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When the employment market takes a tumble, many people respond
impulsively and tend to panic. Who can blame them, right? We all need
our jobs, and no one likes uncertainty. The problem, though, is that
panic tends to prevent you from taking the measured steps necessary to
solve the problem effectively, which only in turn creates more panic.
This insidious process just feeds upon itself, and can have seriously
counterproductive, and even devastating results.
In the employment world, the panic I'm speaking of can manifest itself in a variety of ways:
- Those who find themselves out of a job as the result of a recession
FRANTICALLY start a knee-jerk job hunting process with little focus or
direction - they quickly update an already poor résumé, apply for every
job they see advertised whether it's a good fit or not, call every
recruiter in the phone book, and otherwise make rash and haphazard
decisions
- Those who are lucky enough to remain employed when the recession
hits tend to hang on to their current job for dear life, even if they
desperately hate what they're doing
- Others, on the other hand, are simply frozen and lose all sight of
what they were doing, where they were trying to go, and ultimately
don't or can't do anything at all
Now don't get me wrong - I understand that food must go on the
table, and mortgage payments have to be made. You need your job,
whether that means keeping the one you have or finding a new one.
However, my concern is with any of the above responses that are
motivated and characterized by PANIC. The problem with panic is that it
causes you to lose focus, perspective, and judgement, and I don't want
to see you jump from the pan into the fire!
Smart career management calls for a calculated and organized
approach, and that still holds true even when you feel your back is
against the wall. So, here are a few suggestions to handle panic when
you feel it approaching:
- Vent - let it out! If you feel the emotions rising and your head is
filled with worries about everything that could possibly go wrong, your
best bet is to let those feelings out because they're just going to
cloud your judgement. Find someone positive and caring to talk to and
let it out. This will clear room for more productive thinking and a
more positive attitude
- Assemble a plan - if you remain frantic and unorganized, your
results will quickly just frustrate you. Consider what you need to
accomplish and put together a plan of action with specific goals and
steps
- Get the help you need - follow the expert advice in this book,
contact a professional who can help you with your resume, job search
strategy, and interviewing skills, or contact a friend or colleague who
has successfully navigated an organized job search in the past. There
is great help out there, so take advantage of it.
- Don't lose sight of your goals - employment slowdowns are only
temporary, and do not mean that you still can't get that job of your
dreams. Channel any "panic" energy toward your goals and keep your eyes
open for opportunities - you just might be thrilled with the results!
So, try not to hit the panic button - take a few days to collect
your thoughts, consider the lay of the land, look at your situation
objectively, consider what needs to be done, gather your support, and
go to it with a clear head. Good luck!
© 2003 Ross Macpherson
About the Author
Ross Macpherson is the President of Career Quest, a Certified Professional
Resume Writer, and a Career Success Coach who has helped thousands of
motivated professionals advance their careers. To receive more valuable
career advice, sign up to join his monthly newsletter "Career Quest
Café" by visiting www.yourcareerquest.com.
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