Losing your career employment to a downsizing feels like walking out to the garage and discovering your car's been stolen. The familiar vehicle that was taking you places is gone! It feels like hell and you wonder how are you supposed to get where you're going? 

Being laid off suddenly is one of the biggest stressors there is but you can managed and get through it if you understand what to expect. Every  person is different, but handling your career loss will undoubtedly involve certain predictable steps and here are some thoughts on how to approach the aftermath of your lay-off with the least possible pain:

Grieving 

You need a suitable mourning period. It's different for everyone, and the determining factor might be how well set-up you are to tolerate the layoff financially. If you have a nice nest-egg and got a good severance, you have options; good for you! If not, you'll be tempted to fly out to the job market the day after your layoff, and many people who try that tactic meet with disastrous results.  Luckily, most people can afford to take at least a few days to lick their wounds. If you're not one of the lucky ones, you will have to find a way to grieve while pounding the pavement and promoting yourself. 

Saying Good-Bye

This is tough. Try to focus on the early days of the job you just lost, how excited you felt at landing the opportunity, how great the folks were during the onboarding process, and all the good stuff that made that job such a prize. The thing to focus on is not that the company took your job away, but that they gave you one in the first place. And if you're honest, you'll have to admit it wasn't the most perfect job ever - even a great job is still a job, and you probably would rather have been playing golf or sleeping in on some of those days! 

Re-starting

Start thinking about your resume - but be advised that the old typed-up chronological march through your education and work experience is not going to cut it these days. Your resume should be more like a sales brochure that will stand you in good stead against your competitors (of which there will be many). Stay in touch with your contacts, both inside and outside your old company (again, you may be limited in the communication you can have at first with former co-workers). Create or spiff-up your internet presence - make sure you are on the leading social networking sites, and have a nice personal web site with your dressed-for-success picture on it. 

Interviewing

Take the time, from several hours to several days, to really "interview yourself," taking inventory of what you're really after in this transition. Start with what you have to offer. What are your biggest strengths? "Held progressively responsible positions at ABC Company for twelve years" is not a strength. What got you those promotions? When you get to things like "savvy," "determination," "discipline," "problem-solving ability," "creativity," and the like, you have made it to the level of true strengths. What are your weaknesses... and what have you learned from them? Only after you've inventoried what you have to offer to the next job should you think about what it should offer you.

Hiring Yourself

Your goal may be to start/buy a business, or to continue your career in the service of another company. Either way, at some point you have to give yourself the job of getting up every morning and seeking work. Make it a 40-hour-per-week commitment. If you aren't starting a business, one key piece of advice is to realize that you are, these days especially, in the business of "you" at all times. Either invest in a business, or invest some of your severance in professionals who can help you craft a winning resume, market yourself, build an effective network, create a great online presence, or hone your interview skills. Go after the job search with the same discipline and rigor with which you will do the job you'll get.

If your job search drags out, don't get discouraged. Consider taking more schooling or starting a home-based online business as a "hedge," and keep looking for the opportunity that will make you happiest.

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