My company came up with a new way to start off the New Year by calling a meeting with the entire IT department to announce that all of us would be let go by Christmas time this year. Everyone left stating their New Year's resolution was to find a new job. For the next couple of weeks we had meeting on VPs and managers trying to keep employees from leaving so that they could assist in the conversion of all our IT applications and duties to the parent company. Most people started looking for jobs right away, others sat, complained and refused to work and the rest started evaluating what this meant for them on a personal level.

I saw this as a time to re-evaluate my professional and personal goals. Did I want to remain in the IT field or did I want to pursue another interest? If I remained in the IT field did I want to try another area or continue with what I'm doing now? If I change do I have enough time to gain the skills to get a decent job in the new area or field? Did I need to move to another city or state in order to pursue my new career path or was it possible from my current location? After several days of research I had narrowed my list to what I wanted for my new career goal and what I needed to do to make it successful. I talked with some of my co-workers who have some experience with my new choice to find if there were in specific certifications, what were the best test centers and the range of cost. I also talked with some family members to get information on part-time jobs that would have full or part benefits if I was unable to complete my goal before I was pink slipped.

I have started on my first certification for my new career path and as luck would have it my current job has discounts at certain testing centers. This is something that I never knew in the 6 years I have worked for the company. I feel this layoff was the motivation I needed to stop dreaming and start doing something about achieving my career goals.

Learn more about this author, Heather Myles.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Careers: How to use career setbacks to your advantage?
We want to hear your view. Write now!