If you haven't lost your job, but suspect it might
soon happen, plan for it now.
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Ascher says, "We should be thinking
about these things every single day, not just when we're on the
edge of a cliff."
Bankrate talked to six job hunters, from an IT guy
in Florida to a top-level executive living in Dubai, to see how
they're handling being out of work and looking for employment. They
shared their concerns and approaches to finding work.
Judy Lederman, of Scarsdale, N.Y., found herself out of a job when hers was eliminated. A former regional public
relations manager for nine stores in the Lord & Taylor chain, Lederman admits to being blindsided when she was let
go. As a single parent, she's worried about having to uproot her 15-year-old daughter.
Search strategy:
Lederman's hoping her experience as a "very senior executive" will lead her to a similar position, but says that
although she had a flood of interviews in the first week or so, they've slowed and she's beginning to worry. She
says she will gladly change fields for the right job.
Lederman networks, has a profile on LinkedIn, calls in favors, gets in touch with people she
knows, asks for referrals and has resumes out "everywhere." She has an impressive resume: She's the author of two
books ("Joining the Thin Club" and "The Ups and Downs of Raising a Bipolar Child") and a former magazine editor.
She says, "Short of standing in New York with a sandwich board with my resume on it, I don't know what else to do."
Coping status:
Looking up. Lederman says she is putting God first and relying on her faith to keep her on track. "If I wasn't a
religious woman, I'd have a hard time," she says.
She's kept her expenses down and took out a home equity line of credit, which she'll use if she
has to in order to stay afloat.
What's right:
Lederman says she isn't ashamed to admit she's out of work and needs help. She knows that she did a great job and
isn't to blame for her situation. By letting others know she needs help, she is more likely to find it.
How to pump it up:
Industry-specific experience is overrated. Successful job hunting may require her to break into a new industry. Some
fields Lederman might consider are higher education, e-commerce, industries catering to seniors and green product
manufacturers. To find the right job, she may have no other choice but to relocate.
