How to Survive a Layoff: A Pro's Guide to What to Do when You Get Laid Off from a Job

Everyone knows that the economy is down, and that jobs are becoming scarce, but are you prepared for what to do if you lose your job? What steps, if any, have you taken to ensure that your transition from employed to job seeker will be as smooth as possible?

As one of the unfortunate generation who entered the workforce in the late nineties, I've seen more than my share of layoffs and unemployment forms. Hours have been spent updating my job log when I've fallen behind and found myself having to attend the dreaded log review sessions. Not only can I survive on grilled cheese and salad for months on end, but my ability to navigate the oft-treacherous waters of unemployment is impressive. Heck, if I wear to be laid off again, I would consider going pro.

There are some important steps that I follow each time the pink slip finds its way to my clogged inbox. The first is so basic that it's often forgotten until it's needed - the resume update. Take a look at your resume before you get laid off and make sure you have captured all of the details of your current position. It's often easier to see what you actually do at your job while you were at it and not after you've left and spent two weeks in your pajamas. Also, if it has been a while since your last job search, take a look at the current popular resume formats. Resume formats change often and getting yours in shape now will save you time down the road.

The second step is crucial - begin to market yourself. If you feel that a lay off is looming, set up an account on sites like Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com and Yahoo hot jobs. Most sites allow you to upload you resume, save job searches based on your preferences and email jobs to yourself. Getting comfortable with these sites and how jobs are listed is a great start in preparing yourself for your job search. If you are still employed, be aware that your employer may discover that you are actively looking for work unless you set your information settings to "private". Be conscious about the privacy rules that are offered by each site to insure that you are not exposing too much personal information.

Finally, think about how you can most effectively market yourself to a potential employer. Do you have writing samples that could help you get ahead in a technical writing interview? Do you have a website that showcases your web design talents and programming skills? Take the time to really think about what kind of job you want and how you can best achieve that goal. Learning how to market yourself is critical when competition is fierce. Investing time and energy into your future now will allow you to be prepared for the worst while preparing for the best in your career.