This presentation is based in part on my book "Riding the Roller Coaster." It deals with both the principles and practical ideas of how to deal with the ups and downs of life, specifically Job loss.

1. Dealing with the
ups and downs of
life
javed_mohammed@hotmail.com Presentation on SlideShare
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2. Change is inevitable
Layoffs: Time to recover
1st time: Transparent
2nd time: 4 months
3rd time: 3 years
4th time: Unknown
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3. Personal Life Changes
Family Occupation Health
-Marriage -Starting a Career -Growing Older
-Children -Changing Jobs -Chronic Illness
-Death of a -Unemployed -Terminal Illness
spouse
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4. Problems, Problems
The big picture: World GDP growth is slowing & US &
Western Europe in Recession
House prices are falling sharply & Householders have little
savings buffer
Spending/GDP
xx quarters to yy quarters to
decline to recover to pre-
bottom of cycle recession levels
Recession Depression Recovery
Time
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5. For recovery: a lot has to line up
Real GDP growth Household debt (% GDP)
House price growth
Inflation
Real consumer spending growth
Interest rates
Unemployment
Savings ratio
(% disposable income)
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Consumer confidence

6. Our role: Supporting our
communities
•As a community, we have
a significant part to play in:
• helping minimise the
impact of the recession
locally
• Being a part of
recovery.
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7. Insights
• It takes a full time job to find a
full time job
• Your greatest asset is your
time, you have to manage it
• Your greatest support is faith,
family & friends: Keep them in
your loop
• Use traditional job search & be
creative
• Occupy yourself, have a
routine, volunteer, if there’s
value do it.
• Use the B factor Barakah: Less
is more
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8. 6 steps for recovering from job
loss
1. Take time to grieve
2. Form a support
group
3. Exercise regularly
4. Form a daily routine
5. Network, Network,…
6. Never ever give up
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9. When you’re let go
• Call Unemployment
Office
• Make list of Assets &
Debts
• Move to Survival Mode:
(What can you avoid, cut)
• Look after your and your
families health
– Sign up for COBRA
• Be ready for a marathon
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10. Problems, Problems
The Roller Coaster Ride
Moving On
Looking for
Sense of Well being
new ideas and
Emotional Turmoil
meaning
Anger/Denial/Blame/
Guilt/Grief
Acceptance
Shock/Confusion
(letting go of past)
Depression
Time
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11. All you need is a prayer
quot;Pray to me and I will hear
your prayer” Quran (v40:60)
.
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12. The Drive for Patience
“And be patient and preserving:
for God is with those who patiently preserve.quot; Quran (8: 46)
“Wonderful is the affair of the believer. His affairs in their
entirety are good for him. If good befalls him, he is thankful,
and that is good for him. And if harm befalls him, he is patient,
and that is good for him.
And this (prosperous state of being) is only for the believer.”
Saying of Prophet Muhammad
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13. Living Life on Purpose
,… Such as remember God,
standing, sitting, and reclining,
and consider the creation of the
heavens and the earth, (and say):
Our Lord! Thou creates not this in
vain. Quran (3: 190-191)
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14. Proactive Planning
The fight is won or
lost far away from
witnesses - behind
the lines, in the gym,
and out there on the
road, long before I
dance under those
lights. .”
Muhammad Ali
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15. Help you can get
1. Reduced rates
– Utility
– Phone company
2. Reduce Insurance
coverage on car
3. Get Medi-cal or Healthy
Families Insurance for
children
4. Cut the Cable-TV or other
unnecessary costs
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16. Before The Job Search
Analyze yourself: Conduct a Self
Assessment
1. Values: What’s important to
you?
2. Interests: What do you enjoy
doing?
3. Personality: In what
situations have you felt most
comfortable & successful?
4. Skills: What skills & abilities
have you developed that you
enjoy doing?
