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10 Things I Learned from My Layoff
Try and get dressed for the day, even if you have nowhere to go
Featured Author:
Tania Khadder
Tania is a writer, editor, blogger, and TV enthusiast. She likes indie rock, good food, vodka gimlets, and living in San Francisco. She also likes dancing, but of course, not to indie rock. Tania has a BA in Anthropology from UCLA, and an MA in International Journalism from City University in London.
She's also co-founder of the blog Unemploymentality.
When she isn’t writing, she’s spending time with friends and family, obsessively surfing the web, or much to everyone’s annoyance, doing both simultaneously.
Check out her latest blog, Lipstick & Lemonade.
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Tania Khadder | Excelle
I didn’t think it would happen to me. As a news producer for a television network, I reported on unemployment numbers daily. I was detached. Analytical. Objective.
Then one day, without any prior warning, I was out of a job, and the subject of someone else’s news story.
It’s not that I thought I was immune, or somehow above it all. It’s just that, like so many other Americans, I was blindsided; tricked into believing my company was in good health, that my job was safe, and that I would somehow be protected from the global economic meltdown. In hindsight, there was plenty of evidence to the contrary. I believed I was safe because I wanted to.
Was I distraught? Sure. Resentful? Of course! But it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be.
And now, nearly five months later, I’m back to work. My days of wrestling with the unemployment office and spending far too much quality time with myself are over, at least for now.
But as I look back on my experiences as a “layoffee”, I can honestly say that I’m better off for having gone through them. Here are ten things I learned:
Unemployment is temporary
Being jobless is kind of like being a homesick study abroad student. You put off doing all the things you want to do because you feel like you’re going to be there forever. And besides, you’re just too busy moping to make any plans.
Get a grip. You will find a job – possibly a lot sooner than you imagined. When you do, you might have to start right away. And then it will be too late to go to the zoo at 2pm on a Tuesday.
Cotilia
over 1 year ago
2 comments
Excellent article. I would add to do some volunteer work. It is hard to feel sorry for yourself when you are helping others. Who knows, you may run across the person who can help you find that next opportunity!
Belc
over 1 year ago
676 comments
I'm still working thankfully but this sounds like excellent advice. I especially liked the photocopy advice, this could be useful for many of our offices.
Dolores1963
over 1 year ago
8 comments
Great article. I was laid-off after 13 years...I thought a big part of who I was, was defined by your job. There were times when I put my job before the needs of my family. I was crushed when I was laid off and spent the first 2 days in tears. Than I brushed my shoulder off and decided to make the best of it. I have committed myself to losing 30 pounds, which means putting my gym membership to work. I am actually more relaxed and have less stress in my life.
ofthesun
over 1 year ago
6 comments
I too have found this artical a great read and have shared it with my working friends as well. I am 17 days un-employed in the great state of California where the un-employment in online not in line. I have realized that I have not been without a job for 13 years and the learning process is different.
KKavin
over 1 year ago
8 comments
I too am unemployed and have been since August, 2008. In the interim I'm training in Real Estate Sales. Learning the REO and Short Sales Market.
I too enjoyed this article. Staying positive everyday is a challenge. I am networking with others who are unemployed and we are try and stay positive together.
I make it a habit everynight to watch "America's Funniest Videos" and laugh until the tears drop my my eyes.
Those who are surviving each day, I tip my hat to you, but admit there's a tinge of envy.
We will all survive these times!!!!! I will, you will, and WE WILL !!!
Lndgolfer
over 1 year ago
2 comments
I thought I was the only one that had these feelings. I was at my job for 20 years and I feel so guilty that I am actually enjoying being home after I was such a work-a-holic! I have to continue to drive to find a job because I am only 50 and to young to retire, but in the mean time I am enjoying myself.
TWINSTAR
over 1 year ago
4 comments
She beat me to the punch line, had this women not written this article - I would definitely have done it. Dam, maybe I wrote it in my sleep or something.... scary.
Venetia
over 1 year ago
18 comments
Excellent - I can really relate to this and the photo. is another perfect statement! I posted this article to my Facebook bulletin, so as to share it with my other unemployed but talented friends.
sbcarter
over 1 year ago
13304 comments
Very good advice. I enjoyed reading this article.
sueinla
over 1 year ago
2 comments
Great article! Thank you for sharing I could totally relate.
BetsyGray
over 1 year ago
58 comments
We're luckier in Florida because the unemployment office is online here. There also are wonderful people at the local offices who somehow find time to answer my questions and offer help and support. Get the unemployment rolling right away & if you have to, then just pretend the forms are tests that will prepare you for your next job. Or something, Just do it. You have to have the dollars in place. If we're too busy worrying about budgets, how we put quality into our job searches?
JThomas1285
over 1 year ago
12 comments
This article was great for me. Thanks for the heads up about the unemployment paperwork. At least now I am forewarned that I could go without benefits for awhile. I was just given one month until I will be a "layoffee" and I have seen countless others where I work be escorted out the door given no advance warning. I don't know that the warning helped me much, I am still just as scared. In my particular case, I knew this was coming for a while, but still didn't know exactly what to do. Go now, or stay? I am trying to stay positive about everything and take this as an opportunity to move forward and try something new and look at this as a fresh start. Great to see someone else has moved on and gave me hope that I will as well.