Dear Career Advisor:

This has been all but a ‘Happy New Year’ for me. Earlier this week I was informed that in two weeks I will no longer have a job. Honestly, I am in panic mode. What do I do? Any suggestion will be appreciated.

Yours truly,

Maria B.

Dear Maria:

Indeed, a notification that you will be fired or laid-off will take you off guard and is certainly not something anyone would want to hear at the start of a new year. Whatever you do, however, be determined that you will not become depressed or give up hope. You should also resolve not to fall into the trap of blaming yourself or others. Resolve to learn from the experience and move forward to embrace new opportunities.

As you transition into unemployment, here are a few suggestions for you to consider.

• Let the separation be on good terms.

• Participate in the job exit interview organised by your HR department. Do not use the exercise as an opportunity to complain, blame or express anger and hate. Instead, voice concerns you may have on how the company can improve its processes including providing constructive feedback to workers and structures that could support or enhance productivity.

• Update your résumé — Be sure to include your most recent job accomplishments and achievement of targets. Do not simply list your job responsibilities.

• Develop a list of references — Place priority on soliciting the permission of persons who are able to give testimony of the quality of your work.

• Request a recommendation or reference letter from someone at your workplace while your performance (assuming it has been good) is still fresh in the mind of a supervisor.

• Assess your financial situation — Determine how much savings and investments you currently have. Make a budget that will guide your frugality during this period of unemployment.

• Find out about severance or redundancy entitlements. Plan to set aside a portion for investment so it can earn for you while you are unemployed. Seek guidance from a financial advisor.

• Prepare your elevator pitch — Always be ready to convince a potential employer as to why he/she should consider hiring you.

• Stay healthy — physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

Additionally, consider these useful tips shared by blogger Margie Warrell on her blog post titled

Out of Work? The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers.

i. Stay future-focused.

ii. Don’t let your job status define you. Don’t take it as a personal rejection against you.

iii. Prioritise self-care. Mental and emotional resilience require physical resilience. Exercise builds resilience and your immune system.

iv. Surround yourself with positive people; be intentional about who you hang out with.

v. Tap into your network. The vast majority of jobs are never advertised. Reach out to people you know and enlist their support in making connections that could aid your job search.

vi. Treat finding a job as a job. Be intentional in what you want to get done each day. Create a job search plan with goals.

vii. Extend kindness. Acts of kindness produce similar effects in the brain as anti-depressants. It is also an effective way to build your network.

This job loss hurdle might take you out of your comfort zone. Consider, however, that it might be a ‘setback for a comeback’.

All the best.

Sincerely,

Career Advisor

Carolyn Marie Smith is interim assistant vice-president, Student Services at Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville. Submit questions to her at careeradvisor@ncu.edu.jm