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Top Five Ways to Prepare for a Pending Layoff
Government Information Resources to Help Your Planning
Release by the Federal Citizen Information
Center of the U.S. General Services Administration
While the economy is showing signs of improvement, times are still
tough. If you sense that you could be facing a potential layoff,
preparing ahead of time as much as you can will help ease that time of
transition. Get ready now with these tips from the Federal Citizen
Information Center:
- Take an honest look at your finances and see where you and your
family can cut back on spending. Consider the pros and cons of more
dramatic
financial moves, like withdrawing early from your 401K. It can
really help you cope short team while your income is low, but could
have serious penalties that don't make it worth it in the long-run.
- While doing the best you can to stretch a buck, it's also time
to review and update
your resume. As you do, remember that your cover letter is a
potential employer's first opportunity to see how well you can
showcase your skills. Remember to tailor each letter to the specific
needs of the position. If you haven't heard from the company after
two weeks, follow-up with an email or phone call to check the status
of your application--it shows that you are sincerely interested.
- If you're going to be out of work, health care is a concern. Be sure to know
all of your options, including purchasing COBRA, which could keep you and your family
covered for an additional 18 months. Also, you may be eligible for a
health coverage tax
credit which pays 80% of health insurance premiums for qualified
families and individuals.
- Use your imagination when seeking new opportunities. Have you
considered starting your own business, or working for the
government? Use USA.gov's Jobs and Education page to show you what you
need to do to become your own boss, or work for Uncle Sam.
- If you think you may lose your job, consider using the spare
time you may have in the future to help others by volunteering or mentoring. You'll be
surprised how helpful your skills are those in need. Also, it's a
great environment to network and meet new people.
It's never easy to face the reality that you could lose your job, but
using these resources from the Federal Citizen Information Center can
help you get back on your feet more quickly and get you ahead of the
competition in the event of a layoff.
Other Readings of Interest in the Archives
GSA on the Web
The Federal Citizen Information Center connects
people with government benefits, services and information through its
family of websites, including
pueblo.gsa.gov, USA.gov,
GobiernoUSA.gov and
ConsumerAction.gov; by
phone at 1 (800) FED-INFO and with publications by mail from Pueblo,
Colorado. FCIC is part of the U.S. General Services Administration’s
Office of Citizen Services. |
