How to Support Your Spouse After a Job Layoff

Job layoffs are becoming a weekly occurrence. Somewhere in America, at least one company decides to layoff employees. Layoffs are becoming so common that you may know someone dealing with one firsthand. In fact, that person may be your husband or wife. Losing a steady full-time income is stressful. You may have your own worries, but you need to be available to support your spouse after their job lay off. How?

Be there to talk. Sometimes, you just need to listen. Your husband or wife will go through different stages of emotions. Anger is usually the first. Listen to them rant and vent. Then, fear and panic usually comes next. Assure them everything will be okay. It may take a few months, but they will find a new job. Moreover, there is still your income to fall back on. If the situation does not improve, depression may come next. Unfortunately, your shoulder to cry on and ear to listen may not be enough. Professional help may be needed.

Talk about health insurance. Many families have two health insurance options, but rarely need two coverage plans. For that reason, either you or your spouse are providing health insurance for the family. If your wife was laid off and she provided insurance, closely examine all options. This should be done immediately to ensure your family, especially the children, are not without medical coverage. Is it cheaper to buy COBRA coverage or health insurance through your work?

Provide support with finding a new job. With the poor job market, it is harder to find a job after a layoff. There are millions of Americans looking for work. In the past, a job that may have only had 50 applicants may now get as many as 250. Your husband may have a great job interview, only to later learn he didn?t get the job. Finding a job in today?s economy isn?t easy; it will be a bumpy road. Once again, be there to listen and provide support.

Tactfully provide advice. Some Americans getting laid off from their jobs have worked with the company ten, twenty, or even thirty years. If your spouse is one of these individuals, he or she likely hasn?t job searched, applied for jobs, or had an interview in years. They may not know where to start and they are likely to make mistakes. It is easier to catch them from the outside looking in. Notice your wife isn?t dressing properly for a job interview? Mention it, but be polite. In fact, offer to take her shopping to get a new outfit.

Give your spouse freedom to make a new choice. They may want to go back to college, take a few career-training courses, or even change career fields. As long as you can afford it, let them try. Not only that, offer your support and encouragement. Layoffs are scary, but they provide many Americans with a clean slate.

Don?t expect your spouse to do it all at home. If actively looking for a job after a layoff, your spouse will be in and out of the house. However, much time will be spent right at home. Do not create unrealistic expectations. Yes, your wife is home each day; however, that does not mean you can expect her to have dinner ready each night, clean the house, and care for the kids. Take it one-step at a time. Of course, they should not spend their days at home sitting on the couch doing nothing, but don?t overwhelm or burden them with too much.

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Layoff Tips for Two Income Families

Job layoffs are increasing all across the country. They are becoming a common occurrence. Unfortunately, this may mean you are soon impacted, if you haven?t been already. If your household was previously a two-income family, you are in a unique position. Yes, you will need to cut expenses. You will get unemployment and possibly a severance package; however, these do not last forever and their amounts are smaller than your last paycheck. It is less money than you are used to having. So, how can you make the adjustment and survive a layoff when transitioning from a two-income household down to one?

Most importantly, do not panic. Your husband or wife has income coming in too. This may not be what you wanted to hear, but consider yourself lucky. Many families have one parent staying home with the kids. They are now reduced to no steady income. A single person is now left to, literally, fend for themselves. Once again, you need to make a few changes, but that one remaining income should keep food on the table and pay necessary bills. As stressful and depressing as getting laid off is, remember you will receive unemployment for a time and you have an additional income to fallback on.

Determine how much money you have available to spend each month. Even with unemployment, your weekly checks will be less than before. Determine how much less. Take your husband or wife?s income and add it to your weekly unemployment benefits. How much money does your family have each month? This is important. You cannot live within your means if you don?t know what those means are. Luckily, this step is easy and should take you no more than 15 minutes.

Reduce your expenses. You now know your monthly income. This is how much money you have to survive each month. In terms of reducing expenses, take everything you don?t need to survive, like television, internet, or a morning cup of coffee at Starbucks. Unless on a very tight budget, you don?t need to go without. First, try cutting back. Look at your phone package. How many long distance calls do you make each month? If just one or two, eliminate long-distance and use your cell phone to make those calls. In fact, can your cell phone replace your landline phone? Do the same with internet and television. Look for cheaper alternatives.

