Whether you are out of work by choice or whether you have been laid off due to the current economic climate, you can take control of the situation. The important part is to manage the emotional impact so that you can go about looking for work again.
10 STRATEGIES TO HELP YOU FIND WORK
Expect bad feelings.
Nobody wants to be without a job so expect some bad feelings. Shock, anger, sadness, numbness, anxiety, sleepless nights, depression headaches and stomach pains are all normal. These feelings will decrease as you take positive steps towards looking for work again.
Know yourself
Know yourself so you can sell yourself. You won’t be able to sell your strongest points to others unless you know them yourself. Ask yourself questions like: What are my interests? What describes my work style – methodical, creative, determined? What are the work skills I bring to a job?
Build your self-esteem
Build your self-esteem and increase your optimism by reminding yourself of your successes. If you have letters of appreciation and recommendation, read these regularly while you’re job hunting. Take steps to increase your self-esteem as an air of self-confidence can help you sell yourself.
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Diversify your job-hunting portfolio
Think of other ways to look for a job. Besides newspaper ads and employment agencies, consider the internet, trade journals, bulletin boards, job fairs as well as networking via colleagues, friends and family.
Learn how to handle an interview
Make sure you can answer these questions that are most frequently asked of potential employees.
- What exactly do you want from us?
Describe your ideal job
Why are you changing careers?
Why did you leave your last job?
Where do you want to be 5 years from now?
What’s your greatest accomplishment?
What are your strengths? - What are your weaknesses?
Rehearse your answers in your mind and keep your answers short and to the point. Remember never to bad-mouth your previous employer and also don’t make out that employing you will be “God’s gift to the company”!! Keep most of your answers short. Your answer should be no more than two minutes per question. Rather let the interviewer do most of the talking. Find out about the company you’re seeking an interview with so that you can interact knowledgeably with the interviewer.
Email a ‘thank-you’ after every interview
Send a thank you email the day after the interview. This will keep your application foremost in mind as the company sift through the many applications.
Dress for success
First impressions do count, so dress the part! Appropriate clothing, clean hair, a good posture and good firm handshake all affect the first impression. Ask a friend or spouse to help you critique your appearance.
Part time work
Accept part-time work as a stop-gap and if necessary sell unneeded assets. It’s time to evaluate exactly what you do or don’t need.
Exercise
Exercise helps release Dopamine, the happy brain chemical. This can help stave off anxiety and depression.
Your attitude is vital
Choose to be upbeat, positive and optimistic despite having lost your job. View this time as a great opportunity to try something new. Losing a job can force a person to be creative and there are many people who later on were thankful because of the new doors that were opened.
Keeping a check on your thoughts and what is going on in your mind can make all the difference for success.