How to Get Back On Your Feet After a Layoff

If you haven't been laid off from a job yet, consider yourself lucky.  According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, 851,997 Americans lost their jobs last year.

The majority of the layoffs were made in the manufacturing, construction and information technology industries, but they came in other sectors as well.  The Florida-based Winn Dixie grocery store chain laid off 22,000 people; Boeing handed out more than 9,000 pink slips; and Verizon started the process of laying off more than 7,000 workers shortly after acquiring MCI.  

Add in the 56,310 jobs lost as a result of structural damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and it's easy to see why the national unemployment rate has climbed to 4.8 percent (as of February 2006, U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics).

So how do you get back on your feet after a layoff?  There are a number of steps you'll need to take.  "First and foremost, don't panic!  You may have lost your job, but not your ability to work.  Something bigger and better will come along soon," says Vernon Pursley of www.staffkit.com, a Web-based Computer Training service.

Here are some of the most important things Pursley's organization recommends people do to get back on their feet quickly:

1) Organize your finances.

Take out a piece of paper and make two columns.  On one side list your necessities, like the mortgage, food, gas, utilities and daycare.  On the other, your luxuries, like that daily cup of Starbucks coffee, your gym membership and movie money.  You'll likely find you can save a lot of money by cutting out the extras for a while.

2) Update your resume.

A good resume can often mean the difference between being granted an interview or not.  
Take the time to make yours really shine before sending it out the door.  Be sure to highlight all the skills and responsibilities you had on your last job, and definitely make a point of asking someone else to review the document before you send it anywhere.

3) Activate your network.

Don't be ashamed that you've been laid off.  Tell everyone you can think of that you're looking for work.  Maybe your friend, relative or a neighbor knows of an employer looking for someone with your skill set.

4) Go back to school.

Take advantage of the time off to better yourself both professionally and personally. If, for example, the job you lost was in the manufacturing sector, you can go back to school to learn the skills you'd need to make the transition to a higher paying professional position.  

Don't have the time to sit in a classroom?  Join the growing number of adults who are going back to school on their own time - on line.  "We've found that a lot of people who want to make the transition form blue collar work to more professional positions don't have the computer skills they need to make the leap, which is why we offer a comprehensive Desktop Computing training package," says Pursley. For just $89.95 you'll have access, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to more than 250 lessons that can quickly bring you up to speed.  You'll learn the basics of how computers work and how to use some of the most popular software out there -- like Microsoft Office, Crystal Reports, Visio, Project, SharePoint, Windows XP and SAP.

"The lessons are accompanied by practice tests that allow the user to test out their new-found skills in real time," says Pursley.  "If our clients so desire, they can also sign up for mentoring service from a live person.  The service is available to them around the clock."

Staffkit.com also offers training packages for people who want to pursue Microsoft, Cisco and other computer certifications, for those who want to become experts in Web and business skills development, and for people who want to learn how to set up a home business.

To get started down a new career path, log on to www.staffkit.com today.

Copyright © 2006, ARA Content