Simply Hired Blog

3 Steps to Set Yourself Up for Success After Being Laid Off

When you’re comfortably employed the last thing on your mind is looking for a new job. Being laid off almost always comes as a shock. It can be a confidence-shaking experience and can overwhelm even the most confident individuals. The first thing to do is remain calm. While it may seem that it’s the end of everything you have worked for, it’s definitely not.

If you do find yourself laid off, don’t panic. By following some of our advice below you’ll help make sure you’re set up for success in your upcoming job search.

1.

Remember to be polite and open with your human resources team. Ask for their assistance to find an alternative job. Many companies provide this service to employees, and if they do, take advantage of it. Being laid off can be not only a personal blow, but it can make a dent in your resume. Speak to your human resources department about potentially portraying your layoff as a voluntary departure. They may also be able to assist with accessing support services, such as advice on your resume and interview assistance. 

Your own mental well being is important to take into consideration as well. Give yourself time to get used to what has happened and address the issues that may have led to your departure. Talk to those closest to you. Friends and family are great sources of ideas and support as you begin to reassess your career. 

2. 

Make sure you work out your finances. You may be given a severance package, and if so you will need to ensure that you organize your finances accordingly so it lasts for the duration of your unemployment (which may be a few months). Find out about what benefits, such as healthcare, you are entitled to promptly so you can effectively organize your finances.

Start discretely letting friends and colleagues know that you are in the market for a new job. If you have built up professional contacts throughout your tenure at an entry-level job, take advantage of those contacts by approaching individuals to gauge any opportunities at their companies. You will most likely want to do this with a small group at first before changing your work status on professional networking sites in order to control your message. 

 3.

Make a list of your greatest accomplishments. This will not only help you with your interviews, it will boost your confidence when you see them on paper just how good you look. If you need to, ask family, friends, and colleagues to help you define your achievements. Once you have a list, highlight the accomplishments that gave you the most personal satisfaction.

Ask yourself where you want to be in 10, or 15 years, and consider whether a change in career direction is something to consider. Start by matching your greatest achievements to the career options available. This may prompt you to take your entry-level job search in a new direction.

The best advice given in this stressful situation is to stay calm, remain positive, keep networking, and, no matter how tempting, never burn your bridges. Getting let go from your job may actually lead you to your dream job, so always keep your head up. 

Sean Little is the VP of Marketing for FirstJob.com. FirstJob specializes in connecting the brightest college students and recent graduates to quality internship and entry-level opportunities via social tools and a curated database of jobs. Sean’s passions are music, travel, and, of course, helping college grads start their professional journey.  

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The 9-5 Job Search: A Timeline You Can Actually Use

Job hunters, I sympathize with your pain.  Feeling depressed and stressed is not helped when you realize that its 6pm and you’re still on the couch, with your laptop, in your pajamas.  After sacrificing countless hours to web browsing, I finally figured out what my job search was craving: organization. 

Start with the basics

Before you start the schedule, sharpen your tools.  This includes an updated resume and the skeleton of a killer cover letter.  (A generic letter is not what is being suggested.)  Later you will customize cover letters to fit each job, but for now you should formalize the later paragraphs that detail your skills and professional ideals. 

Clean up your Facebook page and create a LinkedIn account because recruiters are keen on checking these.  Also, get a spreadsheet ready to help keep multiple job opportunities organized; include these headings: Company Name, Job Function, Biggest Draw, and Link (to the actual listing).

7:45-9am: Get into the routine

Relax; 7:45am is a suggestion. That being said, you need to get the following done before 9am:

• Dress in anything but pajamas and put shoes on (sounds weird, but psychologically it makes a difference). 
• Have breakfast, prepare a lunch and store it in your fridge. 
• Find a working space other than the couch and turn the TV off.
• Check your email, Facebook, whatever - just be sure by 9am you are ready to dive in.

9-10am: Find and track jobs

The goal during the next 55 minutes is to skim listings and track them on your spreadsheet.  There is no magic number, just value quality over quantity.  Don’t add a job to your spreadsheet you’re not interested in or that you are not qualified for, it’s a waste of everyone’s time.

Stop your search at 9:55am and rank your leads; your goal is to determine your top four prospects. 

10am-Noon: Research and prepare

Now that you’ve established your top four, it’s time to do some in-depth research and tackle each job opportunity one at a time (30 minutes each).  

For each job, devote 20 minutes to researching the company’s background and trends.  The goal is to figure out a way to fit your talents into their culture.  Spend the last 10 minutes customizing your cover letter.  Prove to those concerned that you’ve taken the time to learn, and explain why you would be a qualified addition to their team.  

12-12:45pm: Take a break

Your tummy is rumbling, so have your lunch.  Ideally use the rest of your break to take a walk; the sunshine and exercise will boost your energy and mood.  Other options include stretching, reading, meditating… just stay away from the unemployed person’s biggest enemy: the TV.

