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Out ofBusiness

MANAGE FINANCIAL STRESS AND GET BACK ON YOUR FEET AFTER GETTING THE PINK SLIP

theLAYOFFsurvival guide

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

HOW TO KNOW IF LAYOFFS ARE COMING: 5 WARNING SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR .................................... 3

THE PRE-LAYOFF CHECKLIST: WHAT TO DO BEFORE BEING LAID OFF ............................................................ 4

HELP, I’VE BEEN LAID OFF! WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW IF YOU’VE JUST LOST YOUR JOB ............................... 6

APPLYING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IN WISCONSIN? 6 TIPS TO GET YOU STARTED................. 8

MAKE MONEY BETWEEN JOBS: THE GIG ECONOMY COULD SAVE YOUR BACON ........................................ 10

9 WAYS TO MAKE ENDS MEET WHEN YOU’RE LAID OFF ................................................................................ 12

NETWORKING AFTER A LAYOFF: HOW TO AVOID THE SCHMOOZE BLUES .................................................. 14

UNEMPLOYED DADS: HOW TO LESSEN THE IMPACT ON YOUR CHILDREN .................................................. 17

TURNING LAYOFFS INTO OPPORTUNITIES: TIPS TO TAKE YOU FROM SURVIVING TO THRIVING ............ 18

LOOK GOOD ON PAPER: RESUME TRENDS FOR THE MODERN JOB MARKET ............................................... 20

HOW TO NAIL THAT JOB INTERVIEW! MANAGE YOUR APPREHENSION WITH PREPARATION ................... 21

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HOW TO KNOW IF LAYOFFS ARE COMING:

5 WARNING SIGNS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Gwen H. had enjoyed several years at a well-established nonprofit when a series of events suddenly led her to question the security of her job. “There were a lot of power leadership changes happening,” she remembers. In the first few months she watched warily from the sidelines, unsure what to make of the jockeying executives. It was only when she learned that her boss, who had previously announced she was retiring, was actually looking for other work, did she realize the shifts might be seismic.

When a company’s stability is already compromised, an employer might go to great lengths to conceal any indication of impending layoffs. But, as anyone who has been through a layoff can tell you, there are usually a few telltale signs—at least in hindsight.

LEADERSHIP’S IN FLUXAcquisitions and mergers are obvious times when leadership will find itself undergoing reorganization that can lead to widespread dismissals. However, when numerous, abrupt retirements and resignations are taking place for any reason—it’s a good sign that trouble is brewing above.

NEW LANGUAGEWhen executives begin to use terms like “restructuring, “reorganizing” and “streamlining,” some positions are usually on the chopping block. When IBM was in the midst of laying off employees in 2015, it used the term “workforce rebalancing,” emphasizing the financial angle of employment decisions. Indeed, most of the euphemisms—chief among them “downsizing”—imply that people will lose their jobs as a form of budget cuts.

A BUDGET IN DISTRESSIt stands to reason, then, that one of the most reliable indicators of impending job loss is in the budget. The first things to go might be little luxuries, say reducing first-class travel and expensive coffee in the breakroom. By the time the office is being moved to more modest location, however, there is a good chance the numbers aren’t looking good. When you learn that vendors aren’t being paid on time (or at all), human resources most likely knows something you don’t.

PROJECTS ARE BEING PRUNEDWhen businesses launch new and innovative initiatives they are spending resources to explore and grow creatively (if not immediately profitably). When non-essential programs are being brushed aside and/or actually cut, your employer is likely in a bare-bones mentality.

YOU’RE FEELING ICED OUTManagers often know in advance that layoffs are coming. Avoiding eye contact and one-on-one conversations is a natural instinct in the face of impeding conflict. More concretely, if the scope of your responsibilities is shrinking, your colleagues are being assigned projects that would formerly have gone to you or—the horror!—you’re being asked to train someone else in your duties, there’s a good chance your employer is setting you up for a smooth transition—out.

It’s a fine line between cautious observance and paranoia. But when it comes to job security, Gwen says, “that saying about ‘the best defense’ is really true.” While many in her organization were let go or replaced, her astuteness helped her land on her feet. After polishing her resume, she began spending evenings job searching online. Although she was sorry to resign from a job she truly enjoyed, she says, in the end she landed another she loves just as much (and with a salary she loves even more!).

The take-away? Stay on the offensive by keeping an eye out for signs of layoffs and you’ll weather transitions with the least disruption to your career and your income.

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THE PRE-LAYOFF CHECKLIST:WHAT TO DO BEFORE BEING LAID OFF

Sure, there are times your departure from a job comes as a complete surprise. More likely, though, you’ve begun to observe subtle and not-so-subtle signs of an impeding layoff. If you’re pretty sure your Friday meeting with HR is about to send you into a tailspin, now is the time to go through our Pre-Layoff Checklist. Not only will you leave as prepared as possible, but also you’ll benefit from the sense of control these tasks will give you.

PREPARE YOUR DESK AND DIGITAL SPACESIt’s not uncommon for employers to ask you to pack up and leave on a moment’s notice when being laid off. This includes relinquishing access to all computers and accounts in short order.

Clean up your e-mail account

Transfer or delete any personal correspondence you may have on your work email account. (Hopefully, you have none!)

Clear out your computer files

Transfer all personal digital files to a *personally owned* USB drive or send them to a private account and delete them from your work computer/server.

Clear your desk or locker

Start subtly removing your photographs, lip glosses, thank you cards, Minions, Homies and whatever other junk you’ve accumulated through the years. It’ll be one less thing to think about later.

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GATHER IMPORTANT DOCUMENTSYour employer can decide whether or not to give you time to prepare your files for your colleagues’ transitions. Now is the time to go through your papers with an eye toward your next steps.

