How to Find Hidden Employment Opportunities in a Job Loss

After a layoff or job loss it is normal to lose self-confidence and begin to doubt whether you will ever be employed again. However, this setback does not have to be permanent. You can use it to explore a variety of job opportunities. Instead of letting disappointment and rejection control your response to work and life, you can choose to take charge of your career and find the kind of work you really enjoy, a better company to work for, and people who really appreciate who you are and what you have to offer. To find the hidden employment opportunities within your job loss, consider these tips.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Change your attitude and mindset about the job loss. Start thinking and acting like a winner-someone who is able to bounce back from disappointment, failure and defeat and rise again to experience a new career.

2. Take a critical look at your skill set. Take courses or attend seminars to upgrade your skills or learn new ones that will make you more attractive to a new employer.

3. Keep an eye open for new career opportunities in a field related to your former one or in a new area that you've always wanted to explore.

4. Think of creative ways to look at your competencies and abilities. For example, if you were a salesperson before a layoff, consider the opposite of that profession and explore being a buyer or sales trainer.

5. Make a list of all of the things you know how to do. Look for ways to combine some of them to create a new skill set and opportunity.

6. It has been said that every job requires at least three skills. Look at each of your skills to see which ones could be turned into three-skilled job opportunities.

7. Consider doing something brand new like starting a business, working as a freelance writer or becoming a consultant.

Resources

• Career Tools for the Unemployed
• Answers to Your Career Questions