Too many of us know what it is like to be laid off. 

I’ve been there, and it feels like the rug being pulled out from under you. It is so hard not to feel like you are just a meaningless piece in the capitalistic machine which values efficiency and monetary gain more than your personhood or livelihood.
 
With the economy in the state it currently is, I know many people are experiencing lay-offs and others are fearing it on the daily. Even though getting laid off is an emotional and precarious experience, it is not the end of your story. As Jeremy shared with you last week, it could be a beginning.
 
This quarter’s theme is “pace yourself.” When you’re playing the long game, this is vital to success. It is important to remember to pace yourself in both the good times and the bad. So if you are experiencing a lay-off, do not give up. Do not frantically try to solve your problems in a single day. Instead, try to pace yourself.
 
The best thing you can do when you get laid off is make a plan. Then adjust it to a reasonable pace. If you don’t know where to begin making a plan, try the SMART method: create goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound.
 
Specific: Where do you want to work next? What do you want your job title to be? Do you want to stay in your same location or move? Do you want to remain in your current field or explore something new?
 
Measurable: Perhaps carve out how much time per day or week that you will spend on your new job hunt. How many places do you intend to apply to each week?
 
Achievable: What is something small you can do for yourself today? Maybe it’s talking to a friend who has connections to a company who is hiring, or cleaning out your home office to help you enjoy the job search.
 
Realistic: Be sure to set realistic requirements on your goals. Consider what is going on in your life and in the economy, and be hopeful but stay grounded.
 
Time-bound: Try to state when you hope to have a new job, when you plan to have your resume and LinkedIn updated, etc.
 
Another key thing to remember during this season is know yourself. Be prepared for how your personality type responds to stress. If you can, adjust your goal plans to suit your personality type. If you have taken our DISC assessment, check out the graphics below to identify stress factors for your type, and how you can help yourself and the ones you love. This season is going to feel stressful no matter what—maybe even hopeless or depressing. But keep at it, and hold closely to the things which motivate and uplift you. There is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Check out this week’s podcast on Career Brand Story with Jeremy Tudor to hear about my story about experiencing a lay-off and how I recovered my career using SMART goals!