How to Survive a Job Search

I'm reading Help Wanted ads these days, hoping to find job matches for a growing number of friends and acquaintances who have recently found themselves downsized.

A few years back, our large industries took a hit, laying off workers by the dozens. At one point, by my calculations, we had hundreds of people out of work. It's gratifying to report that many of those people have been called back to work, thanks to contracts and expansions.

But now, a fair share of people in marketing, customer service, sales and management are out of work.

Earlier this year, the chamber added a Help Wanted page to its Web site (www.mandmchamber.com). We post ads for our members at no cost - it's a benefit of membership. We've also added corporate Web sites for several area companies that offer job listings and we will continue to do so.

Meanwhile, what if you've been laid off? Now what?

The experts to tell you not to give in to the desire to mourn your job by wallowing in self pity, hiding out at home, and eating comfort food. They tell you to hit the ground running in your search for another job. We agree. But we also think a few creature comforts might be in order. Certainly a bit of comfort food helps!

Here are a few tips, gleaned from a variety of sources:

Keep busy. Once you've got your resume updated and are actively looking, find some small projects that are doable and will give you a sense of satisfaction upon completion. Clean a room or a drawer, clean out a closet - whatever. Make sure you get something done every day.

File for unemployment immediately. Having money flowing in will alleviate the stress of not having an office to go to every morning. If you have debts, call your creditors and make payment arrangements. Make sure you have health insurance lined up, if that's an issue.

Get out of the house. Fight the impulse to hibernate. You are not alone. Maintain friendships and professional relationships. Make sure you get some exercise, too.

Network like crazy. Put the word out that you are looking. Ask everyone in your professional circle to keep an eye out for a job that fits your experience.

Learn something new. If you can afford to, take a non-credit course. Read up on branding, or search engine optimization. Keep your skills current, and obtain new knowledge of technology or the Internet. Take up a new hobby, one that keeps your hands busy and eases stress.

Consider a temporary gig. Take on project work, sign on with a temp agency, or start a modest consulting business. One laid-off professional lined up a consulting project even before leaving her job.

Volunteer. Make new friends by reaching out to the community. Help somebody. You may gain new skills and new confidence in yourself.

Keep your chin up. Tom Jackson, a job search guru popular in the 80s, used to say that a successful jobs search is a series of NOs that ends in a YES. Every rejection letter brings you closer to that letter of hire.

You will find a job eventually. It may be different from your last job. I took a job I thought would be temporary - and ended up staying 10 years.