Six Tips to Kick Off Your Job Search After a Layoff

This post was provided by Katrina Kibben, Monster's social media ninja:

If there’s one lesson the recession has made painfully clear, it’s that no one is immune from layoffs. The worst part? Many workers are blindsided when the ax falls. Coping with sudden job loss isn’t something they teach you in college or in any professional training program. There are, however, some strategies you can employ to stop being lost and take control.

Here are six tips to get over a layoff and back on the job:

1. Take a Day or Two to Relax: While it’s hard to even think about taking a break when worrying about so many other details, feeling overwhelmed will make your job search even more difficult. No one deserves to be laid off, but everyone deserves a break to refresh and refocus.

2. Get What You Deserve: Apply for unemployment. Contact your state unemployment office with any questions, but getting your claim rolling will help your finances in the long run. Be sure to talk to your former employer about COBRA, outplacement services and any other resources that might be available to you.

3. Start Searching: Look at job descriptions on Monster to understand the marketplace and where your skills might fit in, which you need to know to develop a breakthrough resume. If you haven’t already done so, create a Monster account and save job listings you think are the best fit for you. Identify skills in these job postings, and make sure those skills are listed in your resume. The job posting can also give you insight into salary ranges, corporate values and more, so remember to use the posting itself as a critical tool in your job hunt.

4. Reinvent Your Resume: Anything you need to know about writing a resume -- including industry-specific resume advice -- can be found here. And don’t forget to check out our library of industry-specific resume templates as well.

5. Create a Networking Strategy: Get out the contact list. As this article recommends, put each person into a tier of your formal networking plan. Your first tier will include the people you know best -- such as current and past colleagues and managers as well recruiters with whom you have an established relationship. Tier Two is your secondary network -- individuals who know what's happening within a particular business community or have clients who may be interested in your talent. Don’t limit yourself. Think of everyone you know, including family and friends. Sometimes, the most unlikely sources can help you get your foot in the door. Remember the most important concept about networking: Ask your contacts for help -- not a job.

6. Hit the Job Market: Once you’ve identified your skills and refreshed your resume, start applying to positions that look like a good fit for your talents.

It takes more than luck to overcome a recent layoff. It takes a plan of action. And remember that while you can’t control a layoff, you can control making that layoff pay off.

Here are some additional resources you might find helpful:

·   The Layoff Survival Kit

·   Bouncing Back After Being Laid Off

·   Resume Help for the Unemployed

·   10 Worst Things to Say to Someone Who Just Got Laid Off

·   10 Ways to Deal with the Signs of Layoff

What do you think are the best ways to respond to a layoff? Leave a comment below.

Share this post: Digg, StumbleUpon, del.icio.us, Facebook, Twitter, etc.