Download your contact list

Download or print your list of work contacts that you will lose without computer access. While you can’t steal your employer’s client base for your next employer, you may be able use it for networking purposes.

Collect your performance reviews

If you don’t have your own copies, take a stroll to HR and see if you might obtain a copy of your personal file for your own records.

Take copies of work samples and accolades

Future interviewers may be impressed by things like programs from conferences you organized, profiles of your projects in the company newsletter or sample brochures you designed. Just remember: Your employer likely owns all of the work you did, so don’t share financial or other proprietary information like client lists, strategic plans or other internal documents. While you’re at it, gather up all work awards, certificates and other items of recognition you received. They will help you update your resume (and feel good about yourself, too).

RESEARCH YOUR OPTIONSCheck your unused leave time

Find out what vacation and sick time you have left, and look into the company policy for using it in the case of a layoff. If it can’t be cashed out as a payment, see if you can use it up as vacation time (for job searching) before your employment ends.

Know your rights

The U.S. Department of Labor lists the responsibility employers in each state have when terminating employees. Inform yourself about their obligation regarding your health insurance benefits and unemployment insurance.

Revisit any non-compete agreements

Look over the documents you signed while onboarding to see if there are any limitations to your future employment possibilities.

Prepare to negotiate severance or other compensation

Should you be asked to leave, think about what you might negotiate. Some companies will off you severance pay. Others may provide you with outplacement services like career counseling and resume help. Still others might hire you on a short-term project or contract basis. If nothing else, think about how you would like to have your termination characterized in your personal file for future references, and be prepared to ask.

AND ONE BIG DON’TDon’t. Job. Search. At. Work.

Your employer may have access to your emails, instant messages, Internet history, voicemails, etc. (even if you think you deleted them). For now, just think about whom at work you might ask for personal contact information (for networking later) or a letter of recommendation on your way out. Keep it to yourself until the time comes.

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HELP, I’VE BEEN LAID OFF! WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW IF YOU’VE JUST LOST

YOUR JOB

Cool it. Take a breath. Count to 10. Don’t storm out.

You’re going to need to think and act—fast—about some important things including health insurance, unemployment benefits, severance pay and references.

If you can, take a brisk walk or do jumping jacks in the bathroom. Call a friend. Sit at your desk and massage these acupressure points. Settle yourself as best you can before tackling the below 6 steps.

GET CLEAR ON WHY YOU ARE BEING LET GO.Ask for the basis of your employer’s decision. Get the information in writing if possible or, at the very least, write down what you are being told.

For one, you may be able to buy yourself some time, either because company policy was not followed in terminating you (in which case you may petition human resources to give you a chance to improve) or because you can show there was a discrepancy between what you and your employer believed your responsibilities were (in which case revisiting your job description will be your next step).

The other reason to be very clear about the basis of your termination is if you apply for unemployment or decide to look into whether you have been subject to wrongful termination.

ASK THESE 3 QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TERMS OF YOUR TERMINATION.Here is a comprehensive list of questions you may wish to ask. We’ve distilled it down to the bare bones:

When will my last paycheck be?

Your employer is required by law to pay you the wages for the time you have worked and for any vacation and sick leave you have accrued. You’ll be wondering about this on your couch at home.

How long will my health insurance benefits remain in effect?

While employers are required to offer you continued

healthcare benefits, known as COBRA plans, you may have to pay the full premium. Within a few weeks, you should receive a letter offering you COBRA to continue your health insurance. If you don’t receive it, contact your human resources department.

Will you provide a neutral reference that does not mention I was terminated?

Most employers have policies about what they will and will not share about former employees. Find out now how much they will share with potential employers.

BUY YOURSELF SOME TIME TO DECIDE ABOUT SEVERANCE PAY OR OTHER OFFERS.Before making these kinds of decisions, you are going to want to review the responsibility that employers in your state have to their employees.

Resignation vs. termination:

Your employer may give you the option to resign instead of being let go. While it can be tempting to avoid the stigma of being fired, a resignation will likely preclude you from receiving unemployment benefits. You’ll want to check with your state unemployment office before making that decision.

Severance pay:

Some employers will offer you a severance pay, but it is entirely voluntary on their part. Typically based on the length of employment, it may be paid in one lump sum or over a matter of weeks. It may also include other benefits, such as health care coverage and job search assistance.

Oftentimes, the terms of your severance pay are not up for negotiation.  Because the employer is dictating those terms, therefore, you would do well to ask for time to think things through. The article by The Balance, written for employers, provides insight into employer benefits (and motives) for offering you a severance.  Below are a few to consider:

In exchange for the severance pay, you may be asked to sign a release that requires you to, say, refuse

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employment from a competitor or wave your right to file a lawsuit in the future. If you are unsure whether your case may be subject to anti-discrimination law or other wrongful termination, you may do yourself a disservice by accepting their agreement on the spot.

Given that you may be filing for unemployment benefits, you will also want to consider whether it is better for you to receive the severance over a series of weeks or in one lump sum. That’s because depending on the state you live in, your severance payment may impact your unemployment benefits, should you be eligible to receive them.

GATHER YOUR DOCUMENTS BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE OFFICE. If you haven’t already, gather your personal and relevant professional documents now. After today, you may not have a chance to return or access your email and online files. Consult the Pre-Layoff Checklist for documents to take when you’ve been laid off.

START APPLYING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS RIGHT AWAY.Harness your adrenalin and start the unemployment process as soon as possible. If you were fired for

misconduct, you may not be eligible for unemployment. (That is one reason to look into wrongful termination.) However, some sources suggest it is still worth your time to check with your state unemployment office. That’s because if the reason you lost your job is not a clear-cut case, the unemployment office may lean in your favor.

