Four Tips to Survive a Lay Off in a Tight Job Market

You’ve just lost your job, what do you do next. Follow these four tips to gve yourself and edge in a challenging job market.

Brainstorm job possibilities. A list of strengths and aptitudes can usually be applied to more than one kind of job, and usually to more than one career path. Generate a list of different arenas in which your specific skills and personality might be valuable.

List your experiences. Putting talent to work requires proving that it has been used in successfully in the past. Listing experience with a specific skill or ability is the first step to creating a persuasive resume. Don’t focus only on paid work: Highlight the specific skill set revealed by the aptitude tests.

Network. Tell five or six people that you are taking a strength and weakness interview of yourself to best determine the perfect career you should follow. Ask them to give you their own opinion of your skills and personality traits. Listen carefully to their responses and ask each person if they know of anyone in a related profession who might be willing to meet with you in person or by phone to offer suggestions or contacts.

Find a mentor. Understanding one’s own unique abilities is only the start. Once a perfect career path begins to reveal itself, be on the lookout for someone in that field who is successful and experienced, someone who can help steer you toward success. Use that person often and take all advice seriously.