Out of a Job? Don't Panic!
by Ross Macpherson, President, Career Quest
(featured in the McGraw-Hill book 101 Ways to Recession-Proof Your Career)
When the employment market takes a tumble, many people respond impulsively and tend to panic. Who can blame them, right? We all need our jobs, and no one likes uncertainty. The problem, though, is that panic tends to prevent you from taking the measured steps necessary to solve the problem effectively, which only in turn creates more panic. This insidious process just feeds upon itself, and can have seriously counterproductive, and even devastating results.
In the employment world, the panic I'm speaking of can manifest itself in a variety of ways:
- Those who find themselves out of a job as the result of a recession FRANTICALLY start a knee-jerk job hunting process with little focus or direction - they quickly update an already poor résumé, apply for every job they see advertised whether it's a good fit or not, call every recruiter in the phone book, and otherwise make rash and haphazard decisions
- Those who are lucky enough to remain employed when the recession hits tend to hang on to their current job for dear life, even if they desperately hate what they're doing
- Others, on the other hand, are simply frozen and lose all sight of what they were doing, where they were trying to go, and ultimately don't or can't do anything at all
Now don't get me wrong - I understand that food must go on the table, and mortgage payments have to be made. You need your job, whether that means keeping the one you have or finding a new one. However, my concern is with any of the above responses that are motivated and characterized by PANIC. The problem with panic is that it causes you to lose focus, perspective, and judgement, and I don't want to see you jump from the pan into the fire!
Smart career management calls for a calculated and organized approach, and that still holds true even when you feel your back is against the wall. So, here are a few suggestions to handle panic when you feel it approaching:
- Vent - let it out! If you feel the emotions rising and your head is filled with worries about everything that could possibly go wrong, your best bet is to let those feelings out because they're just going to cloud your judgement. Find someone positive and caring to talk to and let it out. This will clear room for more productive thinking and a more positive attitude
- Assemble a plan - if you remain frantic and unorganized, your results will quickly just frustrate you. Consider what you need to accomplish and put together a plan of action with specific goals and steps
- Get the help you need - follow the expert advice in this book, contact a professional who can help you with your resume, job search strategy, and interviewing skills, or contact a friend or colleague who has successfully navigated an organized job search in the past. There is great help out there, so take advantage of it.
- Don't lose sight of your goals - employment slowdowns are only temporary, and do not mean that you still can't get that job of your dreams. Channel any "panic" energy toward your goals and keep your eyes open for opportunities - you just might be thrilled with the results!
So, try not to hit the panic button - take a few days to collect your thoughts, consider the lay of the land, look at your situation objectively, consider what needs to be done, gather your support, and go to it with a clear head. Good luck!