KEEP YOUR LAYOFF ON THE DOWN LOW FOR NOW, ANYWAY.It can be tempting—okay, practically impossible not— to solicit sympathy with a dramatic Facebook post, gnash your teeth to fellow colleagues and generally badmouth your employer. It’s not worth it. This isn’t an issue of shamefully hiding your status or waiting until you can “reframe your narrative” about how you lost your job. It’s just good sense considering that you are going to have to ask your employer for references, you are going to need those colleagues for networking and your social media persona provides potential employers with a lot of information. Play the long game and find trusted friends and family you can vent to for now.

Play the long game and find trusted friends and family you can vent to for now.

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APPLYING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IN WISCONSIN?

6 TIPS TO GET YOU STARTED Well, no one said it would be easy. Losing your job, that is. Turns out applying for Unemployment Insurance (UI) is no walk in the park either.

In order to ensure that the right people receive the right support, the U.S. Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program, financed through federal and state payroll taxes, is less like one hoop to jump through and more like a giant Slinky. Each state administers its own program with its own rules and regulations, so what is true for one state isn’t necessarily true for the next.

In hopes of easing the burden, SafetyNet™ has compiled a list of tips and first steps (current as of July 2017) to help you begin the process. This information is based on the state of Wisconsin. You can search unemployment offices in other states on the CareerOneStop website.

If you live in Wisconsin and are totally unemployed, partially unemployed (your weekly earnings have been reduced) or expect to be so within the next 13 weeks, take the time to review these first steps. When you are ready, contact the resources listed in the sidebar and apply for the help you need.

Please note these steps below are not a comprehensive list of how to apply for unemployment benefits. After all, that’s what the multi-paged website on the State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is for. But a few tips should help you prepare to apply for unemployment insurance.

APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS ASAPYour claim begins the week you apply, and benefits will not be paid for previous weeks. What’s more, some states—Wisconsin included—will not pay you benefits during the first week of each year you are eligible to receive benefits.

After this “waiting week”—and after your first weekly claim certification has been received—payment will usually be made within 7 days.

But even then, a handful of factors might further delay payment. These include:

• an incomplete claim

• an issue with or question about your eligibility

Do not wait to file your claim until after your waiting week. Apply as soon as possible.

GET YOUR BANKING SYSTEM IN ORDERWhen you apply, you can sign up to receive UI payment either by direct deposit to your checking or savings account or to a Visa Pre-Paid Debit Card (U.S. Bank ReliaCard).

For direct deposit, you will need your banking information, including the routing number and account number. You can usually find this information on the bottom of your checks.

HOW TO APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT

INSURANCE IN WISCONSIN

It can be challenging to determine what benefits you

may be entitled to and how to obtain them, but the Wisconsin

Department of Workforce Development has provided many tools to help you. Here’s how you

can get the Department’s help:

Online: If you have online access, type

into the internet browser: my.unemployment.wisconsin.gov

Note you are encouraged to apply at specific times in the

week: Sunday:  9:00am– 5:00pm

Monday–Friday:  6:00am–7:00pm Saturday:  9:00am–2:30pm

Phone: 414-438-7713 608-232-0824

Business hours: Monday – Friday: 7:45am–4:30pm

For more information on eligibility and applying for

Unemployment Insurance in Wisconsin, visit: 

unemployment.wisconsin.gov

i

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START GATHERING YOUR MATERIALSBelow is some of what you need to apply for UI:

• An email address or mobile phone number

• Your social security number

• Your Wisconsin driver’s license or identification number

• Information about each of your employers over the last 18 months, including:

• Business names• Addresses• Phone numbers• First and last dates of work• Reasons for no longer working with them

(Depending upon your individual circumstances, you may also need military, immigration or federal employee documentation and/or the name and local number of your union hall.)

CONFIRM YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITSThere are lots of reasons your UI benefit claim may be denied or reduced. Below are just some of the factors that may make you ineligible:

• You did not earn enough wages to qualify for unemployment

• Your employer or the work you did isn’t covered by unemployment insurance tax law

• You quit your job or refused to work without good cause

• You were fired for misconduct

• You failed to make an acceptable work search

• You are not in the U.S. or Canada

• You are unemployed due to a strike or other labor dispute

Before you apply, make sure you are eligible for unemployment insurance in Wisconsin.

GET TO KNOW THE ROPESBelow are some very general things to expect from the process to help you avoid any missteps or surprises.

You will need to submit a weekly claim certification each week that you want to receive an unemployment payment for that week.

There are weekly claim hours of operation, even for online claims.

Calendar weeks start on Sunday and end on Saturday.

You need to file a weekly claim within 14 days of the end of the calendar week you are claiming. You cannot file that claim until after that week has ended.

You must report most wages you receive each week.

This does include: pay for most full- and part-time work, including cash payments and commissions.

This also includes: sick pay, bonus pay, commission, holiday pay, vacation pay, dismissal pay and some retirement pay.

This does not include most self-employment, jury duty, inactive duty for the WI National Guard and Volunteer Fire Fighter or Emergency Medical Technician income.

You will need to prove you are looking for work while you are receiving benefits.

Many people receiving UI benefits are required to register with Wisconsin Job Service and prove that you are actively looking for work.

EXPLORE ALL YOUR OPTIONSOther programs (often from the federal government) are available to some people who are out of work. These include:

• Federal employees

• Ex-service members

• Individuals who have lost jobs due to outsourcing

• Individuals who are in disaster areas declared by the president

Other employees may be eligible for Short-Time Compensation (STC), also known as work sharing. (Available in Wisconsin, STC allows employers to reduce hours of work rather than laying-off some employees while others continue to work full time. Those working reduced hours may collect a percentage of their unemployment benefits.)

