Getting laid off can be devastating and when you get the bad news things may seem hopeless. The uncertainty of an unknown future is frightening, especially if the job lost was your family's primary source of income.

While things seem pretty bleak when a layoff notice is received, this dark cloud may have a silver lining if you look in the right places. As the old saying goes, when one door closes another opens.

If you are receptive to the idea of testing the waters and trying new things you may discover the misfortune of being laid off may be the best thing that ever happened to your career. Once the shock of losing a job is over, a window of opportunity opens and by opening the curtains and drawing them back, you get an instant opportunity to look outside beyond the scope of what's in front of you.

As you drink in the view and examine the possibilities, you may discover a new direction for your career that will lead to success, happiness and fulfillment.

When you are laid off, an advantage is you have more time to look at your career options and search for a new position in a company which looks appealing. You can do this through visits to career centers, Internet job database searches or to talk to a counselor at your local Labor Department. These outlets are all terrific resources to help link you with jobs which match both your skills and interests.

As you envision your future, you may want to explore career paths you hadn't considered before. The unexpected time off from work may be a blessing in disguise. You can utilize this time to pursue education or additional training to get yourself the skills and knowledge needed for your dream job; then buff up that old resume with your new credentials.

If you get the opportunity to take an aptitude test through a career center or other job counseling, these are lots of fun and offer you a lot of insight about yourself. The things you learn can be used to help pave your future, and you may find yourself on a path you'd never considered; one you'd never have thought about if not for your layoff.

Bouncing back from the sting of a layoff notice can be tough, but a positive attitude and a proactive approach can help get you past this hurdle. When you reach the point where you can move past the fright of being laid off, there is potential for you to be greeted with a whole world of endless possibilities.

The climb may be a little steep, and while it is difficult to recover from losing your job, you can get through this and perhaps discover the termination notice may lead you to your best career move ever.

View the slammed door as a window of opportunity. Open the window and let the fresh air in, you never know what pleasantry, self-reflection and career opportunities await you.

Learn more about this author, Leigh Goessl.
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