How to Survive and Bounce Back From Being Laid Off

Keeping yourself busy can significantly improve your chances of getting hired for a new job. At the same time, it can help deal with negative feelings. Here are some tips for staying visible in your industry while unemployed.

• Tap into your network: The network you have built throughout your career can help you find a new job. Reach out and reconnect with people. Let your connections know that you’re back in the job market.
• Learn something new: Enhance your skills and expand your knowledge while unemployed to help improve your chances of getting a new job. This also ensures you stay up to date with developments in the industry.
• Use available resources: Explore available online courses and lectures. Consider attending industry-related events and seminars to help you meet new people who can be potential employers or part of your growing network.
• Maintain relationships with former employers: Don't sever ties with former employers and colleagues. Maintain good relationships with them since they may help you grow your network and can be work or character references.

Various education programs are available to you. If you think this is the best way to spend your time after getting laid off, consider the following options. Make sure you do your research and weigh the pros and cons of each.

• Look for certificate or training programs: You can improve your skills by simply taking short certificates or training programs. Depending on your choice, these can take a few weeks to a few months.
• Take online classes: Online classes allow you to learn new skills or refresh your knowledge without leaving your home. You may find courses that charge a small fee or even get free access to some lectures online.
• Go to graduate school: You can advance your degree by going to graduate school. Find a course that's relevant to the career path you want to take. To help fund your higher education, consider applying for scholarships, financial aid or grants.

It can be a bit challenging trying to manage your finances, especially if you have limited funds. You should ideally have enough savings to cover your household expenses for a few months. However, this isn't always the case. Here are some tips to help you survive financially after getting laid off.

• Review your expenses: Categorize your expenses and determine which are essential. Figure out ways to reduce your spending. For instance, you may cancel subscriptions or memberships you barely use.
• Manage your budget: Create a budget plan once you've determined your financial situation and expenses. You can use a budgeting app, download a free worksheet or write it down in a notebook.
• Apply for assistance: File for unemployment benefits in your state. You may also be eligible for food stamps, temporary assistance programs, free or discounted healthcare or financial aid. There may also be nonprofits in your area that offer emergency help for unemployed individuals.
• Consider other income sources: Depending on the circumstances, it may take a few weeks or months to find a new full-time job. While you're unemployed, consider other income sources. You can get a gig through sites like Upwork or FlexJobs.
• Think about getting a loan: While relying on loans is not advisable, getting one can help you if you're in a tight situation. However, make sure you review the terms, fees and interest rates. Remember that a loan is a commitment you'll have to repay.

When it comes to getting a new job, it pays to be persistent. It would also help to be open to various opportunities that may come your way. Below are some options you may want to consider.

• Give freelancing a try: Whether you're waiting to land that dream job or are looking for a way to hide an employment gap on your record, freelancing may be right for you. Additionally, you get to earn money while job searching. This can help build your portfolio.
• Get creative: Consider other areas of interest instead of restricting yourself to a particular position or industry. Focus on your strengths and talents. You may be able to use these to pursue a career you're enthusiastic about.
• Learn how to filter: Getting too many job listings each day can be overwhelming. You may start by filtering locations, education requirements, years of experience, pay range, type of employment (part-time, full-time or contract) and work set-up (office-based or remote work).

Spending your time volunteering can help you stay focused and prevent you from feeling stagnated. In addition, volunteering allows you to meet new people and even land a new job.

• Check local nonprofits or organizations: Start searching near you. Check out bulletin boards in recreation centers and local stores. Ask friends and relatives if they know of any nonprofits serving your community.
• Research online: You can easily find nonprofits and volunteer initiatives online. Simply type in the search toolbar. You may also find organizations on social media sites or websites like VolunteerMatch.org and Idealist.org.
• Consider your skills, experience and interests: The right volunteer opportunities may vary depending on the person involved. Assessing your skills and interests is important when deciding on volunteer work or activity. Determine how much time you're willing to commit.

It can be scary to resume the workforce after being laid off. But knowing how to evaluate your career properly can help you get back on track.

• Focus on your personal goals: When reassessing your career, it's important to consider your personal goals. From there, you can figure out whether you should switch career paths entirely or continue where you left off before the layoff.
• Determine your strengths: By understanding your strengths, you will also be able to assess your capabilities and the best career for you. Consider what you enjoyed most in your previous job and which areas you excel in.
• Evaluate the market: Your career reevaluation should not be limited to what you can expect in the next few months. Ensure you evaluate the overall market and have a long-term plan to maximize your career development.

Your resume is the first thing hiring managers see. It serves as your ticket to landing an interview, which could lead to employment. That is why it's important to update it regularly.

• Tailor it to the industry: When creating a resume, it's important to know what qualifications a company or hiring manager is looking for. This way, you know which employment experience and skills to highlight.
• Be concise: Avoid putting too many details in your resume. Hiring managers tend to receive multiple resumes at once, so avoid redundancy. Ideally, you should limit your resume to one to two pages.
• Keep it professional: Typically, hiring managers and recruiters contact prospective job applicants via email. So, having a professional email address in your resume is extremely important.
• Attach a cover letter: When sending a resume (especially online), don't forget to include a cover letter. Make sure its color scheme or design matches your resume.
• Don’t forget to proofread: Before submitting your cover letter and resume, review it for possible errors. You can also ask a friend or loved one to check for spelling, grammar or punctuation mistakes.

If you're unemployed and looking for a way to gain work experience, you can start by trying any of the following options.

• Internship: Many internships don't come with a salary. They may not also always lead to a full-time job. However, internship opportunities can help you gain relevant skills and experience working in the field.
• Project-based work: If you find it hard to get a new job, you can try assisting in projects by offering your services. For instance, you can apply to projects that require an extra pair of hands for only a short period.
• Apprenticeship: A training scheme wherein an individual works in a specific job, trade or for a certain person. Through this, you can get paid while gaining skills and knowledge that could help you land the job you want.