What to do if you lose your job (Part 2)

Losing a job can be a terribly stressful situation, but there are many proactive steps you can take to make the best of it. In Part 1 of this article, we discussed some ways to respond to the reality of unemployment.

Once you’ve got your list of contacts and your resume is up-to-date, it’s time for the next steps:

• Start networking. Beyond your immediate list of contacts and connections, get out there and introduce yourself to new people and get your name out in new circles. Go to networking events – industry associations, Chamber of Commerce meetings, and other professional functions. Join a breakfast group or other association for regular business lunches. Treat every social outing as a chance to spread the word about your job search. Do you belong to a gym or athletic club? Do you play team sports? Do you belong to a church, synagogue or other faith community? You need to be prepared to “work every room” – every time you get together with other people, be ready to share your story and look for contacts.

• Establish an online presence. One of the best ways to network is to go online – if you’re not there already. Start a blog to create a professional Web presence for yourself. Use your blog to post original articles, ideas, and insights about your industry - be professional, positive, helpful and informative; treat each blog post like it's a conversation with a prospective employer. Use your blog to show what you know and what you care about; share some passion and give informed opinions about your profession, your industry, and where you think it's headed. Then use Facebook and Twitter to network with other people in your industry who might be looking to hire – post comments on other people’s blogs. Build up a reputation as someone with good ideas to share. This is an easy thing to do while you spend time sending resumes and looking for job postings online – just a few hours a day can create a powerful online reputation that might lead to your next job offer.

• Be generous. Networking is a two-way street – even if you’re looking for a job, you should also look for opportunities to “give” through networking, as well as to “get.” So at the same time that you’re looking for jobs and trying to get leads, be sure to look for ways to be generous to others. Could you serve as a mentor to younger people just out of college? Can you give helpful advice to younger people trying to get entry-level jobs? Can you connect people in your network who might have opportunities for each other? (Maybe one of your friends knows of a job opening that’s not right for you but would be perfect for your brother-in-law – put them in touch.

• Volunteer. One of the most important things to do when looking for a job is to stay busy and stay positive. Even if you’re not getting interviews, you can still stay active by volunteering your talents to organizations you care about. Help a non-profit with their fundraising drive. Volunteer as a reading tutor at your child’s school. Even if you’re out of work, there are many things you can do to make a difference – and your volunteer activities will help you stay connected to the outside world, will keep your skills sharp, and will give you something valuable to talk about at your next job interview.

Ben Gran is a freelance writer based in Des Moines, Iowa. He is an award-winning blogger who loves to write about careers and the future of work.