Reduce the cost of food. This could easily fall into the category of cutting expenses, but there are so many money saving tips it deserves it own section. To get started, make sure you are shopping at the right stores. Take an afternoon to look at nearby stores; browse their products and prices. The grocery store you shopped at for years may not have the best prices in town. Cut your shopping down to once or twice a week to avoid impulse purchases. Most importantly, use coupons. They appear in most Saturday and Sunday newspapers. You can also use online coupon websites. Perform a standard internet search to find product websites and look for coupons posted.

If you are a parent, you likely had children in daycare. Whether it was all daycare or before and after school only, pull them out. Most daycare contracts have special exceptions for termination of service with job loss. Depending on where you live, this could save anywhere from %100 to %300 a week! When you start looking for a new job, find a part-time babysitter or rely on friends and family to watch your kids while you attend job interviews.

Only use your savings in the event of an emergency. As shown above, there are many ways that you can survive a layoff when still having another full-time, working income to rely on. Start implementing these steps the moment you are laid off from work. One mistake many unemployed workers make is spending their savings right away. If you saved money over the years, you may have anywhere from %2,000 to %20,000 stashed away. Yes, a layoff is considered an emergency, but with the poor job market, there are no guarantees when you will find a new job. Don?t deplete your savings when there are other alternatives.

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Significant Cutbacks That Can Help You Avoid Debt After a Job Layoff

Were you recently laid off from work? If so, you may be in financial distress. Even those who collect unemployment benefits barely find themselves scraping by. If you are one of those individuals, you need to make significant cutbacks. What might those cutbacks entail?

Sell your house. If you live in a home with an expensive mortgage that you cannot afford and if you do not anticipate finding a job in the next two or three months, get out now. Try to sell your home before your credit is severely impacted. Luckily, the housing market is starting to slowly improve in many areas of the country. Layoffs are increasing in frequency, but many Americans still have their jobs and can get a loan. List your home for sale based on its last appraised value or fair market value. Don?t sell yourself short, but middle class family homes, in the %75,000 to %150,000 range are easier to sell.

If you have been trying to sell your home and cannot, do you have extra room? If so, rent out a room. Do backgrounds check and check references. This can help offset the cost of a mortgage you cannot afford. In addition, right now many Americans have steady income, but poor credit. These Americans cannot get a home loan, even though they could likely afford one. For that reason, consider renting your home. This is ideal if your house is too big, but do not feel comfortable living with a stranger. Use the incoming rent to pay the mortgage. Use your spouse?s income or your unemployment check to pay rent on a much smaller and cheaper apartment.

Find a new apartment. If you are renter, as opposed to a homeowner, is your rent too expensive? Can you no longer afford it or will you barley be scraping by? If so, look for a new place to live. If you have children, you may want to keep them in their same schools. This is good, but live where you can afford. A city may have an average rent of %1,000. However, fifteen minutes away a smaller town may have an average rent of %500 a month. Due to the poor economy, many landlords are releasing tenants from their contracts with appropriate notice, such as 30 or 60 days.

Sell your car and buy a cheaper one. Your best avenue is to sell the car outright yourself. List it for sale in newspaper classified sections, Craigslist.org, and other places online. Consider the value of your car. Set a fair selling price, but make sure you have enough to payoff the rest of your automobile loan and buy a cheaper, used car. Driving around a used ?old clunker,? may not be what you had in mind, but you can find quality used cars for %1,000 to %5,000. Right now, you need something that runs and gets you from point a to point b. As for just selling you car, this isn?t recommended. Even if there is public transportation in your area, remember the poor job market. When find a new job, it may be two or three town away.

Look at the cost of your landline and cell phone. Do you have both? Many see success with replacing their landline phones with cell phones. If you can?t, practice talking on your cell phone less and lower the minutes. If you can get out of your cell phone contract without large fees, do it. Get a prepaid phone and use it for emergencies only.

