Facing Possible Termination?

• Get The Word Out

  The tendency when faced with possible termination is to "go into a hole" or keep it private. However, the best way to get a job is through people who know you.
  
  Let people know that your employer is planning to cut jobs, and your job may be in jeopardy. Be specific, ask them if they know of any jobs in your area at their company. At the very least, ask them to keep you in mind if they hear of something opening up. You'll be surprised by those who will respond.

• Use Your Benefits While You Have Them

  Schedule that doctor's appointment you've been meaning to make. Sign-up for that training class that will sharpen your job skills. Check out that book from the corporate library that will bring you up-to-date on skills for your current AND your next employer. Renew that membership to the important trade association if your employer pays for dues. Your current employer offers many benefits that can make you a better employment candidate if you are terminated or ease your financial situation. Education reimbursement, 401k loan consolidation, legal services. . . .
  Take advantage of these benefits while you can.

• Consider What You Would Lose With The Loss of Your Job

  If you are terminated, you may lose more than your job. Many employees have their employer's permission to use company-supplied equipment and tools for personal use like laptops, email or cellphones. Some employee's life insurance, and many employee's health insurance, is supplied by their employer. Some employees depend on the company's printer or copier. These things will all go away with a job that is lost. Consider how you will handle these losses as well as your job. See Resources.

• Consider What You Will Need If You Have To Do a Job Search

  When was the last time you tried on your "interview business suit or dress?" Would you walk into an interview with that portfolio or brief case that has your former employer's name embossed on it? You may need to replace or upgrade things that you have in order to present yourself in an interview in the manner you wish.

• Save Evidence of Your Performance

  If you happen to be terminated, you will not be able to access the files containing the proof of your current work. However, there may be pay history, spreadsheets of results or statistics, work appraisals, examples of other work, contact names and information that you would like to have for future interviews. Gather that data and save it for your own reference. (Note: some of the information you gather may be confidential. Be sure to respect the copyright and privacy requirements of your former employer while maintaining examples of your work.)

Already Terminated?

• Don't Wait

  Many times employees who have been laid off with severance packages feel that they have time to "rest up" or "recuperate" from the stress of being terminated. You can't wait. The time it takes to write your resume, get it edited, apply for a job, get called back for an interview, have the interview, get selected from the first round of interviews, have a second interview, get selected from the second group of interviewees, have the potential employer put together a hiring package, get the offer, counter-offer, negotiate and accept the offer, and actually start your first day can average over three months. That assumes you get hired on your first job attempt. You probably won't. Even the best of severance packages run out. Get started now.

• Get Informed

  If you think you are prepared for your job transition, you probably aren't, particularly if you were at your last job for any length of time. Employment tools have probably changed. Employment practices may have changed. You and your job requirements have probably changed.
  
  You need to quickly get up to speed on the best way to search for jobs, apply for them, research potential employers, interview for a job, and negotiate knowledgeably when selected. Old (but not too old) newspaper articles at the library, internet articles, and books are sources for such information. Career counselors are a great resource, but beware, make sure you know what you are paying for before you do it. See Resources.

• Put Together a Plan

  As one person said, "the problem is not finding job openings, it is figuring out which ones to focus on." Determine your first, second, and third priorities for your job search and put together a schedule. Decide how many applications you will fill out each day. Keep a list of potential contacts with whom you network and put togther a call list. Organize your job search for best results and . . .

• Work the Plan

  Some of us are planners, others are doers. You need to be both. Don't let your research or scheduling get in the way of actually networking, applying, and otherwise doing your job search!

• Expect Disappointment

  This point isn't to suggest that you should enter every interview expecting to be turned down. But it is likely you will be turned down for one, two, three or more positions during your job search. The emotional disappointment can be difficult to manage, but you must. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again.
  
  Some thoughts to consider in your disappointment:
  
  You are the same person who was successful in you last position. You have the same skills, experience, and history of success you had before being terminated. If you don't get hired by an employer, consider it their loss.
  
  God may be sparing you from a worse situation. You may see a great job opportunity today, but God may KNOW that it is the next company to announce lay-offs. Walk in faith with Him, trusting Him to know what's best for you, even if that means NOT getting what-appears-to-be a great opportunity.

• Remember: You Aren't Going Through This Alone

  It is true that it is no fun to go through unemployment, but at least the person who is unemployed has control over his/her job search. But the spouse - the whole family - of the unemployed person suffers many of the same fears and emotions as the person who is unemployed, but often can do little more than helplessly wait and watch the job search from afar.
  
  Work hard at your job search. Even if you feel that you have time to get started or that something will come in, get at it, get started, and get to work! If not because you feel you need to, then because those you love may need to know you are taking care of them.
  
  (Oh, and by the way, those friends and associates who are such a great source for leads to jobs, they are also watching how seriously you are working your job search. If you are seriously working it, many will be seriously working to help you too.)

• Watch For God

  God is in your job transition. It may be deflating, embarassing, and/or humbling to be unemployed, but God is in control. He may be (probably is) teaching you a lesson or two or doing some character-building in you. Expect it. Watch for it. Be open to it. (Is this a good time to remind you to stay faithful in church attendance to hear God's direction, to get in or remain in fellowship with other believers who can support you, and/or keep [or start] a personal Bible-reading and pray program?) Pray and ask God for His wisdom and guidance, and your maturation through your unemployment. Rely on Him for His provision. Remember: you aren't in this alone; He is with you and knows what you are going through. If you pay attention, you will see Him in it.