Been Laid Off? 5 Steps to Help You Get a Job Fast

It’s nothing personal, it’s simply one of the effects of a recession. But that’s not much help if you have been laid off. What you most need are steps to help you get a job fast.

Step One

Network like crazy. It is well known that when it comes to finding a job, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know is often the decisive factor. So the more people you know and the more people who know you are on the lookout, the better.

Step Two

Get your résumé or CV in shape. If you don’t know how to, do a résumé writing course or buy a book. Make sure it is up to date and written in such a way as to make prospective employers sit up and take notice. Each time you apply for a job you should target your résumé or CV specifically to meet the needs of the individual employer.

This doesn’t have to take a long time. Start off by creating an outline resume which is geared towards the type of job you are after. Then each time you send out an application, simply adjust it to highlight the most important skills and experience this particular employer is looking for.

Step Three

Boost your skills. Decide which of your existing skills are the most likely to get you a new job and then take them up a notch. So, if it’s your fast typing which is in demand, practise daily and get even faster. Employers like to see figures on a CV and so if you can write Typing Speed 60 words per minute or even 70 or 80, it’s a lot better than 50 words per minute.

If you have a computer at home, practise touch typing for a couple of half hour sessions a day. You should be able to borrow a typing course from the local library or simply type texts from books and newspapers and time yourself.

Step Four

Do some volunteer work. This does not have to get in the way of your search for a job, but can be done in the evening or weekends. It will achieve several goals: you’ll gain new and valuable experience, you’ll have something positive to put in the gap on your CV which started the day you were laid off, you will have a recent reference, you’ll met new people and you’ll improve your self-esteem by getting out there and making a contribution to society.

Step Five

Make good use of your free time and learn something new. Choose something you’ve always wanted to learn, but never had time to study. It could be a subject which will enhance your career prospects, like a language, a new computer programme or a business related course. Or it could be something you do just for fun. This will make you feel better and feeling better will help motivate you to find work and you may even pick up some transferable skills along the way.

By: Waller Jamison

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