How to Find a Job After Being Laid Off
A lay-off can leave you in a financial bind that is very difficult to overcome. The quickest way to recover is to find a new job. While the loss of your last position may shake your confidence, you must find a way to pick yourself up and begin the search for a new job immediately. Even if you qualify for unemployment, you will need to secure a new job quickly because unemployment will not support you or your family for very long.
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Instructions
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Update your resume with your most recent work history. Include any extra education you completed while employed. Do not include why you left previous employers but answer truthfully if asked.
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Highlight any achievements or awards you earned during your last position. Do not include any proprietary information from previous employers even if it improves your resume. Doing so makes you seem untrustworthy because this information is confidential.
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Upload your resume to online job boards including your state's job board.
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Search job boards on a regular basis, preferably once a day. Also look through your local newspaper's classifieds each Sunday for information on local positions that are available.
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Sign up for job fairs in your area or that are specifically for your line of work. Fairs are often advertised at workforce offices, in Sunday newspapers and online job boards.
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Call the hiring manager of companies that interest you. While cold calling takes a significant amount of practice to complete successfully, it can lead to an invitation for an interview.
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Attend networking events with others in your line of work. Just because you are currently without a job does not mean you should neglect meeting new people in your field. Contact any work-related organizations you are a member of to inquire about networking events. Your city's chamber of commerce may also host networking events.
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Apply for any position you feel you are qualified to accept. The more positions you apply for, the higher the chance you will land a new job. Do not rule out part-time employment especially in your line of work. The income and current experience will help reduce your stress level during your job search.
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Arrive at interviews prepared and at least 15 minutes early. If you arrive late, you give the hiring manager a sense that you will arrive to work late if offered a position.
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Answer interview questions honestly without bragging about yourself. Honest answers will provide the necessary insight into your abilities without you needing to brag.
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Tips & Warnings
Adjust your resume to fit each position if at all possible. For instance, if you are applying for a management position highlight any management skills you have and if applying for a sales position highlight your sales experience.
Never falsify any information on your resume or application. Even if you land the position, you will likely get caught and fired without recourse.