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MAKE MONEY BETWEEN JOBS: THE GIG ECONOMY COULD SAVE YOUR BACON

According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, nearly 25% of Americans now earn at least some money through the “gig economy”—also known as freelance, contract or on-demand work. Others put that number even higher. Made up of independent contractors, online sellers, freelancers, artists and more, one thing is for sure: the number of Americans participating in this economy is steadily rising.

In fact, the percentage of independent workers has grown in every sector of the economy since 2003. (The last time the U.S. Census Bureau published data on “nonemployer businesses” was 2016, though a new data collecting initiative is underway). To be sure, not every (or even most) of on-demand workers are earning their principal income through independent avenues.  But, as means of earning quick cash on your own terms, gig economy work can bolster your savings or even contribute to your financial safety net until you land your next job.

WHY THE RISING GIG ECONOMY?Despite the fancy name, the fact that individuals set up small money-making ventures is hardly something new. What is new, however—and what accounts for their growth—is the ease with which folks can now hang out a shingle.

That’s because the digital marketplace has made matching customers with workers a click or two away. Handymen, hired drivers, graphic designers and collectors are just a few of the people making good use of third-party online platforms (and their apps).  

LinkedIn and Intuit have predicted that more than 40% of the U.S. workforce will be

composed of freelancers by 2020.

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More generally, the internet has allowed more people to work remotely, whether that means living the life of a “digital nomad,” or staying put while serving clients around the world. So influential is this digital technology, in fact, recent studies by LinkedIn and Intuit have predicted that more than 40% of the U.S. workforce will be comprised of freelancers by 2020.

Lest you think only millennials are attracted to the benefits of freelancing—among them flexible schedules, work variety and daily autonomy—independent workers scan all demographics. While perfect for students with unpredictable schedules and young adults who can weather financial uncertainty, self-employment can be equally appealing to retirees who want to remain active and/or explore a new vocation.

WHAT THE GIG ECONOMY MEANS FOR YOUSeeing that the majority of gig workers reported their

side jobs only supplement their steady income, most would be ill-advised to quit their day jobs (or, ahem, their job searches). Realistically, a side-hustle is unlikely to replace your previous income (much less any benefits that came with it). But for the unemployed or underemployed, the growing gig economy can be a life saver. At worst, you’ll gain new skills and contacts. At best, your entrepreneurial prowess may someday make job interviews a thing of your past.

GET YOUR GIG ONThink you’ve got a skill (or two) to hawk? Think through the sidebar prompts and glance at the list of job examples for resources and inspiration.  Then join the 25% (and growing) of people making extra cash on their own terms!

KNOWING WHAT TO OFFER

Assess your skills and any experience that you can offer

Take into consideration any time constraints (job search duties, kids’ school schedule)

Research online platforms and wages related to your trade (blogs by current freelancers in the field are a good place to start)

Decide if you want a third-party platform (a company that advertises the jobs and seals the deal for you) or to work for yourself—or a combination of the two. While you’ll usually make more money without a middleman, you’ll benefit from their database and reputation.

When you’re ready to join the digital marketplace, get some business cards, set up a simple website and/or post your skills on Craigslist, neighborhood and community websites, social media and through your local chamber of commerce.

Examples of gig economy work

See the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) for detailed profiles of these and other occupations. For new job trends, consult the Bureau of

Labor Statistics Career Outlook site.

• Driver / car sharing / delivery driver

• House cleaner

• Electrician / plumber

• Rent out a room or your whole home

• Personal assistant

• Pet sitter / dog walker

• Appliance repair / home repair

• Carpenter / painter

• Grant writer / technical writer

• Interpreter / Transcription

• Photographer / Videographer

• Laundry services

• Online seller

• Personal shopper

• Musician

• Graphic designer

• Artist

• Web and software developer

• Computer programmer

• Blogger / writer

For an extensive list of digital apps like Uber and AirbnB, click here.

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9 Ways to Make Ends Meet When You’re Laid Off

So you’ve been laid off. Limbo, crisis, transition. No matter what you call it, it’s an unsettling time—and for good reason. When you don’t know when you’ll have a regular income again, expenses that once seemed unremarkable—say, those monthly school loan payments or even coffee with a friend—can suddenly feel daunting.

The good news is that you can get control over your finances. After all, while you may feel like you’re in this alone, plenty of people have been there before you—and stayed afloat.

The first step, they’ll tell you, is: “update your budget.”

FACE YOUR FINANCES: BUDGETING AND DEBT

Write it down.Don’t have a budget? Now’s the time.

It doesn’t have to be elaborate. By writing it down, you’ll know how much money you’re really spending every month. Being able to predict your major monthly expenses (housing, food, health care, debt) will give you a goal to work toward.

Call your creditors.Lenders are invested in facilitating your loan payments. Many will negotiate with you during unemployment. So bring them in on the problem:

• Start by requesting lower rates;

• Ask about the minimum monthly payment they will accept;

• See if some will suspend your payments for a period of time. 

REIN IT IN: CUTTING EXPENSES AND SAVING ON EVERYDAY COSTSOnce you know what you need to come up with each month, look for costs you can cut.

Eliminate unnecessary expenses. Cancel gym memberships, movie memberships, wine-of-the-month clubs, cable and satellite TV.

Forgo housekeepers, landscaping and other home services. After all, you’ll have extra time on your hands until you find a job.

Put your money where your mouth is.Plan and prepare every meal. Dried beans, rib-sticking starch and double coupon days are your friend.

