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Plan your job search carefully and manage yourself into your next career move, says leading career coach Frank Thaxton.
Plan your job search carefully and manage yourself into your next career move, says leading career coach Frank

 

The boss says "We're going to let you go" or "Your job is at risk". This may be the first you know that you're losing your job – and the news can come as a huge blow. You’re pretty sure that you will recover from these feelings in time, but when you hear it, the first thought is "What do I do next?"

Let me set out some immediate advice – based on years of experience; this is what works! What you do next is take on the full-time job of finding a job!

Prepare your Campaign Plan

Like starting any new job, you first need to find out the facts, then organise any training needed, followed by preparing a plan of campaign to get the results you want. You then need to implement and manage that campaign, setting up a system to record your progress. Sounds easy? It sometimes is, but maybe you forget that this needs to be a full-time professional job; it is also one for which you have not been trained, nor is it one in which you have had regular practise! So you may need some direction.

  • First of all, set yourself up properly and with an initial plan of your time; this isn't a pastime, nor is it something you will "get around to when I’m ready”. It's a job that requires your full commitment. Sort out when and where you are going to work on it, on a daily basis, and then look at what you are going to do.
  • You will need to evaluate the effectiveness of what you are doing and fine-tune your approach accordingly. How much time can you devote (you still need weekends and holidays!) so plan to have regular hours and days.
  • Work out the financial budget (with your partner) to allow you as much time as possible. It could be useful also to work out the "worst case" - just to know what it is, but you’ll be focussing on doing much better. 

Your new job of finding a job could be seen as 'direct selling' – which is accompanied by the regular possibility of rejection – receiving a "No". Remember, most people applying for a job will get a “No” (and be disappointed) as only one applicant will get the job, so it’s not about your “failure”.

You do need to manage your own perceptions, to grow resilience, and be sensibly positive. Prepare by working out how to build your resilience and certainly set targets for yourself that you can achieve on your own. Resilience is key and it is something that can be learned and built; you will feel some pain of “No” or rejection, but your 'bounce-back' and speed of recovery is central to how well you perform. 

Remember, most people applying for a job will get a “No” (and be disappointed) as only one applicant will get the job, so it’s not about your “failure”.
    • Start collecting the facts about you as an employee; you will need to amass such information if you are to sell yourself well in any circumstance facing you. Write down everything you can – for assessment and amendment as you continue – your objectives and interests, possible roles, what you do well, where you 'add value' or 'deliver the goods' for an employer, what others know you can do, examples showing your commercial value etc.
    • Review the last ten or so years and see what you have done, write it up, and see how it describes you. Tackle the assessment in different ways to see what you can identify and explore all your abilities, not just those of your last job(s). It may not be easy at first, but the harder you try......
 

  • Get support. Losing a job is not uncommon these days - it happens everywhere. List out friends, colleagues, and acquaintances to whom you might turn for advice on your plans. Don’t ever ask anyone if they “......know of any roles” or of “…companies which may be recruiting” or “Can you help?” It puts them in a difficult spot. It’s far better to show that you know what you want to do and get their advice on aspects of the task. Perhaps get yourself a coach to help with the job-search or at least get a book on the key issues. If you can, before you leave your current role, make sure you have contact information for all colleagues and contacts and that they know how to get in touch with you. 
  • Look at your CV and start the process of turning it into a really good sales document for you, one which people will read and say "I have got to meet this person!" Do the same for your LinkedIn profile, which is often the first thing viewed, and which tends to be a little less formal and more forward-looking than a CV. There is much free advice on the web to help with both.

Don't be unreasonable with yourself and expect immediate results! In any other job, you would agree timescales to achieve manageable goals - why should this job be different? Most people will take several months to find something new after they leave - recognise this and plan for it.

Stay on top, keep motivated, and manage yourself into future success!

Frank Thaxton (http://uk.linkedin.com/in/frankthaxton) is a successful executive coach who helps clients at all levels to achieve their personal and career goals. Specialising in career change – however caused – leading to a new role, self-employment, non-executive, or portfolio career. His books include “I can get you a job” http://amzn.to/1gne64u, “Stop Dreaming and Start Doing” (a guide to self-employment), and “Perfect CVs in 90 Minutes”.
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