Sustainability: business, life, environment

It is always sorrowful news to learn of a respected friend or colleague has lost their job.  Just this morning I learned of this happening to a much admired colleague.  As a tribute to her many contributions to me and our work together, I thought I'd offer to all those searching for work some advice that clients have asked of us in our professional consulting.
 
First and foremost, take an emotional scan.  Are you angry? Relived? Frustrated? Scared?  Notice how you are feeling and acknowledge that what you are feeling is alright, acceptable and understandable.   Your emotions will fluctuate and knowing that they will do so may be comforting. 

Note -  rushing into action of finding a new position without lining up your vision and your energy will be counterproductive; so, allow yourself a couple of days to "detox" and recover from the news.  This is especially helpful if you were not given much notice.   Be kind to yourself during these few days.
 
When you are feeling ready, now is the time to plan and take action.  In our professional consulting, we highly recommend getting clear on what is that you DO want in your next position. 
 

• Make a list of "required" item and "would like to have" items.  For instance, if you are unwilling to relocate, then you’re next job would be "required" to be in your present location. 
• Update your resume
• Get your finances in order
• Create a one minute speech on yourself highlighting who you are, your best skills, and what type of work/ role you are looking for. This will be helpful in effectively communicating to friends, family, and online networking sites who you are and why a company should hire you.

 
As a professional consultant, I know there are many paths to employment. You will want to consider which ones you are going to utilize and create a plan for yourself.  In our professional consulting, we work with our clients to create a comprehensive plan combined with daily action items designed to keep a positive attitude as well as secure meaningful and desired work.   Some areas to consider in your job search:

• Headhunters, Search Firms and Employment Agencies
• Job Search Engines
• Help Wanted Ads
• Job Banks
• Jobs by Career Field or location
• Job Fairs
• Networking

Of all the above mentioned sources, my personal favorite is networking.  In our professional consulting, we've seen many times "people hire people that they know".  LinkedIn, Twitter, FaceBook and other social media sites are excellent tools to build networks and communities. 

“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”  In our professional consulting, we encourage clients to stay positive, breathe, and focus exclusively on what they want.  Before you know it, it will appear and it will be far better than your previous position.