Do these things immediately after being laid off

Job security is important to all of us and when we are laid off, it can be a devastating experience. In this emotional time, it may be hard to get your ducks in a row, but it’s vital that you summon the strength to move forward. In the event that you’re let go, immediately doing the following things will help you formulate a plan for the future.

Take a day
As stated above, your emotions will be going wild after being let go. When you’re reeling from this unexpected career disappointment it will be quite difficult to make wise decisions. Instead of starting the job search process as an emotional mess, take a day (or two) to reflect and regroup. Let yourself experience the disappointment and anxiety you’re feeling but, don’t get lost in the negativity. After you’ve taken a little time, find the strength needed to keep going.

Request a recommendation
If you’ve left on good terms nothing says you can’t use your employer as a reference for future opportunities. If you contact your colleagues or your manager and ask them to provide you with a recommendation they will undoubtedly do what they can to assist you in your job search. If your employer feels uncomfortable and declines, move on to someone else that can make your skillset shine. Remember a good rule of thumb is to have more than enough references on hand as you don’t know exactly how many will be needed for each potential position.

Have a game plan
Searching for a new place of employment can be a full-time job in itself so it’s important you have a good plan in place. It’s natural to come out of the gate with guns blazing but pace yourself so you don’t get burned out and turned off by the job search process. Settle on how many positions you will apply to daily and when the day is done, evaluate your progress and what you want to do differently tomorrow.