I’ve got the unemployment blues

How did you feel when you became unemployed?

Hopefully you were able to handle it well. People go through many different emotions when they are laid off, from “that shouldn’t have happened to me”, or they understand, or for some it may be a relief – the person may not have taken the effort to look for work while they are unemployed.

When my day came, the company provided a job counselor to help through the transition into “looking for work” mode. What this person did was help with resumes and cover letters, as well as proper ways to handle different situations. This person told me one day that they are surprised at the amount of people who get laid off with a severance package, then wait the severance out until there is no more money, then look for a job. That is one of the worst things you can do!

Start right out of the chute

Before I pulled out of the parking lot that day, I had decided that this layoff was going to be “fun” in the sense that I would not allow myself to go to emotional lows because of it. It was on a Monday when I got the news. On the drive home I gave myself the balance of the week to relax and get over the week and emotions that accompany it, then start the following Monday to look for other work.

Do it for the long haul

It’s said that it takes up to 11-12 months for someone to find a job in today’s economy. What you have to do is prepare for the long-haul. If your search lasts that long, you are prepared.

Here’s some financial things for a laid off person to consider. Even before the layoff, I was cutting back expenses at home. When it was added up, I found that I had cut almost $120/month off my household expenses. Here’s how you can do it too.

The list can go on and on, but you get the drift.  Many things that we think are near and dear to our hearts are actually things we DON’T need, and are only extras in our life.

You think you can’t do everything above?  It’s my list, and my family is doing just fine!

Photo courtesy Flickr by Ranoush.