12:45-1pm: Review and submit

Your break has refreshed your eyes so review your cover letters for any typos and send.  There’s no proven “best time of the day to submit an application” but people tend to be in better moods returning from lunch and most get back into work mode by scanning their emails, so here’s hoping you’ll stand out. 

1-2pm: Speed apply

Now attend to the remaining listings you sought out at the start of your day.  Instead of spending 20 minutes to research and 10 minutes to update your cover letter, cut things down to 15/5.

2-2:30pm: Decompress

Take a 30 minute cat nap (tip: have some caffeine before, it takes 30 minutes for it to kick in so you will wake up with a double boost of energy), have a snack or return missed calls.  You can do anything you want in these 30 minutes just avoid the TV and your computer (because hey, you need a break).   

2:30-3:30pm: Navigate out of your comfort zone

It’s time to branch out and get creative.  Cold call companies you admire.  Look up social events for networking opportunities.  Interact on social media with people in your desired field.  Look into temp agencies.  It’s ok if these efforts are fruitless because if you’ve stuck to the schedule thus far, you’ve already accomplished a lot. 

3:30-4pm (5pm MAX): Wrap things up

Tie up the day’s loose ends by applying to leftover jobs or checking your email.   Look up new postings and add them to tomorrow’s list.  If you find some other great leads then by all means, apply now; but by 5pm, walk away.

The job hunt is exhausting and burnout is easy.  Spend your evening watching TV (yes, now you can turn it on) or go catch up with friends.  Eventually you will land a job.  In the meantime, a productive day will keep you feeling organized and comforted - knowing that you’re giving the job hunt your all.

How do you maximize your job search efforts? Share below.

Kelly Gregorio writes about employment trends and employee motivation while working at Advantage Capital Funds, a business loan provider.

5 Signs It's Time To Switch Up Your Job Search

When was the last time you evaluated your job search performance? If you’ve been unemployed for longer than you’ve planned, you owe it to yourself to make a few improvements. 

Self-assessment is an essential way to ensure your job search tactics haven’t gone stale. While silence from potential employers is the ultimate sign your job search isn’t going so well, it’s far too general to truly assess where your problems lie. 

Here are five signs to help you evaluate where you need to switch up your search to ensure a speedier path to employment:

1. You don’t have a set job search strategy

One size does not fit all in terms of the strategies job seekers can use to get hired, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have one at all.

One sign your job search might be failing: You haven’t put much thought into how you plan to get find a new position. The way you seek out positions is a main factor in how successful your search is.

Developing a strong job search strategy simply involves how, when, and where you seek out  positions. Focus on your personal needs, time management, resources, and effort when building your strategy.

Some ways you can do this include creating and maintaining a list of job boards and online resources within your industry niche, establishing a list of networking contacts to build stronger relationships with, and managing your time by developing a job search calendar.  

2. You have no industry contacts

It’s common for some job seekers to become so wrapped up in their search that they completely lose ties with the real world. And not having any contacts within your industry is a key indicator you’re not networking properly...or at all.

Switch up your search by placing a stronger focus on networking. This will not only speed up your job search, but also potentially eliminate searching altogether. This is because contacts you’ve developed a strong relationship with often send you job listings before they ever make it to a job board, or may pass along your information before a position even opens.

3. You’re focusing too much on social media

The professional use of social media platforms act as a great aid for your job search, but they shouldn’t be the only tool you’re using to secure a new position. Social media platforms add value to your personal brand during the search, but finding a new position involves a lot more than spending your days on LinkedIn.

For more beneficial results, utilize social media to actually connect with individuals within your industry. This means more than adding them as a friend--actively build relationships with these folks by organizing informational interviews via phone or simply grabbing coffee.

4. You wing it every time you have an interview

It’s surprising how many job seekers truly believe in blind attempts at success. If you’re regularly “winging” the majority of your interviews, it’s safe to say that you need to switch up your strategies. While there is the off-chance this might work, there is a greater likelihood you’ll come off as unprepared and unprofessional.

Every level of the job search and hiring process should involve a large amount of preparation. With the incredibly competitive job climate, your potential employers are certain to notice your lack of preparation and go with another candidate. Focus on developing better preparation habits to benefit you in the long term. You can do this by studying your resume to ensure ease when you’re speaking about your experiences, researching your potential employer, and practicing answers to typical interview questions.

5. Your job search involves more waiting than doing

Waiting is a strong indicator it’s time to redirect your job search. While this is often an unavoidable part of the search process, you should never spend the majority of your search waiting around to hear back from potential employers. This is where a level of proactivity is required.

If you haven’t heard back from potential employers in a few weeks, it’s time to make a call or send an email. Simply checking in on your status -- especially after an interview -- won’t hurt your chances of getting hired.

Don’t let a worn-out job search ruin your chances of finding the position you’ve been dreaming of. Regularly assess your job search performance to stay in tune with your success.

Afifa Siddiqui is the COO and Co-founder of Careerleaf, an all-in-one job search platform that cuts the time to apply in half. 

