Abridged: Examiner  From The Career News, V 9, #33, Aug 17, 2009

DENVER, CO — In our changing economic landscape, many people find themselves unprepared to deal with locating a new job in a struggling economy. The unemployed will initially react to the loss of the job and the security it provided. It’s normal to experience feelings of grief. Next comes a transitional period where the displaced worker comes to terms with the anxiety caused by finding themselves unprepared to be in the job market and deciding their next move.

This transitional period is one of establishing goals and making career decisions. It’s also a stage in which many people get stuck. The longer you stay unemployed and lick your wounds, the harder it is move to forward. While it might make sense to look for a position similar to the one you just had in the industry you were just in, this isn’t your only option. After all, if your company is laying off, it’s likely that others in that industry are as well.

Maybe it’s time to re-invent yourself. This could be a great opportunity to take a look at why you were doing what you were doing. In most cases, you have changed, and your industry has changed too. Maybe this is an opportunity for you to re-career: to evaluate your abilities, interests and values that you have NOW and find a match within an industry or field that has a brighter economic outlook.

Category: Unemployment