Finding Your Next Job

When you went to work this morning, you had a job. When you came home, you did not.

Maybe you hated your job so bad, you just quit without having a new position lined up. More likely, your employer terminated you and you’re devastated. Whatever the reason, you’re back in the job market again.

If you were terminated through no fault of your own, take a day or two to recover from the shock and assess your financial situation. Determine how long your severance pay and your savings will last; be brutal in cutting out discretionary expenses.

If you aren’t already following a regular exercise routine, establish one now. Exercise is a great way to reduce stress and keep yourself in shape. Now is not the time to have health problems.

The job may be gone, but you’ve still got your skills and will be a valuable employee to an appreciative employer.

Networking is a Valuable Tool

Start networking almost immediately. Work your contacts to see if they know of any jobs where your talents and skills can be put to good use. If you want to expand your networking beyond known contacts, consider joining LinkedIn, an online networking system for business people in every field. A basic membership is free and allows you access to thousands of groups where members have interests similar to yours.

If money isn’t an immediate problem, consider setting up your own business. Many people go on to operate successful businesses after losing a job. You could be a freelance consultant in your field. It’s even possible, if you lost your job due to an economic downturn, your employer will hire you back on a freelance basis.

Temporary Jobs Can Lead to Permanent Positions

Temping is another option for finding work. Register with the temporary employment agencies that specialize in your field. It is not uncommon for a temporary assignment to turn into a permanent position as many employers like to “try out” employees before hiring them.

Be Positive!

Above all, keep a positive attitude. On bad days, it’s easy to wallow in self-pity and feel worthless. Consider this: You got your last job because of your skills; your skills will get you another job.

Make a list of your major accomplishments at your last job, and the skills you used to achieve them. Review it whenever you feel down. The list will come in handy at job interviews and make it easier for you to adopt a positive can-do attitude before a prospective employer.

If you feel like you’ll never be hired again, it could turn out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Photo credit: iStockphoto.com

About the author: This post was contributed by Kelly Austin from highersalary.com and is geared towards helping people make specific, positive changes that will avoid mistakes and propel them toward their goals and towards success.