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17. Your Job Search Plan
Develop you job search
strategy
Set goals, weekly, daily
Don’t forget personal
obligations
Research potential
Employers
Email, Call, Meet, Mail
Follow up
Get out of the house:
Network, Volunteer, Library,…
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18. Consider Your Employment
Options
1. Public vs. Private Companies
2. Large vs. Small Employers
3. Start‐ups
4. Non Profits & Public Service
5. Starting Your Own Business
6. Academic and Post‐Doc
Positions
7. Re‐visit Previous Co‐op,
Internship or Summer
Employment Employers
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19. Are You Organized?
Resume
1-2 page
Talk about
accomplishments
Have it critiqued
Create targeted versions
Cover Letter
Have a Professional
image
Voice message
Email address
Social networking sites
Create a Portfolio
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20. 30 Second Pitch
Your 30-second pitch
should reveal:
• Who you are
• Your background
• Why you are contacting
them
• What you are looking for
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21. Effective Interviewing Skills
– Do your homework: Know
Yourself and Employer
– Demonstrate enthusiasm &
passion: Smile!!!
– Be respectful and kind to
everyone you encounter
before, during and after your
interview
– Listen carefully to interview
questions and ask for
clarification when necessary
– Practice, Practice, Practice!
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22. Networking in the Real World
• Turning Your Contacts into Careers
is making
“Networking
links from people we
know to people they
know, in an organized
way, for a specific
purpose, while
remaining committed
to doing our part,
expecting nothing in
return.”
Donna Fisher and Sandy Vilas,
Power Networking
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23. Networking
Why network?
• A referral generates
80% more results than
a cold call.
• 75% of people get their
jobs through
networking.
• Talk to everyone you
know: Neighbor, Classmates,
Relatives, Former Employers &
co-workers, Friends, Anyone
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24. 4 Degrees of Separation
You
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Contact Contact Contact Contact
Your Friend Jamal’s Brother Sam’s Boss Carol’s Friend
Jamal Sam Carol David
Use: LinkedIn, Facebook
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25. Internships
How can internships be
valuable?
• Put theory to practice
• Experience for resume
• Academic credit
• Earn $
• Gain networking contacts
• Future opportunities
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26. Common Job Search Mistakes
• Relying on one strategy (ie
Internet job search only)
• Lack of focus/career objective
• Failure to identify and use
network
• Targeting only large employers
• Failure to follow–up
• Unprofessional materials or
appearance
• Underestimate time needed to
search for a job
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27. Top Reasons for Rejection
• Lack of Self‐Knowledge
• Lack of Company
Knowledge
• Lack of Questions
• Lack of Enthusiasm
• Lack of Confidence
• Poor Communication Skills
• Unprofessional Application
or Appearance
Understanding & Learning from
Rejection
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28. Passionate Persistence
Don’t take rejection
personally… Be persistent
- you will find employment
Remind yourself of your skills and
accomplishments
“Verily, God has enjoined
excellence with regard to
everything,…” Saying of Prophet Muhammad
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29. Advice for Spouses
• Job loss is a stressful
period for all family
• Accept the
uncertainty
• Be supportive
• Avoid daily job
updates, keep it
weekly
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30. Advice for Children
• Let everyone pitch in
to cut backs
– Shorter showers
– Walk, take the bus
– Turn lights off
• Easier to explain to
older children
• Avoid daily job
updates, keep it
weekly
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31. Advice for you
• It’s a long road, full of
rejection
• quot;Never give in, never - in
nothing, great or small,
large or petty - never give in
except to convictions of
honor and good sense.”
Churchill
• If God brings you to it - He
will bring you through it. ...
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32. Roller Coaster Overview
• Problems, Problems,
Problems
• All You Need Is Prayer
• The Drive for Patience
• Living Life On Purpose
• Proactive Planning
• Passionate Persistence
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33. Khosrow, & Bozorgmehr six
humors
1. Trust in God
2. Believe that every destined matter will inevitably
occur.
3. Steadfastness is the best thing that the inflicted
person should opt for
4. What should I do if I do not practice patience, since
I will not let impatience overtake me.
5. There may be some others who suffer harsher
calamities.
6. That relief may come in any moment.
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