Lower the cost of your internet. Many times, internet access is considered an extra. Yes, it technically is. However, it is now a job search tool for you. If actively looking for a new job, you need internet access. Don?t cancel yours. Instead, look for cheaper lower speed packages or opt for dial up access instead.

Lower the cost of your television. If you have internet access, consider doing away with your television altogether. You can get your local news and weather online. If you want television, get the local channels only. You don?t need one hundred or more channels, many of which you never watch. Luckily, most shows are now streamed online for free. In addition, the season DVD will soon be released on Netflix. Speaking of Netflix, if you do away with television, consider a subscription. For less than %20 a month, you can get unlimited movies with three movies at a time!

The above mentioned lifestyle changes may sound significant and impossible to make, but remember your financial situation. You were laid off from work. It may be one month before you find a new job, but it may be one year or more. Don?t fall victim to debt, take charge now.

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Laid Off from Work? Increase Your Chances of Finding a New Job

Were you laid off from your job? Whether the layoff occurred two weeks ago or two months ago, you may want to jump right back in. Unemployment benefits are nice, but they likely rarely come close to the paycheck you were bringing home before. Unfortunately, the job outlook isn?t good. All across the country, companies are cutting expenses. Many of the companies who aren?t laying off workers have imposed freezes on hiring. Finding a new job may seem like an impossible task. However, there is work out there. You just need to know how to find it.

Use the internet to look for a new job. If you are 25 years old, you likely use the internet on a daily basis. However, if you are 50 years old, you may be lucky if you touch a computer twice a week. Internet use varies depending on age, computer access, and the time available to surf the web. When looking for a new job, your first thought may be to look in your local newspaper classified section. Do this, but also turn to the internet. There are many job search websites, like Monster.com. Companies also have employment sections, where open positions are listed on their websites, and much more. In the past, you may have only used the internet to communicate with friends, but now use it to find a job.

Post your resume online. As previously stated, there are many job search websites online. These websites, like Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com, have a large database of searchable and browseable jobs. Not only that, but they also allow you to create a free resume and post it online. You must take this step. Right now, there are millions of Americans looking for a job. A construction company posting a job listing online is likely to get thousands of applications, many from unskilled and unqualified candidates. Many of these companies save themselves time and forego posting a job listing. Instead, they rely on resume databases to find qualified candidates themselves. If your resume isn?t posted online right now, get it up today!

Talk about your job layoff. Lets face it, getting laid off from your job likely wasn?t your fault. It was due to the poor economy; however, it is still slightly embarrassing. At a party or bar, do you really want to say ?I am laid off,? when asked what you do for a living? Most likely, no. With that said, it can work to your advantage. Are you a construction worker who was recently laid off? You never know who you may meet at a party. There many be someone in the process of building their own home who needs skilled workers, a small business owner looking to expand, and so forth. Talking about your laid off status to strangers may seem embarrassing, but it may also open new doors for you. Of course, you don?t want to tell your life story. When asked what you do for a living say ?I normally work as a construction worker, but was recently the victim of companywide layoffs.?

Take an entry-level job. Right about now you may be thinking that entry-level jobs pay less. Yes, they do. Think long-term. When it comes to promotions, many companies like to promote from within. This is your opportunity. If your unemployment will soon run out, you need a job. Don?t discount low paying positions or even part-time work. The key is to not just show up for work and collect your paycheck each week. You want to give it your all. Arrive early to work, make good use of your time, and volunteer to work extra hours or take on new projects. Showcase your skills and show your new employer that you are a valuable asset to the company. You may find your part-time position going to full-time or you may find yourself working up the company ladder in no time at all.

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Laid Off? Pros and Cons of Taking Part Time Work

Were you laid off from your job? Whether that layoff happened three weeks ago or three months ago, you may want to jump right back into work. Unfortunately, the job market has taken a hit all across the country. Jobs are out there, but they can be difficult to find. For that reason, you may be willing to accept a part-time job, but it the best choice? It depends. To determine if going back to work part-time is ideal for you, familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of doing so.

