Job Loss and the Patch

I read the other day that most Patch employees have lost their jobs due to the organization being purchased by Hale Global. The hammer fell earlier this week in what reads to be an uncomfortable way.   While all those staff members most likely will not return to read a blog about job loss in Long Branch - Eatontown Patch, here is my advice for what it’s worth and from someone who has been in their shoes.

1.      Create a resume while your accomplishments are fresh in your head.  If can’t bring yourself to do that yet, make a list of your strengths and accomplishments.
2.       Never burn your bridges. Never.
3.       Try to get a hold of your performance appraisals because they will help with your resume development.  Grab your calendar too (all the entries will remind you of the good stuff you've done).
4.       Make use of every network connection or opportunity that your company has (even if the wound is still so fresh and you are still fuming).
5.       Realize that some of the people that you thought were your work friends will turn their backs on you and that can hurt just as much as losing your job.
6.      Give yourself a break. Losing a job is difficult and it’s common to grieve and feel a roller coaster of emotions.

I’d like to thank Christopher Sheldon, Long Branch - Eatontown Patch Editor for all of his assistance these past few years. He helped me set up the Patch job search blog and couldn’t have been a nicer, more professional person with whom to work. 


“With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.” - Dr. Wayne Dyer

On Starting Over- Earning My Wings

I am reprinting my stories or reinvention. Back in 2010 I wrote about the history of my company. It's a story of comfortably working for many years in the pharmaceutical industry to losing my job to owning Blackbird Learning Associates.

I am looking for more stories of employment transformation. Have you gone from the employed to the unemployed back to the employed? Are you somewhere in the middle? Everyone has a story, what's yours? I'd like to share your story on The Flap. Also, are there any job search tips that you can share?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Nancy
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Blackbird Fly January 22, 2010.

There is always someone in each job search class that asks about the unusual name of my company, Blackbird Learning Associates. "Where did you get that name?", or "Why did you name your company after a bird?" are the questions I often get.

I tell them the story and it goes like this...http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
When I lost my job of 21 years I was naturally very distressed, hurt and sad. As I drove home after packing up my boxes I asked my parent's (who are no longer here) to help me rediscover my direction. The radio was on in my car. As I spoke that thought out loud, the radio played the Beatles song, “Blackbird.” Now I have hummed along to that song for years but never really paid it much attention. That day, though, I listened."Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, you have only waited for this moment to arise" are the words I held onto that day. It was then that I knew that if I ever opened a business, the word "Blackbird" would figure into it somehow.

Recently I decided that I shouldn't be so selfish and that I should share the Blackbird story with others. You see, I am not the only one who should spread my wings and fly. You have remarkable skills, you are resourceful and your talents are abundant. You too have only waited for this moment to arise. Go for it, soar, and know that you are a treasure. Someone will scoop you up.

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On Being Let Go October 7, 2010

I’ve been reading some very discouraging stories on the internet including LinkedIn about the unemployment situation. So many people are expressing how they are faring, how they felt after losing their jobs and also about some of the very unsavory steps some companies take when releasing their employees. It got me thinking about my own job loss and the things people should plan to do if that bleak news is on the horizon. I thought I would share some thoughts with you.

As a former HR and Learning & Development professional with over 21 years of service with the company, my position was eliminated. I was brought to a room, asked what I did and once I responded, was told that my department would no longer offer that service. That was it. Like many of you, when I learned this news, I was shocked, humiliated, angry and very emotional. Our HR Director (who is a really great guy) went over the paperwork then and there but all I heard was "blah, blah, blah". I had to call him afterwards to verify what he said.

Because I worked for a large, recognized company that values its employees, I was able to make use of an in-house Outplacement Center. I was offered training, an office, a telephone extension and other amenities. I took advantage of these services and would urge that anyone do so (if their company offers this service - not all do). I was also lucky enough to save all of my non-confidential documents, programs and thank you emails. The toughest part was going back a week later, turning over my projects and packing up.

Flash forward two years later and now I teach the things that I learned in the outplacement training. I can empathize with what’s going on and offer these pieces of advice should you need them.