Unemployment is higher than it has been in decades. If any of you have recently lost your job-or think you might soon-you must be prepared to cope. Perhaps I can help.

Accepting the Loss

The first thing you need to do when you're out of work is come to terms with why. After all, you can't make an effective move into the future until you make peace with your past. Don't let negative feelings fester, cautions NJ consultant Andy Borkin. "If you have anger or loss of confidence, you need to work through it so it doesn't negatively affect your job search."

Dealing with the past doesn't mean dwelling on it. Limit the time to collect your thoughts to 30 days. If you can't get your "mojo" back by then, you might want to seek the help of a career coach.

Setting New Goals

The next step is to conduct research and set realistic and practical goals. Michael Jeans, a consultant from Boston, tells his clients to step back and look at their careers in a long-term and holistic way. What do you want your life to look like in five, 10 and 15 years? "The holistic dimension is about balance and how a job or career fits into your overall life," says Jeans.

People who lose their job typically believe their next position should resemble their previous one. But loss of a job is the perfect opportunity to explore other options. One thing you might want to do is create a focus group of about five or six former employees and peers to help you figure out your career direction of your career. Ask the group what they think your strengths are and what they would do if they were you.

Selling Yourself

Start crafting a marketing message, Jeans suggests. First you need a verbal message in the form of an exit statement consisting of two to three sentences explaining in unemotional terms why you left your job. Use the exit statement during networking, not interviews. For networking you also need what's called the elevator drill, a 60-second statement explaining who you are, what you're good at and what you want to do next.

You also need a written marketing statement for use in both networking and interviews. That statement, of course, is the resume. Jeans says that he helps clients prepare a "safety resume" that's acceptable to forward to potential employers but is still a work in progress. "It's important to get a resume done early and revisit it over time," Jeans explains.

But building your brand goes way beyond the resume. It's something you should do all the time, not just when you're out of work. The process involves doing things that get you known and establish your reputation in the industry. Submitting articles to SafetyXChange is a perfect example.

Hone Your Research and Networking Skills

It's also important to conduct extensive research to determine where you want to land in terms of industry, company and position. Research is critical for career survival. Research not just facts, but opinions and trends.

Do your research on weekends, early in the morning and late at night. Spend the prime business hours of 8 to 5 for networking. Networking is a challenge for most people even when they're working. When you're out of work, it becomes that much harder. For example, many individuals hesitate to network because they're embarrassed and don't want others to know about their current job status. But networking is how most jobs are found. So you can't afford to keep a low profile if you're unemployed.

For example, a colleague of mine told me about a client who was laid off from a VP position and didn't share the news with anyone. One day, a neighbor, a retired executive, stopped by to drop off mail that had inadvertently been left in his mailbox and was surprised to find the VP at home. The VP explained that he had been laid off two months earlier. About a day later, the neighbor returned and gave the VP a list of names and contacts, one of which led to a job.

Start with an e mail blast email to let your network know what's happening and then make calls everyday to schedule meetings. Be mindful of your contacts' time and make it as easy as possible for them to help you. For example, don't say, "I'd like you to take my resume." Instead, say "I'd like to meet the president of X company." It's a bite-sized request and contacts won't feel like you're putting the whole job search on them.

Conclusion

Last but not least, be patient and keep your expectations realistic. Understand that even if you do everything right, you may not land a new job as quickly as you'd like, especially in this economy. Don't let this affect your confidence. And don't let your employment status become your identity. You're a safety professional, not a job seeker. Unemployment is merely a temporary setback that we all experience.

Wishing you career success,
Lauryn Franzoni
ExecuNet, www.execunet.com

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