Tips on recovering from job loss
- Allow yourself to grieve, but don’t dwell on the situation you can’t change the past. You need to get back to it as quickly as possible.
- Stay focused on getting a new job
- Network like you have never networked before
- Update your resume
- Ensure you take advantage of all severance benefits and unemployment offered
- Don’t get lazy & sit around doing nothing, if you work 8 to 10 hours a day on your job search you will find a new job faster than if you only put 3 to 4 hours into the activity.
- Start promoting yourself in a way that suits your industry. This could be blogging, Twitter, volunteering, posting YouTube videos, participating in industry forums, commenting on blogs, anything to enhance your brand
- Keep a schedule similar to your old one
- Update or create profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, and country/industry specific social networking sites
- Talk to people, loved ones, trusted colleagues, professional counsellors depending on your needs
- Develop real actionable plans on how to go forward
- Register for government benefits, don’t be shy
- Revised your household budget
One last point - don’t wait until you fall on the sword to decide to sharpen it - all the networking and personal brand advice is something you can do every single day.
On Point No. 12 - Registering for Government Benefits. This is really important. There may be a stigma attached to “being on the Dole” but even though it is a real pain to have to fill in all their forms and submit them every two weeks, it is worthwhile.
So here’s the process if you live in Australia. The very first thing to do is Call Centrelink on 13 2850 (no more fronting up to the Dole office hat in hand, it is now a very easy and nice process to register for unemployment benefits).
After a few minute wait, when they answer, ask to register for unemployment benefits. They will get you started over the phone and ask you all the questions of the information they need. Most important thing here is to be honest. You never ever want to be in the situation of having to pay back money to the government.
They will make you two appointments - one to your local Job Network member and one to Centrelink. Just note down the time and dates for each appointment and note down exactly what you need to bring. If you are on time and prepared for all your appointments, they are much easier to deal with.
The Job Network appointment is not so great, so be prepared - it is boring and quite soul destroying, being in the same room as all the other unemployed people. Just get through it and you won’t need to go back there unless you are unemployed for more than 13 weeks.
The Centrelink Appointment is fine, and they will just confirm all your details and answer any questions. Make sure you ask for your temporary Health Care Card and your Transport Concession Card and any other assistance you are entitled to.
As I had been doing some work for my own business over the previous few months, I need to have a special assessment done on my business income and needed to provide a heap more details about my business income, but it was quite painless and the staff were generally helpful.
You have to wait at least 1 week before payments start. Then you have to go in to the office every 2 weeks to submit your form. And you will have to sign a contract to say you will look for X no. of jobs every fortnight (mine was 4), and provide details of the jobs applied for on the form each fortnight.
Again, if you are prepared each time you go in there, expect a bit of a wait, and do everything that they ask for, the process is ok - you can get through it and get at least some money coming in each fortnight, plus the additional benefits of a Health Care Card, transport concessions and others that you may be entitled to.
So overall, don’t be scared - just do it… and you will get a bit of money!
Jodie, I’m stunned your learning agreement only requires you to look for 4 jobs every fortnight. Apparently in the Parramatta region, the “local benchmark” is 10 jobs per fortnight. It is almost impossible to complete 10 high quality job applications a fortnight (also very difficult to find 10 jobs a fortnight that I’m actually qualified for). I’m not convinced that the system actually is of any help in this instance.
On the other hand, the money paid out for the dole might be small (touch over $400/fn for me and increased family benefit payments to my wife) but it’s better than no money at all.
Very nice…….I’m sure it will help many people…..
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The Job Search: Your Guide to Success
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