{"id":1503,"date":"2012-05-29T18:41:39","date_gmt":"2012-05-29T18:41:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=1503"},"modified":"2012-06-08T14:52:45","modified_gmt":"2012-06-08T14:52:45","slug":"ten-things-to-do-when-you-lose-your-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=1503","title":{"rendered":"Forbes.Com\/Second Verse: Ten Things to Do When You Lose Your Job"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>How does it feel to be nearly 60 and back in the job market after an unexpected layoff? You went down with an entire department\u2019s implosion.<\/div>\n
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You feel angry in flashes. There are waves of grief from separating from your tight knit clan of work cohorts. Then hope zips by for a visit. You start thinking that this may very well be the best thing that ever happened to you.<\/p>\n

The range of emotions ebbs and flows.<\/p>\n

But what you probably don\u2019t feel like doing is turning on your laptop and setting the stage for what\u2019s next.<\/p>\n

I have spent the last week or so helping someone close to me get moving, so I thought I would share these simple action tips with you.<\/p>\n

1. Get a new e-mail address.<\/strong>\u00a0You need a professional e-mail that\u2019s your first and last name. You can, for instance, get a custom Gmail address for free. \u00a0I use\u00a0kerry@kerryhannon.com<\/a>, but I had to buy that on web host provider\u00a0Godaddy.com. You may opt for a simple web site, too. It should have your bio, contact information and links to your work if applicable.\u00a0Say, you\u2019re a documentary producer and editor, put some short video reels of your work up via a Vimeo account. It\u2019s your online calling card.<\/p>\n

2<\/strong>.\u00a0Send a mass new e-mail address alert to everyone<\/strong>\u00a0you know far and wide<\/strong>. Tell them you have moved on from your older employer and to change your address in their contact lists pronto.<\/p>\n

3. Facelift your resume.<\/strong>\u00a0For more on how to have an\u00a0unbeatable resume<\/a>, read my post\u00a0here.<\/a><\/p>\n

4<\/strong>.\u00a0Join<\/strong>\u00a0LinkedIn,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and Twitter, or pretty-up your current public profile.<\/strong>\u00a0Online networking and rah, rah self-promotion through social media channels is a little awkward for many of us, but with practice it gets easier.<\/p>\n

\u201cSocial media is one of the easiest ways to accomplish several key factors that help people land jobs,\u201d Miriam Salpeter, a job search and social media coach, owner of\u00a0Keppie Careers\u00a0<\/a>and author of\u00a0Social Networking for Career\u00a0Success<\/a>: Using Online Tools to Create a Personal Brand,\u00a0<\/em>says.\u201c<\/strong>There\u2019s no easier way to showcase what you know to a broad audience of potential colleagues, networking contacts, and hiring managers than via using social media.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

For me, my LinkedIn profile is my working resume. It lets anyone who wants to know about my background, awards, interests, and so on see it all in a straightforward format that I can tweak easily.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be bashful about posting your interests and volunteer activities. A well-rounded profile creates an impression of who you are and how you balance your personal and professional life.<\/p>\n

I even list what I\u2019m reading, thanks to an Amazon link, and am an active member of LinkedIn groups that relate to my current work, alma mater, past employers, and more. I comment on posts from others and add in my own. It\u2019s amazing how many new \u201cLinks\u201d you can make.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s more window-dressing to apply on LinkedIn once you\u2019re up and rolling. You can add a PowerPoint presentation and a video clip of you from a television interview or a speech via Slideshare. You can link a WordPress blog, if you have one and connect your Twitter account stream. Do it one step at a time as you get more comfortable with steering around the site.<\/p>\n