The Pros of Taking Part-time Work after a Layoff

There is money coming in. When you have a job, you make money. It is simple as that. If your unemployment benefits are running out or if you were denied unemployment, you may not have a choice. You need to put food on the table and pay your bills. If you are in this situation, you should be willing to accept anything. That includes a lower paying part-time job. Luckily, it does not have to last forever. You can move on when you find a stronger, stable opportunity.

That part-time job can turn into much more. Although the economy and job market are in poor shape now, it will not last forever. Both will make a comeback in time. Companies will rebound and make more money. They can pay their employees more and offer part-time employees full-time work. Moreover, it shows action on your part. Honestly, most people would not take a part-time job after getting laid off from work unless it was a life or death situation. Not you. You decided you wanted to work and found a job, even if it wasn?t what you were accustomed to. This drive and determination can help you work your way up the company ladder, as many like to promote from within.

You are out of the house. After a job layoff, expenses need to be cut. This often translates into staying home more. After a while, you may get used to spending all day at home. Also, anger, sadness, fear, and depression is common with job layoffs. Even if you can afford to get out of the house, you may not want to. This is often where the downward spiral begins. Whether you feel the onset of depression or are just restless from staying home too much, get a part-time job. It will not only help your wallet, but your overall wellbeing too.

The Cons of Taking Part-time Work after a Layoff

The money is from a part-time job, so it is less. For that reason, many laid off Americans use a part-time job as a last resort. They wait until their unemployment runs out. Be careful if you don?t want to wait. Compare the income made from a part-time job to your current unemployment checks. If your goal is to put food on the table and pay your bills, opt for the choice that gives you the most, even if it is collecting unemployment. In that case, don?t get a part-time job. Continue to look for steady full-time income, but take up a hobby too.

You may lose your unemployment benefits. As previously stated, those eligible to receive unemployment for more months want to compare the two. Although only employed part-time, you are still employed. This makes you no longer eligible to receive unemployment. As stated above, a part-time job translates into a part-time income. Is it really worth it to lose your %300 weekly unemployment check for a %150 a week part-time job?

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What to Do When You Can?t Find a Job after a Layoff

If you were laid off from your job, you should actively be searching for a new one. Unfortunately, the search may not go as you had hoped. Millions of Americans are unemployed. All of those people are looking for jobs. The competition is fierce and the number of available jobs is limited. What should you do if you keep hitting roadblocks? What should you do if you haven?t found a job after actively searching for months?

Don?t get stressed and do not panic. Job layoffs are scary. An income is lost. Many Americans qualify for unemployment benefits and some receive good severance packages, but they do not last forever. After searching four months for a job, panic is likely to set in. You may wonder how you will pay the mortgage or how you will put food on the table. Panic will not do any good. In fact, it just makes the situation worse. If you haven?t already, work on reducing expenses at home. Shut off your cable or satellite television, even just temporarily. Save money any way that you can.

Don?t give up. If you have been actively searching for a job for four months, you could have easily attended 100 job interviews. However, you are still unemployed. Talk about depressing. Nothing feels worse than having 100 people basically say you are not good enough for the job. You may want to stop looking altogether, but don?t. Keep your head held high. Layoffs influence many. You may have had 20 years experience working as an auto mechanic, but they may have hired someone with 30 years. It does not mean you aren?t good enough for the job, someone just had more experience.

Slightly lower your standards. If you worked as a retail district manager, you held a high position. You were in charge of store managers, who were in charge of their employees. The poor economy has impacted retail stores all across the country. Companies are downsizing and closing many stores. Now is not the best time to find a well-paying job as a district manager. For that reason, consider slightly lowering your standards. Apply for store manager or assistant manager jobs. You are more than qualified. Yes, the pay is less, but at least it is a job.

Look for part-time work. After a job layoff, many Americans want to get back to work. Unfortunately, everyone wants the same type of job with the same type of pay. This is full-time work, as it provides better pay and benefits. Full-time positions have the most competition. Keep applying for these jobs, but consider using a part-time job to fill the void. If unemployment was denied or if those benefits are running out, you may not have a choice. Luckily, part-time jobs don?t have to last forever.

