1. Life After Layoff
By: Kristy Vetter
President, Directly Speaking Seminars and Coaching
www.directlyspeakingseminars.com
Your boss has just told you that your job is being eliminated, through no fault of your own. The shock, disbelief
and sometimes, the relief, can be confusing and mind numbing. The emotion often described as most difficult is the
feeling of being alone in this new situation. Below are ideas, insights and resources to help you through a time that
can easily be turned from isolating and difficult into one of the most productive, positive times of your life. The
attitude and approach is up to you.
Initial Reactions.
Initial reactions after a layoff can vary dramatically depending on each person’s circumstances. Studies have shown
that many people experience a grieving process, especially if this is their first layoff. Dealing with your emotions,
worrying about your family’s reaction and where the next pay check will come from can be exhausting. Take a
deep breath and remember that you are not alone. You control your actions and your reactions. The layoff was not
your choice but you can take charge of what happens after the initial event.
Where do I Start?
Looking for a job has now become your job. Where do you start? Below are a few books and websites that can help
develop your action plan, organize your thoughts, and help write a resume that gets noticed. If you are considering
starting your own business there are hundreds of helpful resources. I have listed ones that I, and others, have found
useful.
Books
What Color Is Your PARACHUTE? 2008 edition by Richard Nelson Bolles. This is an excellent book
covering topics such as: “The Things School Never Taught Us About the Job-Hunt,” “When the
Unexpected Happens: How to Deal with Change,” and “Resuming the Search to Find Your Dream.” The
book is a thorough guide, yet Bolles takes a light approach to a difficult subject.
Surviving a Layoff by Lita Epstein, MBA. Lita provides “A Week-by-Week Guide to Getting Your Life
Back Together.” She discusses finances, grief and anger, how and what to tell friends and family, how to
stay organized and launch the job search.
Websites
Riley Guide: “Providing free career and employment information since February 1994.”
http://www.rileyguide.com/
O*NET OnLine: Career Exploration Tools
“OnLine has detailed descriptions of the world of work for job seekers, workforce development and HR
professionals, students, researchers, and more!” http://www.onetcenter.org/tools.html
http://www.indeed.com/
Indeed.com is a job search site that combines job postings from more than 500 places into one website. Job
listings include major job boards, the top 200 newspapers, hundreds of professional associations, and
company career centers.
http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/theinternet/sec_page.php?sub_item=042
The official online job search resource hosted By Dick Bolles, author of "What Color is Your Parachute"

2. Remember to have fun!
Some days we simply forget to smile and laugh and yet both are effective stress relievers. Laughter is contagious. It
strengthens your immune system, diminishes pain and reduces the negative effects of stress. Go out with friends
that boost your self esteem and make you laugh, watch an old episode of “I Love Lucy” or just think about funny
things that have happened. You will quickly find yourself smiling and hopefully, eventually laughing. Laughter can
help us put the tough situations in perspective and reminds us that there is hope!
Life after Layoff Word Search
Word search games are not only fun, they can help improve your proofreading skills. Have some fun finding words
about your new opportunity to find the life that now works best for you.
R Z G N Q W W K E B L R D J P
K E W C M W M D D Q U E E U R
R Y T E V C U E L E R S O A I
O L D R I C D P N I I D F Z O
W P E A A V N E H C R A E S R
T P S T G I R O R E S U M E I
E A I C J P N E I R V O E R T
N O G O E O X I T S C R O E I
N E N R E E B Q N N S G C T E
K C T R O P P U S G I A C H S
B N V T I M E B V J O N P G H
E R E E T N U L O V F I B U G
I E J Z K E A I P G Z Z J A B
L A T H R I V I N G M E G L O
O P P O R T U N I T Y Z Y V V
APPLY DESIGN EDUCATION
ENTREPRENEUR EXERCISE HIRED
INTERVIEW JOB LAUGHTER
NETWORK OPPORTUNITY ORGANIZE
PASSION PRIORITIES RESUME
RETRAINING SEARCH SUPPORT
THRIVING TIME VOLUNTEER