Finding Your Passion Again After a Job Loss

The other day I danced. It was around my livingroom, but I danced. I once dreamed of being a professional dancer on Broadway, but my reality and path in life led me into other creative directions for a career. I love dancing. It does something great for my soul. Whether it’s Ravel’s sultry Bolero, a lilting song by Judy Collins, Elton John’s rocking The One album or Pink Martini’s many styles, music makes me want to get up and move.

What makes you move, gives you a boost, charges your engines and makes you happy? Is there something you always wanted to do that you didn’t pursue? Is this your time, while you are between jobs, to try doing what makes your heart sing?

I met someone recently who is in his 50s and thinking of returning to dance, which he once pursued with passion. Now out of work and thinking of new options, he yearns to dance like he did when he was younger. I say, if the body is willing, why not?

Dance is only an example, and it may not be your passion, but don’t you have something you were pretty good at, something you always wanted to do besides what you ended up doing for a career? To get started, you could take a course or two, find a mentor, or do some informational interviews. Try whatever it is out for size. See if you can shift your career that’s been stalled by a layoff or other job loss in a new direction that makes you happier and pays the bills.

For me, writing filled the creative gap left after I stopped performing as a dancer. I’ve always loved to write anyway. Words have been the cornerstone of most of my career, and writing is a transferrable skill should I shift away from marketing and communications. The most important aspect of writing, however, is the passion I feel for it. If you can find that passion again, it can set your whole life on a path to greater happiness.

Demons, Roadblocks and Pitfalls on the Way to a New Job—Part One

You have probably already encountered one. Almost everyone who has been “put out on the street” by a layoff or job loss faces some demons, roadblocks and pitfalls that get in the way of an effective job search. Some can be overcome simply by focusing on them and making changes yourself. Others will take special effort or reaching out for professional help. Each requires a different strategy, but if you can block the following from railroading your job search, it will be smoother, and quite likely, faster:

Lethargy & Laziness—Not enough sleep. “Tomorrow is good enough.” “I’ll take this week off.” “Job hunting is so much work!”

The solution lies within you. You have to decide to get enough rest and to become focused and stay on task.

Fear & Panic—“No one will hire me now.” “I don’t know what to do.” “What if I can’t find a job and ____ (you fill in the blank) and a year goes by? Then what?”

If this is holding you back, get professional help. Talk to a career coach, your college career counselor, your best friend or spouse, your pastor, a psychiatrist…anyone who can help you get a grip and focus back on the task at hand.

Getting Overwhelmed by your own Disorganization—Can’t find anything. “Which resume was the last one I revised?”

Start now, early in the game, and you will be glad you did. Already deep into piles of unidentified papers and files? Dig in now and sort them out. Rename your computer files and put them into folders. Establish a naming convention for your documents and stick to it.

Falling in the Email Trap—Too much time spent checking, reading and responding. “Where did the day go?”

If your time is being eaten up by email, pick a couple of times a day and a certain length of time you’ll spend on emails. Delete or get off lists that fill your inbox with emails you never read.

Pressure (perceived or real)—“I am the sole support for my family.” “Everyone will think I’m a loser.”

Focus on the pressure you put on yourself, not what others think of you. If you are in danger of running out of funds and your unemployment has run out, take an interim job—anything you can get—whether in or out of your normal line of work. Set aside time daily for job hunting and enlist the help of friends, family and former colleagues. There’s nothing about being laid off that reflects on you. It’s not about you. So, redirect your energy to finding a new future.

Pinching Pennies & Spending Effectively After a Layoff

Face it, one of your first worries after a layoff, or any job loss, is money. In this economic environment we are all watching what we spend, but when there are no more paychecks or unemployment benefits are all you have to live on, spending decisions are critical.

Your main goal is to find a new job as quickly as possible, but to make sure your money covers your needs and expenses, your spending choices need to be strategic. Consider first what you absolutely have to spend on for your job hunt—things like Internet access, cell phone bills, business cards, transportation and a few office supplies. If you need professional help with your resume or job hunting techniques to get you started, especially if you have been out of the job market for a while, seek recommendations from friends and price out your options. Put your money where you will gain what you really need.

Networking is a necessity. Not every penny you spend will bring you actionable results, but every connection can lead to another. There are plenty of low cost networking options, where $10-30 will get you in the door if you register ahead.

Consolidate your events or meetings to economize on travel costs and time. If you have to drive to networking events, try carpooling with a friend or job hunting buddy, trading off on who drives each time. If you are going into the city for a meeting or an interview, take public transportation and make it a day. Set up additional informational interviews in the same area. Meet someone for lunch and maybe someone else for coffee.

Print your own business cards or use one of the low cost or free online business card printers. Printing you own will allow you to customize your cards to specific scenarios, which is helpful if you are looking at more than one career path.

Stretching your job hunting budget is possible if you make wise decisions.

