine of activity keeping your mind and body occupied so as not slip into bad habits that can cause frustration and anger. The main thing to do is to remain focused, keep trying and keep positive because you never know where luck may come from.
