Rebound: A Proven Plan for Starting Over After Job Loss

Description

So, you've been laid off. Or you see it coming. You're not alone. And it's not your fault: you're just one of millions of smart, high-quality people who are being shown the door. But none of that makes it feel any better! What can you do? What should you do? How do you cope with the havoc that losing your job can cause? This sympathetic, practical book brings together all the answers you need to empower yourself, and come back stronger than ever. Author Martha Finney is one of the nation's leading workplace experts: her research has been featured on CNN, NPR's Morning Edition, and in major newspapers across the country. Drawing on powerful insights and personal stories from an enormous network of experts, she brings together all the knowledge and resources you'll need to regain mastery over your life. Finney answers questions like: How can I keep getting laid off from wrecking my life? How can I protect my professional reputation and career path? How do I get past the anger? Why haven't I heard from my coworkers? How do I keep all my options open? How do I tell my family, without damaging their faith in their own futures? What are my rights? Can I sue? Should I? How do I keep this from happening again? From start to finish, this book will help you identify your best next steps: the steps that'll help you get past the trauma and move forward, emotionally, financially, in your career, and in every part of your life. Contents Acknowledgments About the Author Preface PART I: The Inner Game of Getting Laid Off 1 What to Expect When You're No Longer Expected Mixed Feelings Bewilderment Crisis in Self-Worth Alienation Isolation 2 New Career Realities and New Career Rules 3 You're Still in Control Part II: Preparing for a Layoff 4 Are You on the Layoff List? Voice of Experience: Rob 5 Financial: What to Do Before You Get Laid Off 6 Set the Tone for How You Leave Accept the News Gracefully Mourn Authentically Regroup Strategically 7 Plan Your Exit Voice of Experience: Caroline Part III: Know Your Rights 8 What You Can Expect from a Severance Package 9 Stop! Just Say No Show No Emotion Gather Data Make No Commitments 10 Ask for Special Treatment 11 A Word About Noncompete Agreements 12 Not That It Matters to You, but It Hurts for Them, Too Part IV: When You've Been Laid Off 13 Financial: Control Your Spending Food Insurance Telecommunications 14 What Do I Do with All This Rage? Voice of Experience: Anna 15 The Kids Can Handle the Truth 16 Good Things to Remember Voice of Experience: Charles Voice of Experience: Simon Part V: Landing Your Next Job 17 The Importance of Having a Plan 18 Learn to Love Networking 19 Using Social Networking for Your Job Search 20 Build Your "A" Player Status Even Though You Are Not Employed Be a Thought Leader Be Googlable Be Expansive Be Opinionated Be Generous with Your Connections Be Generous with Your Talents and Skills Be a Consultant Remember That Your Former Employer Might Also Value Your Skills and Abilities Be Curious Be Willing to Be a "B" Player Be There 21 Talking About Your Job Loss in Interviews 22 How to Evaluate the Job You've Been Offered Organizational Confidence/Internal Organizational Confidence/External Personal Confidence/Internal Personal Confidence/External 23 Should You Take a Job with a Company That's Laying People Off? Some Good Reasons to Take the Job Signs That the Job Might Not Be the Best Choice 24 Go! Just Say Yes Voice of Experience: Deborah 25 Start Your New Job with Confidence Voice of Experience: Sarah 26 Never Be in This Situation Again Part VI: Appendixes A: Step Away from the Fridge! Reach for This Instead The Best Things You Can Do The Worst Things You Can Do The First Things You Should Do B: Greg and Martha's List of Automatic No's Resources and Suggested Reading Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q–R S T U–V–W X–Y–Z