Linda Lupatkin-Resume/Bio Specialist, Career Coach and Consultant

The job numbers are still disappointing and the stagnating economy has companies continuously reorganizing, restructuring and reducing their forces. With companies trying to do more with less, what happens if you’re one of the people impacted . . . if you’re laid off and looking?

There are a lot of issues to grapple with when your job search was not your own idea. Sometimes there’s resentment and bitterness towards the company that laid you off and oftentimes it’s a blow to the ego. The thing to remember is the company was making a business decision and not to take your lay-off personally. But if you do, you need to work through the hostility and get to a more positive place.

A job search is a necessary evil in life, something we all go through multiple times and it’s important to have a positive outlook. When you’re in a job search you are your product, you’re selling you and and when touting your product you need to be enthusiastic and upbeat. Also, it’s important to remain positive as you go through the interviewing process. The last thing you want to do is bad mouth your previous employer during an interview.

I work with many outplacement clients, some of whom even welcome their lay-off, viewing it as an opportunity to take the next step in their career. Additionally, many companies provide a severance package and benefits to bridge you through to your next position. Not to mention the advantage of  company-provided career coaching services.

That said, being laid off can actually give you an edge in your career transition. The severance and benefits help remove some of the financial stress that your unemployed competitors who do not have a package may be experiencing.

Also, at a time when there’s a lot of competition for each position, you have the advantage of working with career transition experts and coaches who help you with a complete career campaign, from developing outstanding resumes and letters to advising on innovative and aggressive search strategies. For some of the clients I’ve worked with, being laid off and looking was the best thing that ever happened to them.

~Linda