So you lost your job. Now what? Knowing that other people are in the same boat might take some sting away but right now you need a game plan. Losing a job is a double-edged sword. Don't panic. Do the obvious by applying for your unemployment benefits, tightening your budget and looking for bargains.
Some companies offer severance packages but even if yours did not, you can still apply for unemployment. In some cases, even if you were fired and you don't think you will be eligible, many times you will be. Company's make mistakes and don't always keep adequate documentation, so give it a try. Applying for unemployment can be a process that will require patience as you may need to wait for lengthy periods of time on the phone and complete lots of forms. If you need help with this process you can ask for help at your local unemployment office.
The biggest fear that goes along with losing a job is whether or not you are going to be able to cover your bills and whether you might lose everything before you get hired again. You need to prioritize in the following order: food, transportation, water and utilities and then mortgage. You need to know that you and your family will have enough food to eat and transportation to get you to and from important places such as job interviews, school and to the store, etc. Budget money for fuel and if you have a car payment, make it. Even if you had to move out and rent your place or live with a relative, you will need your car, or whatever transportation you usually use, to bridge the gap from your last job to the next. Relying on others to get you around isn't the best plan and can lead to resentment.
Most lender's are willing to work with you on your mortgage and even landlords would typically rather have their place rented even for a little less than owed, rather than have it sit vacant and risk vandalism and disrepair. You can often make reduced payments but contact your landlord or lender and make sure to communicate your situation rather than keeping them in the dark. If you live in a place where you are responsible for HOA (home owners association) fees, in addition to your mortgage, don't forget to contact them as well because they can and will put a lien against your place if you don't communicate with them and you may risk losing your home in the long run as a result. You will need to have water, gas and electricity to make sure you can prepare your food, shower and keep your clothing clean to make sure you are prepared for any job leads that come your way.
You may be able to work with your credit card company(s) to reduce your payment amounts but whether they will cooperate or not, they should be last priority. If you have extra money, put it in a savings account rather than on a credit card to pay it down or completely off. Why? Because you could pay a card off and plan to use it for "emergencies" only to find out they lowered your limit or even closed it, if you don't use it regularly, or when they discover you are late on other bills. You wouldn't think it would matter but how you pay your other bills affects your credit accounts! You can always use savings to pay your minimum plus a little extra but don't risk losing any amount of money you may have on paying off a card upfront. Paying more interest in the long run isn't the biggest problem you have now, it is survival and you need to focus on at the moment.
If you need to disconnect some of your services, people can usually get by without TV, newspapers and other subscriptions as well as Internet service. If you can get to a library to read free newspapers and use the computers there to apply for jobs, you can get by for the time being. Go prepared with resume in hand because many employers require that you fax your resume and many libraries offer cheaper fax services than most businesses. Our town's local library will fax up to 10 pages for one dollar.
Have a folder to keep your documents together and protect them from getting soiled or torn. It is a good idea to scan your documents to an email account so that you can get another copy where ever there is Internet access or you can save a copy to a thumb drive that you can carry with you. You may not have time or money to run back home and grab another resume or document you may have forgotten so remember to use this time-saving strategy.
Don't forget that your local employment agency will typically have Employment Counselors to help you in your job search and the agencies will also have internet service and computers as well as fax machines for your use, typically for free. Your Rehabilitation Agency can also help you with job placement if you are a client.
If you need food you can apply for food stamps, contact church groups or community agencies to find out what resources you have in your community. Most large cities will even have free clinics to help with medical issues. If you don't have money to refill prescriptions contact your doctor's office to see if they can give you samples or if they know of other resources to help you with your medications. If you are taking prescription medications you should know that some medications can not be discontinued on the spot. You should at least consult with your doctor to find out what you need to do about your prescription needs. If you have trouble getting your doctor's office to respond, contact your Pharmacist for help.
Last but not least, you need to take care of your psychological needs. One huge side effect of job loss is a blow to your self-esteem. On the positive side, people often miss the fact that the other edge of the unemployment sword is the opportunity to carve out a new beginning, to hit the reset button and jump-start your life into something exciting and new. Once you get past the initial shock and emotional reaction(s) of losing your job, consider that this is the time to reinvent yourself, and you will. Concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other and don't overwhelm yourself. The pieces of the puzzle will come together with time.
On the flip side, in our culture who you are is often tied to what you do. Whenever you meet someone, after introducing yourself, the next question is usually, "So what do you do?" Most people have spent a lot of time, energy and persistence to get where they were before they lost their job, so losing a job can feel like a loss of everything. However, you have not lost your knowledge, skill or experience. No one can take that away. Your job now is to skillfully repackage yourself.
In reality, even though what we do contributes to our self-worth, what you do is not who you are. Who you are is a person that has a particular set of strengths and unique abilities.Getting clear about those abilities and skills is easier to define using these action steps.
1) Identify your strengths.
Really get clear about what makes you unique as a person. Maybe you are really good with helping solve problems, maybe you get along with difficult people, or can stay calm when things are going crazy on the job. Maybe you have developed the skills that are valued in a particular line of work, or have experience that makes you a real asset to a perspective employer. Whatever it is, be specific about what makes you unique. When writing your resume, also be specific because saying, "I increased revenue by 87%," says more than simply," I increased revenue." Clarify all your strengths in this way.
2) Capitalize on the obvious
Don't overlook the basics. For example, showing up on time, meeting deadlines, being organized, being knowledgeable, and being able to work with difficult people are skills that are very marketable. Not everyone can accomplish this, so don't forget to consider them.
3) Turn your weaknesses into strengths.
If you really dislike working with people and like being up late, consider the following way to package that. When looking for work, state that you are willing to work the late shift and work independently, for example. That gives you a good fit for your preferences while carving out a specific niche where your competition is more limited.
4) Take care of yourself and keep your mind busy.
Take advantage of extra time and relax. Don't forget to take walks, exercise, and do things you have been waiting to do. Try painting, read a book, write that story, meditate, play sports or watch enjoyable movies, for example.
5) Take time to organize yourself.
Now is the time for making a fresh start. Get rid of all the things that you never use, selling what you can. You will feel much better when your space is clean and organized. When your clothes are ironed, you're ready for the interviews. You will be better prepared, less rushed and more relaxed.
6) Really get clear on what you want.
Now is the time to do an assessment on what you really want in life. Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Do you like working with others or alone? Do you like working inside or out? Do you still like the type of work you were doing? If not, maybe it is time to look at other options. Perhaps furthering your education is what you need to do. Incorporate the knowledge and skills you have with the things you love to do. Do your research and you might be surprised at the options that emerge.
7) Have a safety net.
Sometimes we all need a little extra help. It is OK to get your emotions out, and expressing yourself is key to good mental health. Surround yourself with people who are optimistic and talk about what you want instead of what you do not want. While this might seem trivial, it is not. Whatever you focus on, you get more of, and that includes happiness. Take advantage of time you have to connect with loved ones and friends in activities that don't require a lot of money.
8) Consider affordable counseling.
If you have difficulty with handling your emotions and need more support consider contacting a Counselor. Another helpful option is to try hypnotherapy because it helps to relax your body and nervous system, as well as your mind. Find a Hypnotherapist who is qualified to work with people with disabilities and who is certified as a Hypnotherapist. Learning to do self hypnosis is very empowering to discover solutions within and overcome barriers. You can do this from the comfort of your home and access a valuable resource for putting things into perspective to help you find peace of mind.
In the end, you will discover that life isn't about what happens to you but what you make of it. Take a deep relaxing breath and start anew today!