Do odd jobs around your community. Before getting laid off, did you work as a construction worker, landscaper, or in another similar field? If so, you provide a service. These services are always in demand. You may have experience building schools, but why not help an older woman in your community rebuild her garage? You may have been a landscape designer, but why not mow lawns for extra cash? Odd jobs are not steady, but they will bring you much needed money.

Consider starting your own business. With the poor economy, you may think now is not the best time to start a business. It depends. Some communities have skyrocketing unemployment rates, while others only saw a slight increase. If your community was one, you could easily start a business and see profits. The key is to choose your location wisely, as well as your business. Do not start a dollar store if your small community already has one. Do not start a lawn mowing business unless you intend to charge fair and reasonable prices. As previously stated, odd jobs are a great way to put food on the table. They are a great way to test the waters for starting a new business.

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How to Avoid Getting Laid Off from Your Job

It seems as if job layoffs are becoming a daily occurrence in the United States. It seems as if you can?t turn on the television without hearing a news report of a company closing their doors, putting a freeze on new hires, or laying off current workers. You may be concerned with your job and rightfully so. Layoffs are tricky. Companies use different standards to determine who stays onboard and who stands in the unemployment line. Although there are no guarantees, you can take some steps to help save your job. What are they?

Know the risk of changing jobs right now. With the poor economy and job market, you may think it is better to find a new job. Why wait until you are laid off? Why not find steady employment before there are an additional 100 people in your community looking for the same job. This is a good theory, but consider the industry first. The auto and manufacturing industries are in poor shape. These plants are the ones cutting back costs and laying off workers the most. Therefore, you leave your current job working at an air conditioning manufacturer to find a new job making auto parts. Great, but what if your new employer decides two months down the line that they too need to cut costs? As a new employee, you may be the first to go. Many companies base who get laid off on seniority. The newer employees are often the first to go.

Offer to take a pay cut. Right about now, you may be thinking ?why on earth would I offer to take a pay cut?? This is a good question. Don?t walk into work one morning offering to work for less pay. You should keep this as last resort. Use it as a last ditch attempt to keep your job. Did you just receive a layoff notice? If so, consider visiting the office of your supervisor. Explain the layoff will hurt you financially, but that you also understand the company needs to cut costs. Offer to take a reasonable pay cut. Once again, there are no guarantees, but it might help to save your job. Before taking this approach, estimate your unemployment. Would you make more from unemployment or with a pay cut?

Pay attention during company reviews. Many companies review their employees once or twice a year. This review may entail a meeting with your supervisor or just getting a sheet of paper with their findings. Either way, look at your review, what you need to improve on, and take all suggestions to heart. Many companies layoff workers based on seniority, but others try to get rid of the poor quality and poor performing workers first. Show your supervisors that you are a valuable asset. This best way to do this is to take any criticism you receive, set goals, and make the change. If your bosses notice a significant improvement in your work performance, they may reconsider laying you off.

Showcase your ability to perform more than one task. Whether you work in an office, in a factory, or in the field, do more than just your job. Did you overhear your boss saying they are short staffed in the mailroom? You may be a secretary, but offer to stay late to help. Not only does this show drive and determination, but it also showcases your skills to do different tasks. In addition to laying off workers, some companies are restructuring. This means a sales representative now may work as a secretary, and so forth. In the event your company decides to layoff and restructure, make sure your supervisors know you are willing to try anything to keep your job.

Increase your worth with night classes or career training classes. One of the reasons why new employees are often the first to go is because of their lack of experience. You can compensate for this with job training. Take a college class online or at night or enroll in a career-training course at your local vocational training center. Don?t just do it, but talk about it with your supervisors. They need to know that you are taking the steps to get additional training and will be a valuable asset to the company.

In short, there are no guarantees these steps will spare you from unemployment. Luckily, they are easy to implement and it will not hurt to try them. If you suspect your job is in jeopardy or have just received a layoff notice, don?t sit back and wait. Take action today.

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Laid Off Workers: Find a Job with These Online Search Tips

If you were recently laid off from your job, you may be actively searching for another. This is good. Too many Americans hold off and wait until their unemployment runs out. The job market will improve, but your unemployment may run out before then. Don?t be left in the dust; get started today. For the best luck, use the internet to help you find a job and continue reading on for some helpful job search tips.

