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When Your Job Goes Away: Seven TipsQ. "What do I do after a job goes away?" A. Many people believe that job losses are like earthquakes and computer meltdowns. It's not "if" the Big One is coming. It's when. Sometimes you decide it's time for a change. At other times, you're surprised by events. Either way, your life can be disrupted. Many people are surprised at their own feelings, even if they couldn't wait to leave that job. Here are some steps to take with the Big One is here. 1. Discuss your resources with a qualified financial advisor. Can you stretch your funds beyond six months? Equity loan? Brokerage margin loan? Short-term jobs? 2. Explore feelings, if need be, with a qualified specialist. Many people grieve lost careers, houses and cities -- even those they hated the most 3. Go slow! Sell the house, move to Wyoming and live in a tent? By December, the tent is cold and the bears have confiscated your computer to play hibernation solitaire. "Career winter" is no longer a metaphor. 4. Explore free or low-cost career resources. Check out the Chamber of Commerce, your alumni career center, SCORE, and the unemployment office. If you have trouble staying focused or making a plan, paying your own career coach may be a good investment. 5. Do something fun at least once a day. Take the dog to the park, eat an ice cream sundae, visit a museum. Malls and television are (usually) distracting but not satisfying. Caution: If "fun" has gone from your life and your vocabulary see #2 -- right away. 6. Get physical. Walk, run, work out, play a sport every day. Exercise creates energy and keeps you healthy. 7. Get creative. Write, paint, take a ceramics or poetry class. Seems frivolous? No You'll need to be creative when you plan your next step. Get the juices flowing. Above all, keep a journal. Life will look very different a year from now and you will be amazed how far you have come and how much you have learned. I offer one-to-one consultations on business and career strategy. About The Author Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com. "Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294 |  | | | RELATED ARTICLES The Big Mo : Momentum and the Hiring Process Momentum as defined by Webster's is: strength or force gained by motion or through the development of events. For our purposes, the interview process is a "development of events". Creating and maintaining momentum throughout the interview process is critical to attracting and securing top candidates in today's competitive market. Momentum or "The Big Mo'" as I frequently call it is a term widely used by sportscasters to describe the modification of energy between two parties to in a sporting event or game. 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Stricken with a bruised-ego for days, or on occasion for months, inevitably their feedback helped me make the right life choices to improve, change direction, or stay the course with intensity. In fact, the boss who was the hardest on me is the one I thank the most. Good was not good enough if I was capable of better, and she was quick to point out when that was. No sugar coating from her. And the funny thing? When I was honest with myself, I knew she was right. Being honest with yourself is one of the challenges to winning at working. We all have talents and abilities, but they're not always in the areas we pursue at work. Too many people I've run across in my career have American Idol Syndrome (AIS). Like Idol contestants auditioning with little or no singing ability, these people believe they are good at what they do. They can't understand why they don't get the promotion, the outstanding review, or the highest increases. 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