When you get the pink slip…

Last week one of my friends Sumit received this awful and not so unexpected news, “Effective today your services are not required. Kindly collect your belongings/ dues by the weekend”.

He immediately called me up with very stressed and frustrated voice and complained about the employer that he has worked with them for more than 4 years now and how they could do that with him!. “Please arrange some interview for me today itself”, he said. I asked him to calm down and suggested him to go home and relax.

These kinds of situations are not very uncommon these days. Getting tensed and frustrated is very obvious. But this is the time where we need to control our thoughts and respond in a cool and mature way.

Some tips what to do after you being laid off:

Be Positive:
Kind of responses like of Sumit is very obvious in these types of situations. Even if this was anticipated, you will go through many thoughts. Some negativity, anger, jealousy, frustration may come but you need to be watchful enough. Don’t let these thoughts hinder in your life. Be positive and think positive. Like there is a saying “Only a calm mind can sail you through the storm.”

Don’t take it personally:
“I have been loyal to the company and still they have asked me to go”. Don’t badmouth or think badly for your employer. That decision might be driven by bad health of the company. So don’t take it personally. The company will move on and you also should move on.

Don’t feel ashamed:
I have one friend who lost his job twice during last six months. So he started his own business and he is doing quite ok in that. If you are laid off that does not mean that you are not competent in you work, it is the end of just one chapter and you need to start new one. After a year you will think that better you lay off, that’s why you are in such a good position today.

Good time for vacation:
When I asked one of my acquaintances after he was unceremoniously dropped, what are his plans. He replied, “Since I don’t have much responsibility so I’ll utilize this break as a vacation and have some fun”. This could be the right time to spend some quality time with your family and plan for the future with a calm mind. So you can think to go for small vacation.

Go through self assessment:
Before going for a job search go through a self assessment. That will help you to put your best foot forward towards finding a matching job. Ask these questions to yourself :

What kind of job I want?
In which domain I want to work?
Should I change my specialization?

Increase your educational qualifications:

This is the right time to identify your shortcomings and overcome theose by adding on to your educational qualifications. Take a break and join some executive mamangement course like the ones offered by the IIMs, XLRI, etc.

Check your connections:
This is the start of the job search. Making a comprehensive list of whom you know and where they are. Get this organized on paper or in Microsoft Excel and start contacting them! Make the best use of networking sites like http://www.linkedin.com/, www.plaxo.com, http://www.siliconindia.com/, http://www.google.com/ to do your homework.

Remember brooding has not helped anyone. Take it in your stride and seek an opportunity in every diversity !