Be on the lookout for scams. Internet scams are most common with work at home jobs, but they now target everything and everyone. Be smart. Never give your social security number to someone you met online. Online job applications may ask for this information, but use caution. If you haven?t heard of the company before, check online consumer reporting websites or with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Join more than one job search website. You might assume all job search websites are the same, but they aren?t. They have different job listings and do business with different companies. Each company must pay to post a listing. Why would they pay for four different listings on four different websites, when one would do? They likely would not. That is why you need to search all them all. To get started, visit Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com. Perform a standard internet search to find more.

Post your resume online. Not only do job search websites allow you to search and browse their large database of open positions, but most also allow you to post a resume. If your resume is not listed online, get it there immediately. Many job search websites offer this as a free service. Due to the high unemployment rate, job listings are likely to receive thousands of applications. Not all are applicants are qualified for the job. To save money and time, some companies forego the job listing and search resume databases themselves.

Visit company websites. Many companies use the internet to advertise and create buzz, even if not actually selling a product online. If you are looking for a local job, perform a standard internet search with the names of local companies. Visit websites when you find them. Scan the page and look for an ?Employment,? ?Careers,? or ?Jobs,? link. This link typically appears towards the bottom of the page and in smaller print. Although many still use job search websites and newspaper classified sections, others save their money and only list open positions on their websites.

Network online. When it comes to networking, many of us automatically think of social networking websites. You don?t have to go out and create a MySpace account, but use message boards. They have different themes. If you are a construction worker, find a forum for construction workers. If you are a retail manager, find a message board for retail workers, and so forth. Many topics are discussed, including tips on find a job, companies that are hiring, and so forth.

Online newspaper editions. Due to the troubling economy, many newspapers are cutting back costs. Americans like to get their news online and papers know that. They have invested more time and money into their online editions. Perform a standard internet search to find the websites of your local newspapers. Scan the website and look for an employment or classified section. Occasionally, the jobs listed are different from those in the printed paper.

Watch your time online and spend it wisely. The internet is tricky. It is easy to start out searching for a job and then find yourself sidetracked. There are thousands of great, entertaining websites and even more games. Try to keep web surfing and game playing separate from job searching.

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How to Prepare for a Layoff

Right away, you may be thinking ?why on earth am I reading an article on how to prepare for a layoff?? Yes, this is a good question. We are all encouraged to think positive about the job market, our careers, and the economy. That much easier said than done. Rarely does a day go by without the evening news mentioning a company closing down, laying off workers, or imposing a freeze on hiring. Will you be next? Honestly, you might be. You know the economy and job market is bad when both schools and hospitals are laying off workers. Aren?t teachers and healthcare workers essential? Yes, they are. That is what makes this whole ordeal scary.

As previously stated, companies, businesses, and all industries are impacted by the poor economy. Workers once considered essential components of a company are now left standing in the unemployment line. When it comes to preparing for a layoff, it is important to start out small. There is no need to get worked up and panic for nothing. With that said, it is always good to be prepared. Whether you know your company is losing money or hear layoff rumors floating around, now is the time to act.

So, how can you prepare for a layoff that may or may not come?

Update your resume. If you have worked at the same factory for ten or more years, you likely haven?t touched your resume in that same amount of time. In fact, do you even have a resume? If you hear rumors of layoffs, it will not hurt to be prepared. Brush off your resume or create a new one. You can hire a professional resume writer or use the internet to find free resume templates. Use these templates as a guide.

Take a few college classes or career training classes. When possibly facing layoffs, look at the big picture. How much job experience and training do you have in your field and how many jobs are available in that field? Right now, factory jobs are in trouble. Americans working in manufacturing plants are more likely to experience layoffs and find it harder to land a new job. Increase your chances by taking a couple of college classes at night or online or career training classes. They can open up new doors and also give you an advantage over other job seekers.