If you’re not already buying generic food items, now is the time (Pro tip: often the store brand is the exact same product!)

Cooking in bulk and freezing produce or meals for later can save time and money on groceries.

Sure it’s time consuming, but the benefits aren’t just to your wallet. When you’re not depending on preservative-filled quick fixes, you’ll likely find yourself healthier, too.

Waste not.Wash your laundry in cold water and hang it out to dry when possible.

Adjust the thermostat 5 to 10 degrees.

Shut off those ambient lights!

Lower your water heater temperature by 10 degrees. 

Start doing errands on foot. Pull out the bike or walking shoes instead of driving three blocks to the store.

Deny yourself debt.Leave your credit cards at home. Yes, this may mean putting off non-essential procedures and even some important needs that you can delay. But nothing will sink your sense of financial control faster than rising debt. Don’t do it.

GET CREATIVE ABOUT CASH: HOW TO MAKE MORE MONEYMake it your job to find new ways to bring in some cash. As a benefit, you’ll keep busy, learn new skills and create new contacts and opportunities.

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Find a short-term job, or two.If it’s the holiday season, retailers may hire you on the spot. 

Think of odd jobs you can do that truly help others. Join your neighborhood Facebook group or Nextdoor.com to make the connection. And with the proliferation of digital apps and the gig economy, it’s easy to find work.

Contact temp agencies. Temping is a good option if you want to save yourself the headache of interviewing for short-term work. After interviewing with them, the agency will take care of landing you jobs and paying you regularly. You just show up for work.

Turn clutter into cash.Learn how to sell your stuff online. Now’s the time to clean out the old equipment from the garage, the almost-new coat from the back of the closet and the old electronics gathering dust on the desk. Don’t go for big money—remember, the people buying your “pre-loved” items are looking for a bargain.

Research Craigslist and eBay to see what similar items are going for.

Get the family involved, make it a contest. Then bask in your decluttered home.

SAFEGUARD YOUR FUTURE: EMERGENCY SAVINGS AND INCOME INSURANCE

Make a plan.Instead of languishing, take this sense of urgency to set yourself up with a system. Once you’re back on your feet, keep that budget updated and redirect your new savings skills toward building an emergency fund. Even a few dollars a week will add up!

Once employed full time, also look into income insurance such as SafetyNet™, which can provide you with cash if you lose your job due to a layoff or disability. For the cost of that cup of coffee you share with a friend each month, you can protect yourself in the event of a layoff.

Finding yourself laid off is scary, but there are ways to get through it without going into debt. Take the time to get your finances under control and make smart financial decisions.

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Networking After a Layoff: How to Avoid the Schmooze Blues

If you’ve recently been laid off, perhaps the last thing you want to do is get up at dawn, put on your suit and commute across town to “speed network” with a bunch of strangers to talk about the fact that you are currently unemployed. Depending on your personality, you may love or hate networking. But especially when you are between jobs, networking might sound more like punishment than potential.

Whether networking on social media, via email or in real life, there are a number of protocols you should follow to avoid the “schmooze blues.” Use these tips for networking online and in person to make sure you don’t miss opportunities—or worse—totally embarrass yourself.

TIPS FOR NETWORKING ONLINE BETWEEN JOBSGoogle Yourself

The first step in online networking is assessing what information currently resides on the Internet about you. These days, potential employers are savvy enough to do at least some online research about job candidates, and you may be surprised to learn what things you have been posting that are viewable to anyone.

The goal should be to present an image of someone who is hireable, even on your personal social media accounts.

To find out what others can see, log out of all your social media accounts and online forums and do a Google search for your name. If you have a common name, you may also want to put in the city (for example “John Smith, Racine, Wisconsin”).

You may be able to tighten up your privacy settings on each platform to show certain pieces only to your friends or followers. But if you have explicit hot tub party pictures on Instagram or fiery political rants on Twitter, it might be safest just to delete those posts.

In the end, it’s up to you how you want to portray yourself online. Just remember that “putting it all out there” could backfire when job hunting.

Get on LinkedIn

If you’re not already on LinkedIn, it’s definitely time to get onboard. Most people regard LinkedIn as the top

social media platform for professional networking. Unlike Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, LinkedIn is all about work, which makes it a fertile ground for building professional relationships and job hunting. Your profile should focus on your experience, knowledge, skills and connections (and not about what you had for dinner last night).

If you are already on LinkedIn, make sure your profile is up to date and complete. Add volunteering opportunities, past certifications and training, and anything else that might be relevant to a potential employer.

Don’t underestimate the power of a great headshot. Having an approachable, professional portrait on your social media accounts can go a long way into making a good first impression.

Join LinkedIn Groups to connect with people in your industry, alumni of your school, and members of local business and professional groups.

Get testimonials and endorsements that speak to your skills.

Check out this comprehensive list of tips for optimizing your LinkedIn profile to maximize your opportunities to connect, search for jobs and be recruited.

Start a Blog or Personal Website

In addition to having a well-crafted paper resume and top notch LinkedIn profile, it’s a good idea to start a blog on WordPress.com or Blogger.com or a personal website using an inexpensive tool such as Weebly.com or Wix.com.

Creating a personal website that showcases your experience, skills, past work and knowledge allows you to take control of what potential employers discover about you on the Internet. Your website also helps establish your personal brand. It lets you showcase your personality in ways that are not possible on a standard

LinkedIn is all about work, which makes it a fertile ground for building professional

relationships and job hunting.

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resume. Everything from the design, the images you choose and what information is most noticeable says a lot about what kind of employer or career you are trying to attract.

Mind Your Manners

Building meaningful relationships online is not unlike building relationships in real life. Coming across as pushy, needy, selfish or overly aggressive can quickly turn people off.