Six Ways to Personalize your Job Search Experience

Everyone knows job searching is hard work. Here are five tools on Simply Hired that personalize the site for your needs and make it easier to find your next job.

1. Who Do I Know®

Who Do I Know, Simply Hired's networking feature, enables you to leverage your professional network in your job search. Accessible on the homepage and search result pages, Who Do I Know enables users to view potential connections at job openings side-by-side with corresponding job listings. From here you can privately message friends about job opportunities, and get the inside track on job openings. Check it out by logging into LinkedIn or Facebook from simplyhired.com. 

2. Special Searches

Finding a job that you love means working at a company that meets your individual needs. Simply Hired’s special search filters give unique search results that no combination of keywords can deliver. They include companies hiring New Graduates and Veterans, Mom-Friendly companies and Green Jobs. These filters are also available in the special searches filter section to the left of your job search results. 

3. Recent Searches and Email Alerts

After you’ve performed a few searches on Simply Hired, the site will begin to remember your searches. Rather than having to perform a set of the same searches each time you visit, your recent job searches are displayed on the homepage. 

Turn your inbox into your own personal recruiter! Sign up for daily or weekly email alerts, which notify you of when new jobs become available that meet your search criteria. To begin receiving alerts, perform a search and click the “Create email alert” link to the right or bottom of your search results.

4. My Jobs

When you find a job you are interested in, what do you do? Create a bookmark? Email the link to yourself? Instead, you can organize the jobs you’re interested in by saving them in your Simply Hired job seeker account. Under each job listing, you’ll find a "Save Job" link , where you can save jobs, and come back to them later to read more or apply. 

5. Mobile

Take your job search to-go! Simply Hired’s mobile apps (available on iOS or Android) and mobile website, give you access to over 8 million jobs worldwide conveniently from your mobile device. From the app and mobile website, you can save jobs and searches, and apply to jobs. 

6. Personalized results

After performing a few searches on simplyhired.com, our smart search can begin to provide you with personalized search results containing jobs similar to the titles, keywords, and locations you search for and click on.

Job Hunt Skills You Need to Survive

Finding a new job is a massive undertaking that can consume a lot of time and effort for job seekers. The job search process itself is like a project with a beginning and an end that has many phases and tasks to complete such as finding available job openings, updating resumes and cover letters, interviewing, performing follow-up, and more. With all the work to be done to find their next career opportunity, job seekers need the right set of job hunt skills to survive during the multifaceted job search process.

Courage: Mental strength to persevere and withstand fear or difficulty

Courage allows job seekers to step outside of their comfort zone to accomplish what they set out to accomplish. Some job seekers are afraid of asking for help from people while other job seekers are afraid of networking with strangers. Many other fears emerge during the job search and the ability to face them straight on takes great courage. Envisioning what you hope to accomplish and envisioning the feeling of success that comes from facing your fears can serve as motivation.

Focus: Dedicated attention to an interest or an activity

The job search can take the form of a full-time job which can be overwhelming. With so many tasks to take on, job seekers need stay focused on what’s important. They need to understand their career goals and if an activity doesn’t assist them in the right direction, then a change might need to take place. Also, dedicating a set amount of uninterrupted time can sometimes lead to better results than spurts of job search activities scattered throughout the day.

Organization: Arrangements in a coherent, systematized form

The devils are in the details and this holds true even during the job search. Imagine as a job seeker you’ve applied for twenty jobs over the last two weeks. Then you receive a phone call that XYZ company wants to schedule an interview for XYZ position. That’s great, but unfortunately you don’t remember what the position entails and the job posting is no longer online. This is key information that could help you better prepare for your upcoming interview. Keeping track of the details is essential and this can include what jobs you’ve applied for, who you have made contact with, and other information that matter now and possibly later on. 

Instincts: A natural or intuitive way of acting or thinking

Instincts are within all of us, but how many job seekers use it during the job search process? During the job search, people might be faced with a decision whether they should apply for a job, whether they should custom tailor their resume, and other decisions. The answer might be in trusting your gut. Most of us have heard stories of people getting jobs that they might not have been qualified on paper but they still applied. The result, they got the job because they were one of the best candidate overall because they were able to successfully communicate and demonstrate their value. Instincts are an invaluable trait that sometimes gets overlooked.

Kindness: The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate

A little act of kindness can go a long ways. Remember how you felt when someone said something nice to you? A good impression is one thing but a lasting impression is another. Being sincere and caring might be the difference that makes you stand out from the crowd of other candidates for a position. Say thank you to an interviewer by sending an email or handwritten note. Compliment the receptionist on how helpful she was. And perform other kind gestures when you see the opportunity. So be kind to whoever you meet not only during your job search but during the lifetime of your career.

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JobMana is a growing online career resource for job seekers featuring a nice collection of the latest job search tips and best job search sites. Come visit and check out our newest job search tips and newest job boards by industry and by state.