In this economy, chances are you know someone who has been laid off as organizations downsize, close down or re-organize. Not everyone will react to being laid off in the same way, with some seeing this as a blessing in disguise and others suffering from a crisis of confidence. Whatever the comfort level, there are a number of recommended steps you can take to regain control and confidence and develop successful job search strategies.

Step 1.  Take two to three days off. This may sound strange, as all you think you should be doing is getting out there and finding reassurance that you have work, but what you actually need is time to refuel and re-energize and get yourself back on track. Searching for a new position or career can be an emotionally and physically challenging time, so take time out to recuperate and reset your focus.

Step 2.  Being laid off can be a blow to your self-confidence even if you know that it wasn't due to your performance. Even if this isn't immediately obvious, low self-confidence can affect the quality of your resume, your ability to deliver a good interview and, ultimately, your success in the job market. I recommend using a simple resume review exercise to bolster your personal and professional confidence levels:

Exercise:  Read through your resume and write out two or three success stories for each position you have held. Make sure your success stories include the challenges or problems you faced, the actions that you took, the results / successes that you had, and finally note the skills and strengths that these success stories demonstrate that you possess.

Step 3.  Clarify your next steps by setting a realistic timeline (e.g. how long will your finances support you being out of work).  After you’ve done so, your job search would benefit in also selecting realistic next steps in light of your given timeline.  It seems pretty straightforward, but in a sea of turbulence and uncertainty, mapping out practical and attainable steps can be a daunting challenge.  Here are a few things to consider: 

When you have been laid off, you really have three main paths to take:

A.  Stay in the same industry, doing the same job

B.  Stay in the same industry, doing a different job

C.  Do something completely new and different

Whatever decision you make, you will need to examine how realistic that option is. For example, if you worked as a trader for Bear Sterns and want to do the same job in the same industry, I would recommend doing some research into how realistic it would be to get a trading position within your required timeline. Or another example, if you worked as a trader for Bear Sterns and now want to set up your own business as a plumber, you again would need to review how realistic this is. What resources, training, funding would you need? How soon can you be working and does this fit your timeline? Be realistic.

If this process becomes overwhelming, then contact a mentor or a qualified career coach to help you sift through your thoughts and brainstorm about the next steps.

Step 4.  Now that you have assessed your decision, know your timeline for success and feel confident you are on a realistic path toward your targeted profession, you need to set an action plan and stick to it! 

Here are seven questions to get you started:

• What marketing materials do you need? (e.g. resume, website, portfolio)

• Who do you know whom you need to re-connect and network with? (e.g. old school friends, teachers, bosses, former colleagues)

• Who do you not know whom you want to connect or network with? (e.g.  review LinkedIn and identify companies you want to work for or businesses you want to align with)

• Who is doing what you do and how did they get into it? (e.g. competitors)

• What resources are available to help you? (e.g. recruiters, networking companies)

• What obstacles do you see that might get in your way, and how can you plan ways to circumvent or overcome them now? (e.g. time constaints, family pressures, job market)

• How will you know you have been successful? (i.e. set goals: you will have the job, you will have met 20 new people, etc.)

Getting laid off is no walk in the park, especially in times of a contracted job market.  It will always help to fall back on a close-knit network of friends and family members to whom you can confide in and regain composure.  If the process of finding a new job becomes overwhelming, then, by all means, you should contact a qualified career coach to help you sift through your thoughts and brainstorm about the next steps.

Lou Clark is a Career and Interview Coach and founder of Être Coaching based in NYC. With a successful background in Human Resource Management, formal coach training & accreditation with the ICF, Lou is experienced in providing interview, resume and career coaching.