Other than the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job is probably one of the most devastating things that can happen to most people, More often, the loss is a surprise and you’re completely unprepared for it.With income gone, you face the possibility of not being able to pay your bills or even afford your place to live and to eat. If you have a family, it’s even more devastating because you have others relying on your income to survive as well.

Make a Plan

To handle the loss, you need to come up with a plan. Take a moment to stop and take a breath. Recognize the grief and the stress that comes with your situation and then start laying out the plan for getting back on your feet.

File for Assistance

The first step is to file for unemployment and to find out what your options are for any assistance that will tide you over until you find your next job. These processes generally take a few weeks to take effect so the faster you get the paperwork filed, the faster you’ll know if and how much assistance you can receive.

Stress Outlets

Next, you need to find a way to handle the stress and your lowered self-esteem. A job loss is hard on anyone, even if he or she saw it coming. Your ego takes a blow and you often wonder what it was about you that was not “good enough.” See if your old job offers counseling services to those who were let-go so you’re not trying to figure out another way to pay for something you can’t afford.

Support Groups

You can also look for support groups. Try checking out social media sites such as Meet-Up, Linkedin or Facebook for job loss groups or to start looking for new opportunities. If you don’t find a group, then start one. There are others like you that need support and help. Sometimes having more heads can solve the problem faster. Keep an open heart and mind and you never know what chances you’ll run across. Find a way to turn the loss into a positive.

Family and Friends

Reach out to your family and friends. You need the extra support from these people at this time. They might even be able to help with assistance or by putting a word in for you at their place of work. They can also help you rebuild your self-esteem by reminding you that you are worth something and important.

Update Your Resume

If you haven’t updated your resume in a while, this is the time to do it. Job-hunting might also have changed since you last needed to look for a job. Currently most employers no longer want you to come into the office with your resume. Instead, you should email it in. Learn how to tailor your resume to the job offering. Today, a computer program, instead of a human, looks at resumes first, so you need the keywords the company is seeking for your resume to be selected.

Get to Work Finding a New Job

Jobs used to be advertised in the newspaper, now employers use job-posting boards, social media sites, word of mouth and online job employment sites. You have to get creative to find the jobs. If you’re interested in working for a company, go in to find out if they have openings that aren’t advertised. Be active and treat finding a job as work with regular hours.

Be Creative

Don’t be afraid to branch out and be creative. Consider starting up your own business that you always dreamed of but never had the time. If self-employment is not what you want then find ways to make yourself unique from other prospective employees who are applying for the same job position. Focus on the employer’s needs and how you are the person they need to meet those needs.

While losing your job is stressful, sometimes the loss can be the best thing that ever happened to you by putting you into a better situation. Get support, find ways to stay positive and get busy finding your next opportunity. It’s just around the corner, you just have to apply yourself to find it.

About the Authors

David Steal is a 20 year veteran of the commercial construction industry. He tracks performance of top performing commercial construction companies like Echo Pacific Construction. Chris Rowe is the CEO of the successful California construction company and adds values to communities through school and LEED construction efforts.

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