In today’s economy, it sometimes doesn’t matter if you’re a superstar, work longer, harder, and faster than the next person, or cut your baby teeth with the company. If the company can’t afford to keep you, there’s little you can do about it. As you’re sitting there with the proverbial pink slip in your hand and reeling from a host of whirlwind emotions, including shock, fear, sadness, and anger, you suddenly realize that your life suddenly has been thrown into a tail spin through no fault of your own.



But as bad as you understandably may feel, the worst thing you can do is let yourself crash. You have to gain control of that tail spin, right the plane, and set a new course. Will that be difficult? In the economic times we find ourselves in today – probably. But can it be done? Definitely. And here are a few ways to pick yourself up and get yourself back on track.



First, if you feel like you need a little time to mourn the loss and regroup, by all means take it. If you start a job search feeling overwhelmed, sad, and bitter, nothing good is going to come from that, which in turn will only make you feel worse and less able to secure a new position. However, it’s important to not allow yourself to wallow in pity or engage in other self-destructive behaviors (such as drowning yourself in alcohol to ease the pain). Give yourself some time to grieve (and for some this may take an hour, a day, or a week), then pick yourself up, jump back into the pilot’s seat, and right the plane.



In order to do that you must first accept what you cannot control. Unfortunately, you cannot control the job market or the economy, and “what if’s” right now are definitely not your friend. Your focus needs to be on what you can control. And what is that? Well actually, it’s quite a lot.



One of the most important things you need to control is your energy level. Turn whatever negative emotions you may be feeling into positive energy. Tackle the job search as if it is a new job because in many respects it is. You need to be organized, efficient, strategic, and set goals for yourself as you would in a new job. And don’t forget to exercise. It’s a good way to increase your energy level (not to mention your overall health).



Use your network as much as possible for job leads. The large majority of jobs are found through networking, not through passive on-line or newspaper job searches. If you don’t have a ready-made social network, it’s easier than ever to create one by using the Internet to reach thousands of people who may have leads that will land you the job you want.



You also need to control your confidence level. You are the same person you were before you were laid off. You have the same strengths and the same positive qualities, and your resume is still as strong as it ever was. So when you call about jobs and especially when you go into job interviews, let that confidence show. If you have the time and the money, you also may want to consider taking a class or two that will strengthen your resume even more and show prospective employers your initiative.



Another important thing to control is your focus. You can’t change the past so why focus on it? Your focus needs to be on the future and on the new opportunities that the future present. You also need to use this focus to maximize your chances for success when you are applying for jobs. No one likes rejection so don’t apply for jobs where you’re very likely to be rejected. That’s not to say that you can’t or shouldn’t try new directions if you weren’t happy with your past line of work. But the likelihood of being hired in a field where you have no experience or training at a time when the job market is so saturated with prospective applicants – well, let’s just say it’s not very high. So focus on a target. Then, send out targeted resumes to targeted companies that will give you the best chances of securing a job interview.



And speaking of the increased competition in the current job market, make sure you do your homework, especially if you get an interview. Find out everything you can about the company before you go in. The more you know about the company and your interviewer, the more impressive you will be to a prospective employer. Also, no matter how angry you are with your former employer, don’t go into interviews badmouthing him or her or showing any feelings of anger or bitterness over what happened. It will only reflect negatively upon you and reduce your chances of being hired.



Finally, once you get your foot in the door, control your attitude. Attitude has so much to do with success. A positive attitude increases your chances for success; a negative attitude increases your chances for failure. That is universal to every aspect of life – school, relationships, sports, and yes, job hunting.



Have you had a bad turn? Yes. But you can do this. Just keep your head up and your hands on the wheel. Expect the first part of the ride to be a little bumpy and scary. All tail spins are. But once you right the plane, you have an opportunity – a chance to set a new course to a new destination on your new journey. Here’s wishing you a safe landing!