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What's the best way to move on after a layoff?

Q:   Dear Seymour, What's the Best Way to Move on After a Layoff?

- Submitted by Don Jackson, Commerce, GA

A: Dear Don,

While a layoff may seem like a completely negative event, blessings can often come in unpredictable disguises. There are lots of ways to handle a layoff so it won't seem like the end of your world.

Leave gracefully.
If your time to leave the office comes, make sure you do so graciously. You don't want to be remembered for making a scene or doing something worthy of office gossip that will survive long after the current economic downturn. Write a polite email to coworkers wishing them well, make sure they have your personal contact information, and ask them to stay in touch.

Don't drop off the map.
Keep in touch with your former coworkers. Send them updates on how you are doing, and ask how they are doing. Remaining on friendly terms with people is a great way to maintain relationships, but it is also a great way to foster valuable networking relationships. A friend of a friend could be your next best job lead. Send out regular e-mails, mail holiday cards, and remember birthdays. Just staying in touch could land you your next job.

Reevaluate.
It's possible that being let go could be what you've actually been hoping for whether you have realized it or not. Have you dreamed of starting another career or business venture, but just never had the time? Want to go back to school? Now is your chance. Embrace the opportunity to not just move on, but to begin something new.

Use your time well.
After a layoff, people tend to have a lot of time on their hands. Use this time not to feel sorry about yourself, but to be productive. Don't just spend your days just cruising job postings online--hunt for jobs out in the real world with real people. Join a professional association and attend meetings. Volunteer for a local charitable organization. Attend alumni events from your school. These tasks could contribute to your job search in a big way because they all involve networking, which is the best way to find a job.

Take a break.
Don't let yourself get obsessed with job hunting. Take a break every so often and do something fun or something that renews you. Go for a walk, get some exercise, cook something new, or visit with friends. Celebrate the great things in your life instead of dwelling on what's over. Move forward with your head held high.

Most of all, remember that a layoff isn't the end of the world. You will survive, you will move on, you will find something new. Everything is going to work out if you keep a clear head, a positive attitude, and an optimistic spirit.

Seymour