Before delving into a new social platform, understand the site culture and rules. On one site, it may be perfectly acceptable to post 25 pictures of your kid’s birthday party, whereas that may be frowned upon in another platform.

Find ways to add value to your connections by posting informative or interesting content. Share and comment on other people’s posts to show support. Write meaningful recommendations for people you have worked with.

Above all, go into each connection with a mindset of forging a mutually beneficial relationship. This will nearly always bear more fruit than trying to exploit friends and colleagues to help you find a job. Keep in mind, one-sided relationships don’t work.

TIPS FOR NETWORKING IN PERSON AFTER A LAYOFFBeing laid off can seriously impact your ego and confidence. When it comes to networking and looking for a new job, make sure to give yourself enough time to recover emotionally so you don’t end up having a break-down in the middle of a networking event. But remember, the sooner you get back out there, the better. Preparing with these tips for networking after a layoff can help turn your dread into determination.

Work on Your Elevator Pitch

The point of an elevator pitch is to present yourself in an assured, positive and succinct way when meeting new people in a professional setting.

Because you’re between jobs, a carefully crafted elevator pitch should mention your experience, skills and let people know you what type of new opportunities you are looking for. Here is an example of an elevator pitch:

“Hello, my name is Shalice Johnson. I am a sales person with over 10 years of experience, most recently working for Greenbook Advertising. Before that I managed a staff of 5 other sales reps at Tillington Manufacturing. I’m currently looking for a full-time role in management in a marketing or advertising department at a larger company that is looking to grow its revenue.”

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In a networking setting, there is no reason to announce up front that you were recently laid off, but be truthful about your layoff if asked about why you are looking for a new job. Prepare a response that reframes your layoff in the most positive light possible while being accurate.

Practice and tweak your elevator pitch until it feels natural. This will give you the confidence to start out every conversation on the right foot.

Trade Business Cards

Make personal business cards with basic contact information and a link to your personal website or LinkedIn account where someone can learn more about your work experience.

Use an email account that looks professional and contains some variation of your name (JacobSmith148@gmail.com). Avoid anything that is silly or that could be mistaken for spam (think tacolover3000@aol.com).

Collect business cards from others to start building your network. Follow up after the event by connecting on LinkedIn or other professional platforms. Send a short email thanking them for their time and recapping who you are and your contact information. If you want to really impress someone, consider a hand-written note.

These small follow-up gestures will make you more memorable and offer people a way to easily get a hold of you later.

Set Networking Goals

Setting specific goals around networking keeps you on task and motivated.

If you’re not sure where to start networking, look to your professional industry organizations, have coffee with former colleagues, consider attending local business organizations like the chamber of commerce or search for professional networking groups on Meetup.com.

Create objectives of which groups you plan to join and how many events you plan to attend each week. Set a networking goal for yourself of how many people you would like to talk to by the end of an event or how many business cards you would like to collect. That way you will avoid the temptation to be a wall flower staring at your phone the whole time.

Hold yourself accountable to these goals, and pat yourself on the back when you achieve them. After all, it’s not easy networking after a layoff.

Request Informational Interviews

Instead of asking professional contacts, family friends

and industry leaders for a job, seek their job search advice or learn more about what it is like to work at their company. Requesting informational interviews or job shadows with companies or people you admire can give you an advantage when the company is hiring down the road. Most people are often more willing to have a general conversation about their work than to invite you to interview for a job. Plus, you get a chance to get to know them in a more approachable environment, which will put you at ease when it comes time for a real interview.

Be sure to do your homework about the company and the person you’re speaking with so you have well informed questions and conversation starters. Be respectful of their time, and don’t expect the meeting to last for hours.

CONCLUSIONWhether you’re having lunch with a former colleague or forging connections online, taking these steps to prepare and hone your networking skills will help you achieve the results you want and land a new job in no time.

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Unemployed Dads:How to Lessen the Impact on Your Children

Research reveals some interesting facts about how the children of involuntarily unemployed fathers fare differently than those of involuntarily unemployed mothers. Using data from the 1996 Survey of Income and Program Participation, researchers at the University of Chicago’s Center for Human Potential and Public Policy, found that the children of unemployed fathers faced a higher likelihood of grade repetition and suspension and/or expulsion from school.

IF YOU’RE AN OUT-OF-WORK DAD, TAKE HEART. Turns out, you may have more control over those effects than first appears.

In a 2009 New York Times article, Dr. Ariel Kalil, the development psychologist who analyzed the 2,569 families, said that the negative repercussions on children with involuntarily unemployed parents had less to do with income loss than with behavior—specifically if an increase in conflict and stressed out, disengaged parents altered the family dynamic. Importantly, that dynamic suffered most when the fathers of middle-class families found themselves unemployed. Why the difference? Kalil posits that one reason is the importance of work to the male self-image.

QUANTIFYING THE VALUE OF FATHERSArticles geared toward unemployed fathers, for example, may pressure men in particular to emphasize the importance of returning to the workforce by carving away time from family to job search and network.

Research shows that unemployed mothers, on the other hand, feel less urgency about returning to work (often because they brought in less money to begin with) and also more readily adopt the “traditional” role of caregiver and homemaker.

Unemployed men are more likely to feel less valuable and less effective on the home front. According to a 2017 report from the Pew Research Institute, most people still perceive men’s value as the family’s primary breadwinner and the value of mothers are caregivers. While nearly 60% of respondents said that children are better off if they have one stay-at-home parent, only 2% said the child is better off with the father, while 45% identified the mother. (A little more than half – 53% --said it didn’t matter which parent stayed home.) As a whole, less than half of the people surveyed said they think moms and dads are equally well-equipped to care for their children (breastfeeding aside). Is it any wonder men equate their self-worth as parents to their public, professional personas?

