by Allen Teal

Created on: August 05, 2009

Losing your job to a lay-off or being fired during upswings in the economy can be a personal economic crisis, but it is usually short-lived. As long as there are plenty of jobs to be had, finding a new one is not very hard. During times of national or global economic crisis, jobs can be extremely difficult to find that match your skills and interests. In any type of economic situation, some place is hiring. The problem is that if you have received a lay-off from one company in your field, it is often a signal that the entire field is struggling financially. This dramatically lessens the chances of you being able to locate and land a job that matches your earnings level.

The first step is to deal with the depression and fear.

For many people, their career helps them to define their own identity. During an economic crisis period, loss of a job can mean the loss of a career. The prospect of having to retrain and start your career from the bottom again can be frightening. Less money, less prestige, more stress, and the need to change your lifestyle can send many into a depressed state. The only way to defeat this position is to lay out a career and life path for the next 3 to 5 years that takes you downward for awhile and then back upward. Knowing that an eventual recovery in the economy will spell faster rises in wages and better job opportunities in your new field should bolster you courage to face the tough times.

Take the time to look at your career choices before leaping.

In good times, very few people get the chance to redefine their pathway through life. You may not view this as a positive at first, but many times people realize later that they are happier with their new direction once it is established. Look for growing fields that have an interest to you. You can go from a laboratory technician to becoming a teacher. You may choose to change from factory worker to the medical field. Do not just leap in the first direction that seems plausible. Spend a week or two researching where various career paths will take you both in personal growth and the growth of the field itself.

Take advantage of educational opportunities.

Many government programs help employees who face lay-offs due to foreign competition be retrained to enter new career fields where demand for people is growing. These programs generally pay for the education plus give you some form of living expenses to help you survive the transition period. Some employers will give some

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