Start saving money. The biggest concern of Americans laid off and those who anticipate a layoff is with finances. Unemployment benefits rarely come close to what a working American was brining home each week. Since you will have less income coming in, you must spend less. This is not an easy transition. Get started now. Look at your phone, internet, and television packages. Opt for cheaper ones. Eliminate unnecessary purchases, use coupons at the grocery store, and so forth. If you get laid off from your job, you are prepared. If you are lucky and continue working as normal, you have extra money in your pocket.

Work on supplementing your income. With this step, you need to proceed with caution. There are many ways to make money online, but there are also scams. Although the internet is a tricky way to make money, it is usually one of your best options. When making extra money from home, you are usually classified as a contract worker, not an employee. If you walk into your local pizza joint and get a part-time job as a delivery person, you are an employee. Should you get laid off from your full-time job, unemployment benefits may be denied, as you are still technically employed. In addition to supplementing your income, work on raising extra money. Look around your home. Gather unused or unwanted items and host a yard sale or sell them on eBay. Find spare coins to take to the bank.

Have a game plan in place. Although there are no guarantees you will be laid off from your job, it is still important to consider the risk. If you hear rumors or know your company is in financial trouble, it will not hurt to be prepared or have a plan. What do you want to do? Will it be cheaper to find a low paying job or collect unemployment and take your time looking? Do you want to stay in your current industry or go back to school and try a new path? Ask yourself these questions in advance to be prepared.

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How to Help a Friend or Relative Through a Lay Off

Layoffs are happening all across the country and they continue to increase. If you weren?t laid off yourself, you likely know someone who was. In fact, that person may be a close friend or relative. How can you help them through this troubling time?

Be available to listen. As a close friend or relative, you should be that shoulder to cry on or that listening ear. Most of their talk will start out as rants. This is okay. Your first thought may be to say ?get over it and find a new job.? As much as you have the urge, suppress it. After a life-changing event, like a job layoff, we all need to rant, vent, and whine. Let them. This stage will pass. In no time at all, you will be listening to them talk about their job interviews or new coworkers.

Carefully provide advice. Once the shock wears offer, advice from others is regularly sought. Your friend or relative may ask for advice on finding a new job, how to save money, and so forth. When that point comes, proceed with caution. The wrong tone can cause a serious strain on your relationship. It is best to avoid unsolicited advice, especially at first. Wait until you are asked or approach the subject carefully. Never talk down to them.

Offer your assistance. Was it your 50-year-old uncle that was laid off from work? Has he never touched a computer in years? In fact, does he even have a computer? Offer your assistance with help finding a new job. You can help get him setup with a computer and internet access or let him use yours. If you like to write, offer to compose his resume or review it. Many Americans who are laid off haven?t been job searching in years. Your help will be appreciated. Moreover, it comes from the heart and is free.

Send along job information. If you know your close friend or relative is looking for a job, be on the lookout yourself. Did you come across a job posting online or hear at a party that a local company is hiring? After getting laid off from work, many suffer depression and enter into seclusion. Those not feeling these emotions still need to cut costs, so they spend more time at home. They are not out networking, but you are.

Be positive. When dealing with a close friend or relative who was recently laid off, it is important to always be upbeat and positive. Most importantly, watch what you complain about. Your best friend just got laid off from work. He may be on the verge of losing his home. Say, you need to spend %400 to put new tires on your truck. This added expense is not welcomed, but the two do not compare. Always watch what you say around someone laid off and be positive at all times.

Offer to watch their kids during job interviews. If the friend or relative you know has small children, he or she is likely home with them right now. Terminating daycare services is one of the first things unemployed parents too. It is too costly. Unfortunately, this may impact their ability to find a new job. If you have freedom and flexibility, offer to watch their children during a job interview. This small step goes a long way.

Do not start handing out cash. Above was a list of things you should do when dealing with a close friend or relative who was laid off from work. One thing you should not do is start handing out cash. Your loved one will experience financial complications. Good choices, such as reducing expenses, should limit the financial hardship. Better alternatives include bring a few extra groceries by their house, offering to pay for lunch twice a month, and so forth. Giving your best friend a %1,000 loan sounds like a good deed, but this is where many relationships and friendships go bad.

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