WHAT’S AN UNEMPLOYED DAD TO DO? The first step is to communicate clearly with your partner about your expectations for home and childcare duties. With the goal of avoiding excessive conflict and tension, decide together what you will prioritize for your next steps. If bringing in an income is an immediate concern, work together to carve out time for you to polish your resume, gain new skills and credentials and network.

Alternatively, if you decide it’s best for you to take on more caretaking duties, recognize it’s not easy to challenge the status quo. Look for ways to feel supported and valued. Online resources for stay-at-home dads can reinforce your choice (and offer quick advice). Local meet-ups will keep you connected to like-minded parents. Above all, congratulate yourself for striving to maintain a healthy family dynamic—it’s in your own best interest.

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TURNING LAYOFFS INTO OPPORTUNITIES:

TIPS TO TAKE YOU FROM SURVIVING TO THRIVINGIf you are someone who embraces change and new challenges—even when unexpected —finding yourself out of a job may bring you more inspiration than paralysis. After all, what feels like crisis in the moment merely looks like another life change once you do (and you will!) land your next job.

For others, however, maintaining good mental and physical habits is an essential first step to cultivating optimism in the face of anxiety and grief. To avoid spiraling into the abyss of your couch, consider setting a timer on how long you will give yourself to process the shock. Maybe it’s 48 hours, maybe until the end of the week, but commit to that time period. When it’s over, get up and get going, and use these layoff tips to turn your circumstances into an opportunity.

Jump and the net will appearThe good news is that layoffs really do have the

potential to nudge you toward a greater self-awareness and a more fulfilling career.

Think about what you have wanted to achieve and haven’t gotten around to. Allow yourself to dream big about your next steps. Then take advantage of the freedom you have been given (okay, that has been foisted upon you) and pursue some of the things—no matter how illogical or even crazy they might seem—that you’ve been dreaming about doing for all those years.

Learn what you wantYou have probably already heard that volunteering, interning and pursuing education are positive activities when you are between jobs. Not only will you meet new people (built-in networking!) and gain new skills (professional development!), but jumping into activities also gets you off the couch

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and helps fill in the gaps on your resume.

Programs like VolunteerMatch and Points of Light help you narrow your options by interest and region. For internships, start with Indeed.com or Glassdoor.

But remember: Searching for new opportunities requires you pursue something that genuinely interests you, no matter how far afield from your traditional professional trajectory it may be. If it’s hard to take an illogical step, keep in mind you’ll be far more likely to stay engaged while working for free if you are learning and doing things that deeply interest you. And you’ll have something super interesting to talk about when confronted with the dreaded “So what do you do?” cocktail-party question.

Pursuing education, too, doesn’t have to mean taking a traditional route by earning, say, a business degree or administrative certification. Consider tackling a software program you’ve wanted to learn or look into personal development classes, even if they scream “hobby” more than “hire.”

If you’re an online learner, explore Udemy and Lynda.com.  Also look into your university’s extension programs and the local community college.  You may even qualify for financial aid.

Get into the gigNow might be just the time for you to toss your hat into the gig economy  (generally defined as freelance, on-demand type work). Lest you think freelance jobs are reserved for creative types like graphic designers and writers, know that even some general contractors fit into this classification.

Particularly if you are drawn to flexibility, autonomy and variety in your work, check in with your inner pet sitter, software developer, housepainter, delivery driver or online seller to see what you might have to offer.

In the short run, you’ll gain new skills and even a side salary. In the long run? You may just find yourself a business owner.

Think quantumRemind yourself that one serious advantage to being laid off is the potential “jump-in salary” and other perks that your old job would not have

provided. After all, as long as you remained at the same company, you most likely would have received only incremental bumps in your salary, and your benefits would likely have stagnated or even declined.

When you do land your next job offer, boldly negotiate what you know you are worth (particularly if you’ve gained new skills in the interim). Ask for the salary your experience deserves. Think ahead about additional bargaining chips like flex time, health benefits, bonuses and vacation time that can seriously upgrade your circumstances.

Face the fearOne of the greatest benefits of living through job loss is the self-confidence you will gain once all is said and done. You’ll know how it feels to lose your job. You’ll know you can survive it. At best, you have seen yourself thrive in it.

Congratulations, the world just got easier.

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LOOK GOOD ON PAPER: RESUME TRENDS FOR THE MODERN JOB MARKET

Whether you’re updating your resume as preparation for a worst-case scenario or because you’re already back on the market, knowing what says “modern” (and what looks old-school) is essential to opening doors with potential employers.

Especially if it’s been a while (say, from the pre-LinkedIn era), a lot has changed since you last grappled with those bullet points.

THE NEW LOOKToday’s resumes are cleaner with modern fonts. Ditch the Times New Roman for something more contemporary such as Open Sans or Raleway, both free fonts from Google. The look is brighter, more visual. Some resumes may incorporate charts or graphics. Even the infographic is even becoming a new resume trend in some industries. (But beware: infographic resumes are not for every profession and, no matter what, you don’t want to make people work to understand you.)

THE NEW CONTENTThe language of today’s resumes are increasingly results-driven. Instead of listing descriptions of your past jobs, your resume should highlight performance, show key work metrics and include industry-specific bullet points. Regardless of whether your prospective employer is using an applicant tracking system to read applications, the strongest resumes mirror language from the job postings they are responding to.

