| The financial crisis has caused companies across | | | | your job search. Many times individuals have |
| the nation to lay off thousands of workers. | | | | come to me expressing regret after hurdling |
| Everywhere people are feeling the pinch as | | | | themselves into a job search with unclear goals, |
| companies in every industry segment react to | | | | second-rate or outdated marketing materials, and |
| the market. Below are five common mistakes | | | | while still nursing their wounds from a job loss. |
| individuals make after a layoff and suggestions for | | | | Rather than accelerating your job search, rushing |
| avoiding them. | | | | into a job hunt before you are ready will |
| #1 Interviewing before you are emotionally ready. | | | | negatively impact your candidacy and can |
| I met Bob the day after he let his anger over his | | | | significantly increase the time it takes to find your |
| job loss erupt at a job fair. Bob was really upset | | | | next job. Hiring managers can smell fear and |
| about being laid off. After all, he was a long-term | | | | desperation. They want to hire well-qualified |
| employee, did a good job, and had a family | | | | people who are genuinely interested in the |
| support. | | | | company and the position, not those who look like |
| He put together a résumé and | | | | they are running from something else. |
| decided to attend a large job fair in Silicon Valley. | | | | Take time to repack your bags. When you leave |
| Nearly a thousand people showed up at the job | | | | for a trip, do you start with a suitcase packed |
| fair. Bob found that he had to wait in long lines to | | | | with dirty laundry, used toothpaste containers, |
| talk with a company representative. By the time | | | | and leftover trash? Of course not. Likewise, when |
| it was his turn, he was fairly seething. The hiring | | | | taking the next step in your career journey, you |
| manager accepted his résumé, | | | | want to begin by taking a fresh look at yourself |
| asked him a few questions and then determined | | | | and your marketing materials. Identify your key |
| that the company didn't have any positions that | | | | skills and career accomplishments. Develop a |
| were a good match for his skills. | | | | focused-résumé, reference list, |
| With that Bob exploded, shouting, "You're just | | | | and other collateral materials. |
| stupid," effectively ending the conversation and | | | | While it is tempting to jump into the game |
| attracting stares from job seekers and | | | | immediately, smart job seekers know the |
| representatives from other companies. | | | | benefits of assessing where they want to go and |
| Bob made several mistakes - the first one was | | | | making a plan to get there. What most job |
| attempting to interview before he was | | | | seekers don't understand is that the hiring wheels |
| emotionally ready. His second mistake was taking | | | | turn slowly. The few extra days or weeks you |
| his anger out on the very person who could have | | | | spend preparing yourself and your materials will go |
| helped him, now or in the future. Bob could have | | | | a long way toward getting you a second look |
| asked the hiring manager for feedback on his | | | | when your résumé gets into the |
| résumé. Or, if he was convinced | | | | hands of the right people. |
| the person wasn't qualified to review his | | | | #4 Being embarrassed about looking for a job. |
| credentials, he could have come back later in the | | | | Often job seekers are embarrassed about being |
| day when a different representative would be at | | | | out of work and keep the fact that they are |
| the booth. In any event, he blew his chances with | | | | looking for work a closely guarded secret - on par |
| that company and every other company within | | | | with disclosing government intelligence activities. |
| earshot. This being a small world, he also ruined his | | | | Don't make the same mistake that one former |
| chances with any future company for whom "Mr. | | | | client made. This proud professional, a gentleman |
| Stupid" might work. | | | | in his 50's, refused to tell his mother or other |
| Letting your anger get the best of you during a | | | | close friends that he had been laid off. Every day, |
| job search just doesn't work. Do yourself a favor | | | | he dressed for work, stopped off at mom's and |
| and get your emotions under control before you | | | | then pretended to head off to his job instead of |
| start interviewing. | | | | a career center where he spent his days combing |
| #2 Complaining loudly to your 100 closest friends. | | | | the want ads in search of the perfect job. Sadly, |
| During the years I worked in corporate | | | | his search was a long, painful one. |
| outplacement, I saw people ruin their reputations | | | | Once you have decided on your target, have |
| and burn countless bridges in the hours and days | | | | your marketing materials ready to go, and have |
| after receiving a layoff notice. Furious about what | | | | come to terms with your job loss, share your |
| they considered to be an unfair situation, they | | | | career and job goals with everyone you know. |
| vented their anger on anyone and everyone who | | | | #5 Insisting that every day of your career be |
| would listen. They spoke out negatively about | | | | included in your marketing materials. |
| their company and supervisor to the very people, | | | | When IBM was going through a major |
| inside and outside of the organization, who would | | | | reorganization and downsizing Jane, a customer |
| be in a position to help them during their job | | | | service engineer, came to see me. She was a |
| search. | | | | talented individual who had moved up through the |
| Being angry and wanting to vent after a job loss | | | | ranks as a result of hard work. Although only in |
| are appropriate responses. The key is knowing | | | | her 50's, she had worked for IBM for 30 years. |
| when and with whom it makes sense to vent. | | | | She was not ready to retire. The company made |
| Sharing your feelings with close family and friends | | | | it clear that it she should consider their buyout |
| in the privacy of your home makes good sense. | | | | package now or face an almost certain lay off |
| Sharing your feelings loudly with your 100 closest | | | | with no severance package in the coming months. |
| friends at the office or in public, by phone, or via | | | | Jane was very proud of the time she spent at |
| mass emails doesn't. While doing so might feel | | | | IBM and insisted that every day of it be |
| good initially, in the long run it will damage your | | | | accounted for on her résumé |
| credibility and limit your effectiveness when | | | | whether it was relevant or not. She wanted credit |
| networking. | | | | for her 30 years of work. |
| Instead, ask questions, listen, and take notes. Ask | | | | The problem was that rather than seeing a vital, |
| your manager for information about the length of | | | | capable individual able to make substantial |
| the layoff notice period, health-care benefits | | | | contributions for another 10 to 15 years, potential |
| during the transition, arrangements for | | | | employers assumed she was over the hill and |
| outplacement counseling, and how references will | | | | ready for the rocking chair. After nearly a year of |
| be handled. | | | | unemployment, I finally convinced her to limit the |
| Then, take time to work through your feelings | | | | information on the résumé to |
| with those you love and trust. Learn from the | | | | what was relevant - roughly the last fifteen |
| experience of losing a job and find a way to | | | | years. Within four months, she had three offers |
| capture and tell the essential elements of your | | | | and took the one that best suited her. |
| story in a meaningful way during interviews. | | | | When marketing yourself, sell what is relevant and |
| #3 Rushing into the job search. | | | | nothing more. |
| As panicked as you might feel, don't rush into | | | | |
