Help! I Just Lost My Job - How To Survive A Vacation On Layoff Island

Feel like Gilligan stranded on Layoff Island? You're not alone. As a result of corporate downsizing many qualified candidates are now looking for a job. Bouncing back from a career crisis can strengthen your ability to lead others, force you to develop new skills and reposition you for a comeback.

How to Explain A Layoff or Firing.

With the influx of qualified job seekers, HR managers understand gaps in employment. If you are the victim of a failed start-up or an eliminated position, attribute your layoff to changes in the economy or reorganization within your former company.

Focus on the positive. Tell the truth. Don't bash your former employer.

Be as forthright as possible when explaining in an interview why your position was eliminated. Make sure the emphasis is placed, when communicating to a prospective employer, on business related reasons. If other employees were eliminated as well, feel free to mention this and any other pertinent information to the hiring manager. Explain what you learned most from the layoff process and how you are looking forward to a new position.

Don't seek revenge; participate in gossip or burn bridges.

After you hear the words, "You're fired." You will experience a range of emotions from shock and anger to sadness and fear. Before you react to the news negatively, and say something that you might later regret, think of the future consequences of your actions. If you need it, take 24 hours of grief to mourn the loss. Call a non-work related friend or relative to vent your frustrations. Smile at all times and get ready to plan your comeback. If this split is amicable, ask your boss for a reference letter. If not, make a list of work-related contacts that can vouch for your skills and experience.

Take job search matters into your own hands. Market yourself.

Start searching for a new job right away. But don't rely solely on a recruiter or staffing agency. Search the online job boards and local area newspapers to see if they have the contact names and addresses of the hiring manager. Contact the manager to determine if the opportunity is a match with your skills, and interests. Find out why the position is open and what type of person, skills, personality, and work style fits best in this department.

Network, Network, Network.

Use LinkedIn, Facebook or other social networks to connect with current or former contacts. Let your references know that you are back in the job market. Strengthen relationships with colleagues and friends in areas outside of your comfort zone and experience. Build new relationships in organizations where practitioners in your field are scarce.

Outshine the competition. Present your skills like a consultant.

In addition to your resume, write a case study highlighting your skills and experiences. The case study will summarize all of your skills and experiences and showcase your abilities in a real world setting. This approach can eliminate the idea of highlighting only one facet of your skills, and can present your services as a complete solution to the new company. Think of the case study as a selling tool to use during the interview process. Above all, it should be personalized for the company and the position.

Prepare for the income transition. Be proactive.

Call your local unemployment office immediately to start your claim. Contact temporary agencies in your field for available work. Many new staffing companies place senior level talent with hourly rates from $20 to $150 an hour. Use outplacement services, provided by the company, to polish your resume and boost your morale. Call your health insurance provider to determine when your coverage ends.

Without a doubt, after surviving a vacation on layoff island you will know how to effectively sell your abilities or even find a new career with confidence and clarity.

Mechele Pellebon analyzes the celebrity career moves of entertainment icons. At Career Vanity.com, the Publicist and Career Strategist dishes weekly advice to help job seekers learn from the professional missteps, triumphs and victories of the rich and fabulous.

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