In today's marketplace, not many people choose to quit a job unless they've already secured another. But there are many cases when leaving a job — involuntarily — comes abruptly when one is least prepared professionally and mentally for being on the job hunt. A friend who was laid off because her employer had to reduce costs recently reminded me how job security is increasingly becoming an elusive concept.

Even if you know your company isn't in the best shape, who will get the axe next may not be easy to predict. If you find it is yourself, here are a few tips on what to do:

You are not alone

You may not be able to get rid of feelings of shame or anger immediately, but it is important that you are not alone. Although a decision to let you go is certainly not very flattering, it does not necessarily reflect on your abilities or performance. The past few years have seen top performers laid off for being too expensive to keep or simply because they became redundant for an employer with less business. So don't get consumed in what went wrong and prepare to move on as soon as possible.

Get started

Don't prolong the break unnecessarily. It is hard when you are unemployed to be fully in charge of your schedule — particularly if you have family commitments, studies or anything else that can suck up your time. The longer you are jobless, the more difficult it becomes to get a job. A few surveys that came out last year quoted employers in the United States stating there was a severe skills gap in the market as a result of long unemployment periods. So have an immediate plan to contact recruiters, job boards, prospect employers, your professional network with job enquiries and applications. Be careful, though, not to rush into any job just to fill the void.

Update your resume

How you explain your layoff on your resume depends on the length of service and the circumstances that led to your termination. A rule of thumb, though, is that if you are unable to explain a particular situation, leave it out of your resume. You can then explain it in a cover letter or a personal interview. It is important to understand how employers look at different situations of layoff. For example, a worker who was laid off after five years of working and being promoted with an employer should find it easier to explain the economic factors that led to the termination compared to someone who held a job for just three or six months.

On your way out

If you get laid off for lost business, downsizing, restructuring or any other jargon that has nothing to do with your performance, one of the first steps you must take is to have the situation documented. Ask for a letter that explains the circumstances that led to your termination. It will be easier to get such a letter while you are still working out the details of your termination than after you are gone. When you begin your quest for a new job, this letter can be your defence if a prospective employer has any concerns.

Reflect on change

You don't need to dwell on office politics or conspiracy theories that led to your termination. But any layoff experience can offer a time for reflection on what you could have done differently to keep your job. Additionally, you need to take these lessons by looking at the bigger picture of your industry and your career. If your career is in a faltering industry, this might be the right time to change career into an industry that is more in demand.

Have a plan B

Moving on and getting another job after being laid off might be too optimistic in many markets. After all, if your employer was forced to lay off staff, chances that other employers in the same industry are doing significantly better are slim. So be ready for a bumpy ride and have a back-up plan for when things go slower than expected. The key to being on top of the game is to remain active, present and connected. Remember any form of irregular activity such as volunteer work, internship, independent or part time job can put you ahead of other candidates who gave in to joblessness.

 

Rania Oteify, a former Business Features Editor at Gulf News, is a freelance journalist based in Seattle.