Hang in there!!

TRY TO BE PATIENT

I know you are working hard at making connections, and getting your resume out there ... and things are just not happening fast enough for your liking.

This is a common reaction, to those of us that feel pressured to get that next job.
The pressure can be either real or imagined by yourself - to compensate for feelings of possible failure on your part. Getting a job quickly will eliminate your worries and concerns, and also avoid lack of confidence issues - 'you need to do this NOW!' is going through your head.

Yes... understandable, but not realistic in most cases. You might get real lucky to find the perfect next job, the first day of your unemployment. Chances are that you will not get immediate responses.

Remember -- this most likely has nothing to do with YOU! There are thousands of resumes landing in front of hiring managers and recruitment staff daily. Using direct contacts usually will get your resume read sooner, than if sent through the regular process, however there are still procedures that must be followed.

Also ... the perfect next job for you, might not be yet available.

So... as difficult as this stage may be -- Hang in there!! It will come. Be kind to yourself.
Take some time to appreciate your family, friends, hobbies and other activities that you do not get a chance to do when working.

Try ... to be patient.

If you find yourself being unable to relax - get active - grab your gym bag and hit the gym, go for a walk, run, bike ride -- clean your house, garden, whatever it takes to reduce the stress you are imposing on yourself.

You are not alone - you have friends and other support within your contacts that may be available to connect with at times such as this. If they are unavailable due to fact that they are working - which of course you don't want to interfere with, and frankly it annoys you that they are working :) .... Make some new friends amongst your neighbours, gym members - reconnect with life outside of the workplace.

Relax ... or try :)

In all my 'transitional' experiences, this has been an issue for myself. The one being excruciatingly long for responses and interview requests to start happening. There are statistics for length of time, and rule of thumb (professional level position) is that for each $10,000 of salary that you are attempting to capture = number of months that it may take for you to find employment. Thus if you are trying to capture a position with a salary of $50,ooo, it may take you 5 months. This has been my experience for the roles that I have been attempting to obtain.
Other resources indicate anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months, depending on type of position and hiring, economy situation in your geographic location.

Here is another bloggers findings:
http://jobhuntadvice.blogspot.com/2007/06/how-long-does-it-take-to-find-new-job.html

Above all keep active and 'Hang in there -- it will come'

Cheers
...darleen

What's Next - resumes, networking, interviews, etc

NEWS FLASH!!
Update regarding my own situation - I have been exceedingly busy with connecting with contacts and attending interviews!! I have been so busy in fact, that I have not had time to respond to all my contacts that I initially contacted last week. This has never happened to me before, and I am in shock over the terrific response. I will discuss why this time, possibly is different than any other 'transition phase' that I have been through in coming days.



Next Phase after the shock of becoming unemployed


So ... you have survived the initial shock and acceptance of fact that you will need to find a new job -- or that you are now in transition state to your new career choice> Congratulations!!

Having reviewed your financial situation, most of us at this point decide that we need to find a 'job' or source of income ASAP. If you are lucky enough to have received a severance package, you may be in the position to take some time off - and this is a decision that only you can make in regard to finances and how taking time off might affect your obtaining a position in your career field.

What do you need to do first in obtaining that sought after job?
1. Update resume
2. Contact your network
3. Start job search
4. Get resumes out to contacts and online sites
5. Apply to selected positions.

More in detail regarding these points - tomorrow :)


CHEERS!!
...darleen

I Have Returned

I have returned, after once again being caught in a downsizing strategy plan. So... I am again looking for a new position or ' in transition'.

I started writing this blog while I was 'in transition' last year, and failed to keep up with it, due to work and family commitments. However, I did maintain my connections with the network I built and nurtured over the previous 18 month transitional phase. I am happy to report that even a monthly connection with the network does help to re-awaken activity when required.

This leads me to discuss the notion of Networking as it applies to assisting you in obtaining that new position. I will discuss this throughout this week, with my own experiences, books I have read on how to network, and other references.

Ultimately you still need to sell yourself to the 'right' company, it certainly helps to have inside help to get in the door to present what you can do for the company.


But first things first
- If you have just been informed that you are no longer employed there are several things to take care of, and you do need to allow yourself time to adjust to your situation.

Often this news comes as a shock to us, even if we heard rumors or felt 'vibes' of impending layoffs, downsizing, or restructuring being possible. I believe that it is human nature to protect our fragility, to deny until we are actually handed the Notice or Employee Layoff Agreement. We seem to require it in writing before our brains will process it as really happening.

Also I notice that even though we talk as if we understand, we are not completely able to comprehend. It takes a few days to weeks, depending on the circumstances and the individual.
Myself I have noticed that the longer I have worked at the company, having formed more bonds with colleagues - the longer it has taken for me to fully grasp that I do not work there any longer.
The shorter termed employments are much easier to grasp, but still seem to be aftershocks.

In first things first - allow yourself time to adjust, wallow in self pity if necessary, be angry at the world, and just do nothing towards moving forward - for a set time period. I set for myself in one situation as a month, this particular time one day, and you may find a week is a good time frame to allow yourself to feel wounded, before dealing with your next steps.

Others around you, such as your close family members may not understand your need to appreciate being wounded. Such as your loving mate, may try to encourage you to find work, any work as quickly as possible. This is understandable, as they have had the rug pulled from under them as well. Discuss the time frame you require with these people that are affected along with you, such as your family and close friends. As long as any financial concerns are taken care of, you will find that others will support you in finding your 'ready to find a new job' feet.

Also, the longer you were employed in your position, the more confused you may be about 'what you want to be when you grow up" or flirt with the thought of 'maybe this is a good time to try something new'. Wonderfully, there are many helpful tools to use in reference books, and online resources to guide you through these thought processes.

BUT - first do take at least one day to just 'chill out' and attend to your wounds. Sleep in, if that is something that feels good to do for yourself at this time, read a book other than a business / work related material, sit in the sun, go for a walk, play with your children, bake a cake! Do whatever it is that you feel you need, before gathering the mindset to attend to the 'job search'.


I will leave you with this idea as I toast you with my cold beer that I poured for myself to bade farewell to the old and welcome the new .... as tomorrow is day 1 of my new job search.

Cheers!!
...darleen

What's Next for You?

So you have been downsized, or "re-orged" out of your current position.
Without a job suddenly.

What do you do?
What are the steps to get another position?
Do you even know what you want to do?

I myself have been through this a few times, and counselled friends and colleagues through as well. It is both difficult and enriching.  Of course in the beginning you may not see the silver lining.

By a series of discussions I hope that I can reach out and virtually help you with your journey.
I am not a professional counsellor or career coach, but a real person that can provide guidance from experience and provide connections to professionals as well.

First thing for you to do is stop being so hard on yourself! Grab a cup of coffee and get ready to prepare a plan of attack for  - What's Next?

...darleen

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