Part two: What not to do when you lose your job
1) Use part of your severance pay for (re) training.
Training for a new job is no guarantee of success. At best, you can expect a brief introduction to a field you have no experience in and you will be greeted as such by prospective employers.
Instead save your money for living expenses and find a job doing something you love and already have experience doing.
2) Pay a resume service to do your resume.
Who knows you better than yourself? You or some out of work hack who spends 15 minutes interviewing you over the phone and then plugs your particulars into a boilerplate presentation?
3) Apply for numerous jobs online and followup with emails demanding an interview.
Applying for jobs online adds you to a growing pool of faceless, nameless job seekers. Rudeness never pays.
4) Not contact anyone you know about your job search because you are too embarrassed.
Contact everyone. Everyone knows someone else.
5) Not immediately cut back living expenses, take stock of financial situation and make aggressive changes.
Living in financial "La La" land is not advisable when you are working and receiving a steady income. Start now while you have a job and not when it is too late.
6) Apply for jobs you are not qualified for or truly interested in.
Do what you love doing and are good at.
7) Not maintain contact with any of the other people might have been fired or laid off the same time you were.
Most of the people who were let go when you were are looking for work as well. Often, they know of companies hiring more than one person.
8) Not contact any mentors, personal coaches or advisors who might have guided you in the past.
Atheletes have coaches. CEO's have board members. Students have tutors and mentors. Why don't you?
9) Not start any sort of second income endeavor whether it be a part-time job or consulting.
Find anything that will bring in some additional money - be it part time or full time while you are searchiing for that perfect job.
10) Let your pride, fear, ignorance and stupidity get in the way of success.
Ignorance breeds contempt. You will only have contempt for yourself.
