Laid Off ? What a Golden Opportunity!

Gone are the days when a company employed the same workers for decades. People today will change jobs more often than in any other generation. Indeed, the fastest rate of job growth is in part-time and temporary jobs. Even the higher stress plaguing today’s workplace can itself trigger yet another level of high stress when the result is losing a job. A Harvard Medical School study reports that people with stress-induced chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) can lose their jobs as a direct result of this medical condition. Recognizing that being fired is become more commonplace than in previous generations can go a long way toward minimizing the high stress that comes with a pink slip. Behind that pink slip could be a golden opportunity.

Here are six tips to help you get back on track when you get laid off:

1. Embrace the opportunity: You were fired because you were not considered a right fit for the job. If it’s a matter of temperament, embrace the opportunity to find a job that will not make you blow your top, or one in which you can be positive. Embrace the opportunity to find a better fit for your career goals, your good health and a more rewarding lifestyle.

2. Get moving: Don’t become paralyzed at being fired. Make a "to do" list each day to a. explore jobs, b. update your resume, c. apply for jobs, d. network, c. review your day’s activities, and e. reward yourself for not standing still. If you can’t seem to get started, enlist a friend or a local support group to get you moving.

3. Tighten up: Even if you land another job quickly, tightening up on your budget is good advice to take you through the changing-jobs transition. Cut out all but necessities. Reward yourself with free fun such as a trip to the public library, a park or by taking long walks with friends or family members.

4. Be honest:Very few people have never been fired, so don’t think you’ll never get another job. Focus on the positive results you achieved at your former job. When a potential employer asks why you were let go, say it wasn’t a good fit and point to your positives.

5. Network: It’s tried, but true. Go to professional meetings. Join associations. Make cold calls to leaders in your field, and ask for advice. You will find that your bravery will be amply rewarded, even if not immediately.

6. Think outside the box: This is the perfect time to ask yourself if you are on the right career path. Can your skills be useful in another profession that you would find more rewarding? Find four potential "outside the box" career fields, and revise the wording and focus of your resume in four different ways to fit those career requirements.

If you got a pink slip (aka were fired) or simply lost a temporary job, you’re at the edge of a great opportunity! Be sure to make the most of it.