Things to Do WHEN You get Laid Off

When there were rumors about lay-offs in the company I used to work for, my colleagues and I would talk about how we would leave the building. We would scream at the HR person or the manager. Make gestures. Do something to leave a mark.

Well, I can tell you that none of that works for helping you get your next job. So, why waste the energy. When I left some people were in shock and others were in tears. It is important to show people that you are made of stronger mettle. Lead by example.

So, here are the steps.

1. Resume up to date and ready to go. As I have mentioned before, you should always have your resume up to date. That includes content and style. It took me 4 weeks to get one up to speed (with reviews by recruiters). My final version was created when I went to the career transition program that was provided.

2. Network. Learn to use your network effectively. Keep your address book or service like LinkedIn up to date and network with everyone. Yes, I do mean everyone. Business cards are a must. I would recommend printing up some for yourself and have your personal email and phone number on it. Talk with everyone. If it looks like you can establish a contact, give them an opportunity to link with you. 75% of all jobs come through personal network contacts. Use it. For an example of a LinkedIn profile, click here.

3. References. Make sure you have friends and colleagues at work who will provide you with a reference. Start exchanging the contact information NOW. Given the economy, it isn't a question of if you will be laid off. It is a question of when you will be laid off. Don't believe that you won't be laid off. You can't afford that thought. BE PREPARED!

4. Do Not Sabotage or steal from the company. Although you feel that you need to take some revenge on the company. do not do it. You are risking way too much if you are caught. Remember, you have a severance package or they can track you down and make you pay for what you have done. The worst thing that can happen is that the company, when called to confirm you employment, tells your prospective employee something. By law, your former employer can only confirm your employment. However, employers get around that by asking, "Would you rehire this person if you could?" If they say no, you just lost the job. It puts a question in the mind of your prospective employer. So, companies have gotten around this. I knew of a person who worked for the same high-tech company I used to work for. He had done something and his manager had his company record as "Do not rehire." So, when employers started to call, they asked the rehire question and the company responded with no. That's all it took. It took this person over a year to find a job. He had all the skills and experience needed for the jobs that he applied for. He flew through the interviews and they started talking salary and benefits. So, you know that they were serious. Then, after the calls to his last employer, his offer was withdrawn. Finally, he asked a friend in one of the companies that rejected him what happened. Well, his friend found out from a HR friend that the company had marked his company record with "Do not rehire."

5. Do not speak ill of your former company to anyone. You do not want to be known as a whiner or a person who harbors ill feelings. Do not do it. Avoid it at all cost. If you are training your replacement, do not say anything to harm that person by tainting his experiences. Also, do not speak ill of your former employer to your perspective employers. They do not want to hear your emotional baggage. You are starting with a new company. Make a clean break of the old company.

I highly recommend preparing your mind with the possibility of being laid off. You can never tell. I had gone through a lot of lay-offs and was spared. Finally, it happened. If you have prepared, you can concentrate on getting yourself ready for your next job which is finding a job.