Losing a job can be a stressful moment in your life. You might feel as if the whole world is crashing in all at once, but you must go the extra mile to stay calm and resist the urge to making any sudden moves. Don’t make the mistake of making a scene on your way out or sending a scathing email, as these types of things can hurt your persona in the long run.
The key is to think before you act, as there are a variety of emotions at play that can easily lead to making a harsh, sudden choice. Remember that it’s important to always leave a job gracefully and with integrity.
If you’re given the opportunity for an exit interview, think before you speak. Don’t utilize the interview to put down the company. You should utilize this opportunity to attain answers to any questions that you might have and to arm yourself for what’s next.
Negotiate Severance
Severance payment is something that your company will more than likely offer you. Severance payments tend to be negotiable, especially if the company has a special interest in getting you to sign a general release. Try to negotiate. You have nothing to lose, so it’s always worth a shot.
Be Aware of What to Expect
Make sure to ask about logistics. Will your unused vacation time be offered to you in the form of monetary payment? Some of them might be negotiable, too. For example, you might try to attain a couple of additional months of health coverage.
Gather as Much Information That You Can about Your Layoff
Don’t push to attain information that your company is not going to release, but do try to get information about size of the layoff and the reasons for your position being part of it. This can help you explain to your future employer what occurred in your former position. For instance, you can say that the company was terminating your job function entirely or that you were part of 100 positions that were cut out.
Also, find out what your employers will say about you in case a reference-checker contacts them. There are many misconceptions about reference checking you should know the truth about, which you can find out about here.
Ask for Help with a New Job
Many people have been able to find their next job by making this request to their ex-employer. You might even find out that your ex-employer has outplacement services available or something like life or career coaching to help you through it. If that’s the case, Let’s Talk Career says it’s vital to be honest with your coach and be dedicated to the plan you develop together.
File for Unemployment Right Away
File for unemployment no matter what, as you never know how long your job search is going to take or for how long your savings will be able to sustain you. It’s recommended to file right away because it can take many weeks for the benefits to come your way.
Take Your Time
After getting fired, a lot of people make the mistake of jumping into a job search right away. Instead of doing this, take a few days off in order to deal with your emotions and calm down, as you don’t want to land a job interview only to break down in the middle of it and get caught up in dwelling on what occurred to you in your past position. Before you jump into job hunting, get your body and emotional state under control.
Look Forward to the Approaching Things in Your Life
At the end of the day, being laid off can be a positive thing. You’ll have some time to do the things that you were pushing aside due to too much work. Or maybe it gives you that final push to finally start a business you’ve been dreaming about as MaryBeth Reeves did when she started a digital scrapbooking service for busy moms after she was laid off.
If you stop to think about it, being laid off push you out of a rut, so you can step into the world and change careers and make more money and possibly have more happiness in your life.
Other Resources:
http://www.planforyourhealth.com/career-changes/article/show/re-thinking-benefits-when-youre-laid-off/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/jobs/how-to/survive_a_layoff-to_do4.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/women-co/how-my-layoff-kickstarted_b_3328660.html