Turning Anger into Positive Energy after Job Loss

When you leave a job, especially under unhappy circumstances such as a layoff or separation, it is wise to leave with as much style as you can muster—staying calm and professional. And, to stay that way, no matter how angry you are. Throwing epithets or trashing your former employer will only do you harm.

In a town like DC where a lot of people know a lot of people, word can get around. You may tell people what happened to you in “confidence,” but in another context your tale of woes may just be another bit in their memory bank, and it may be reaching the ears of possible future employers or coworkers. It might even reach your previous boss, which could hurt your chances if he or she is called by your next potential employer for a reference. Additionally, people shy away from complainers. If you are networking, you’ll do better if you park your personal issues at home.

However, I’m not suggesting that you ignore how you feel or suppress your initial anger. What I am suggesting is that you deal with it to get over it, so you can start on a positive path towards finding new employment. If you deal with your anger in constructive ways, whether it’s writing in a personal journal (not a blog), talking it out privately at home or with a professional counselor, or taking it out in exercise, you are taking charge of it rather than letting it consume you and infect what you do and say.

Employers are looking for upbeat attitudes, and burning bridges has never been the route to success. Working through your feelings will help you find the positive energy you need to move on.

10+ Portfolio Tips for Creative Professionals

If you’ve been out of the job market for a while—now thrust into it by a layoff or other job loss—your portfolio has likely been languishing on a shelf. Hopefully, you’ve been saving samples of your work in your recent jobs in case you needed them someday. Now is the time to dust off or replace your old presentation binder and start all over with a winning portfolio. Here are some tips to help you make your portfolio a tool for job hunting success:

1. If your presentation binder is old and worn, buy a new one. Look for an attractive, professional one that will be durable, flexible and easy to carry.
   
2. Research the types of materials produced by the employer. Ask in the phone interview what types of pieces they would like to see.
   
3. Customize your portfolio to the organization’s needs and the job description.
   
4. Make sure your portfolio contents are fresh, bright and interesting with no torn or spotted pieces.
   
5. Organize your pieces by type or by employer, whichever seems most logical for your presentation.
   
6. Put your award winners, if any, up front.
   
7. If your work is online, do screen captures and print them. Explain what your role was and the outcome.
   
8. Inquire ahead if you want the option of showing your portfolio in presentation slides or online, to make sure the employer’s office is equipped, particularly if you are interviewing with a group. Test your electronic presentation at home before arriving for the interview. Technical glitches can be spoilers.
   
9. Time your presentation to no more than 10-15 minutes. Practice by showing it to a friend or family member.
   
10. Talk about your work as you show it, relating how it fit into the business plan, what your role was and what the results were.
    
11. Highlight any comprehensive projects you had and how you managed them.

Donate Your Talent When Job Loss Leaves You Short on Dollars to Give

After a layoff or other job loss, you may not be able to donate money, but there are a lot of ways to volunteer your time and talents.

Volunteering brings multiple benefits. It’s an outlet for you to think outside of yourself and do something good for others. It’s also a way to network, depending on where you focus your volunteer energy.

Here are some ways to volunteer:

• Help organize a community event, such as a park clean-up or neighborhood barbecue.
• Make your hobby the focus of your volunteer time. For instance, if you like the outdoors, join a hiking club and become active in the group’s leadership.
• Organize a group visit to a nursing home to bring cheer to the residents.
• Get politically involved in local, state or national actions or groups.
• Read to children in daycare programs or at the local library.
• Deliver meals on wheels to homebound seniors.

While you’re doing your volunteer work, get to know your fellow volunteers or coordinators. Collegially, let them know who you are, what you offer and where you want to be. Share ideas and jump in to get things done. The rewards are immeasurable.

No Job, Little Sleep, Getting Frazzled?

A lot has been written about the stress associated with job loss. What are you doing to maintain your equilibrium in light of your own dilemma?

If you are getting down or finding it difficult to get to sleep or stay asleep, leaving you short on energy in the morning, it is time to take some measures for change. There are steps you can take that don’t add cost to your budget but should help:

1. Get some exercise every day. Walk, run, bike…whatever suits you best.
2. Breathe some fresh air. Enjoy a local park’s gardens and natural vistas or tend to your own yard. When the weather is nice enough, find a place to sit outside and eat your lunch.
3. Cook simple, healthy meals. Stay away from sugary or fatty “comfort foods,” sodas, caffeine and excessive alcohol, especially in the evening. Nourish your body and brain with important nutrients.
4. Minimize your before-bed stimuli. Take some time to slow down before you lie down. Have a cup of chamomile tea, read a magazine or listen to quiet music. Television and intense reading can activate your brain instead of putting it to sleep.

Here are some online articles and websites that offer more tips:
Job Losses Carry High 'Stress Tag'
Advice from U.C. Berkeley
Dealing with Job Loss, from CareerOneStop
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Agency
Overcoming Job Loss Depression from eHow.com
Tips on Budget Eating & Job Loss
USDA Food Pyramid