THE NEW TECHNOLOGYPerhaps above all else, today’s employers expect you—and your resume—to exist online. Even though you may upload a pdf version of your resume, hyperlinks can abound. Include a personalized email or Gmail address. Add your LinkedIn profile—or even a personal website. Consider listing your social media accounts like Twitter or Instagram—but only if they reflect your professional persona and demonstrate your expertise and strategic connections. Above all else, remember to stay consistent with the language and info on those sites.

Feeling overwhelmed? Thankfully online templates abound. Google “resume templates” and you’re sure to gain a sense of what’s circulating in your industry. For samples that will hit most any mark, the sidebar has links to resume templates that pass the both the traditional and the trend test.

ONLINE RESUME TEMPLATESMicrosoft Office:

templates.office.com/en-us/Resumes-and-Cover-Letters

Resume Genius:  resumegenius.com/resume-templates

Live Career’s Resume Builder: www.livecareer.com/resume-builder

My Perfect Resume: www.myperfectresume.com

Time.com:

time.com/money/4621066/free-resume-word-template-2017

Visualize me:

vizualize.me

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HOW TO NAIL THAT JOB INTERVIEW!

MANAGE YOUR APPREHENSION WITH PREPARATION

So you’ve landed a job interview! And maybe one you really, really wanted. Well, first up: Congratulations. It’s a long slog to get from searching job sites, preparing your resume, writing knock-’em-dead cover letters to receiving that “Good news!” subject line. Assure yourself you’ve done something right. Then prepare to do more.

An interview can be a lot like a first date—all the dressing up, butterflies, handshakes and nervous laughter. It’s putting your best behavior on overdrive. But, also like a first date, a job interview really is a two-way street; you are evaluating them as much as they’re judging you. But because they get the first, if not the last, decision whether or not to move forward, it doesn’t always feel that way.

The best way to avoid finding yourself in the “Please like me!” seat is to manage as much of the unknown as you can. Thankfully there are myriad resources available to prepare you from the first handshake to the last.

To save you time, we’ve created a list of several top job interview resources to prepare you for the most general to the most specific challenges you’ll encounter.

BRUSH UP ON JOB-INTERVIEW PROTOCOLThe Interview Guys

The Interview Guys, aka Mike Simpson and Jeff Gillis, offer a

collection of resources—some online, some print, some free, some for a fee—designed to help job seekers sail through the process before, during and after the interview. While their articles arguably are laid out a bit more chaotically than others, their content is approachable and kept current with a regular blog.

If you’re just looking to get things started, consider browsing their library of animated videos, which offer general tips and overviews of the interview process. When you’re ready for more hands-on preparation, begin with the article Job Interview Questions and Answers 101, which provides a cheat sheet to help you anticipate and prepare answers to common interview questions. Behavioral Interview Questions 101 will give you an in-depth understanding of why managers ask these more complex questions and what they are looking to learn from your responses (along with a template to help you articulate them). Finally, Top 14 Questions to Ask in an Interview offers sample questions and a guide to deciding what’s appropriate for your potential employer.

LiveCareer

The comprehensive job resource site LiveCareer provides similar job interview tips to prepare you for everything from dress codes to negotiation. But because their job-related resources cover more than just interviews, the site can be harder to navigate. Start at

the Interviewing Resources section of their Quintessential Careers site. Browse their article that lists The 150 Typical Job Interview Questions and, if you’re feeling ambitious, work your way through their free Job Interviewing Tutorial.

CONDUCT INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC RESEARCH TO KNOCK THE SOCKS OFF YOUR INTERVIEWERSCareer pros will be the first to tell you that simply dressing nicely and responding with pat answers to predictable questions will do nothing to help you stand out from the crowd. For all the lists of typical questions and general etiquette tips, if you don’t tailor your content and comportment to the industry you are pursuing, you’ll leave the employer disappointed.

Google Alerts

Take some time to think about what you’ll be expected to have working knowledge about. Then sign up to receive Google Alerts about specific topics. You’ll receive an email with links whenever related news stories appear.

If you’re going into food service or retail management, for example, consider submitting keywords that will tell you about relevant consumer trends in your region. If your dream job is in human resources, set an alert for employment news in the related industry and region.

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That way, when they ask about your experience and knowledge of the field, you’ll have current examples to share. Remember: receiving information about the company itself, too, can save you from an embarrassing oversite or gaff.

Bloomberg

While it may sound high-brow for some job interviews, searching Bloomberg for the most up-to-date financial analysis of your industry can do more than impress your would-be boss with lofty statistics. Especially if you’re in a fast-changing industry (think of transportation and Uber, for example) or are yourself an employee outlier, knowing what financial analysts are forecasting about your circumstances will help you impressively ask and answer on-point questions.

Glassdoor

For reviews and insight into your potential employer, perform a quick search on Glassdoor’s Company Review site. Select both “Salaries” and “Interviews” to get an idea of the company culture you’re walking into. (Just remember: reviews come from current and former employees so take whatever you learn in stride.) While you’re there, consider signing into Glassdoor’s Know Your Worth page and you may even be prepared

to respond to the dreaded inquiry about your salary expectations.

Good Ol’ Online Identity Research

We hope it goes without saying that a long perusal of the company’s website and social media accounts is essential for showing up prepared. Follow hashtags and trending terms to gain information that can help you answer questions like: “What interests you about this work?” and “What challenges do you perceive / what solutions do you propose to overcome them?” When you can speak to what the company is grappling with and even where their competitors are headed, your interviewers will see you can bring a fresh, informed perspective to their team. While you’re at it, get on Google News and search away.

The point is: people like to talk about themselves and what they know about. When you come across as interested, engaged and informed it is flattering and reassuring.

PSYCH YOURSELF UP TO INTERVIEW LIKE A PRO.Professor Amy Cuddy’s power pose. ’nuf said.

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