JOBS: LOST and FOUND

Knowing my current work assignment might be ending. I started a job search several months before it was to end, something I'd never thought I'll have to do. As a result of my efforts to find new employment, I have learned several important steps that can make a job search go more smoothly.

Don't take your present job for granted :

Because of rapidly changing world conditions and new technology, work opportunities are less stable than they were in the recent past. Keep your resume' updated.

Prepare for the unexpected :

Discuss with your spouse, if relevant, what a job loss might do to your circumstances and decide how you might meet such challenges. How much of a financial reserve do you have? How well prepared is your supply of food and clothing? What expenses could be immediately cut from your budget? You would have peace of mind as you face potential changes in the workplace.

Make sure that your home is kept in reasonably good repair in case you have to rent or sell it quickly. When circumstances become unsettled, necessary home repairs can become a burden if they have been referred.

Improve your chances of staying employed :

Learn ways to increase your value to your employer. Maintain cordial business relationships. Take advantage of employee training, workshops and your company's educational reimbursement program, if available. Try to gain a degree or further tertiary qualifications. Attend professional seminars. These will keep skills polished and up-to-date.

You are responsible for finding work :

If it appears that a change of job is eminent, register with an employment agency. However, don't relax. You have most to gain from getting a good job and should spend much time and effort looking for employment. Many of the bigger firms advertise employment on the Internet. Quick replies, sometimes overnight are given to your quirkiness.

Create a plan :

Decide what steps you can take to look for new employment. Keep a current list of people you might want to contact about finding work. Initiate contact with friends, former employers etc.

Keep a positive outlook :

Don't be unduly upset by rumours, even if they might turn out to be true. Focus on what you can do today to prepare, not on worrying about what might happen tomorrow. Worrying on that which you can't change wastes time and energy. Keep your spirits up. Don't stop steeming!!.

Sources : New Era. Personal experience. Pixabay.