15 Years at the Same Company and Recently Laid Off - Now What?

More and more individuals, who have been with their current employer for over 15 years, are starting to feel the effects of being laid off. Many individuals were given severance packages, in addition to unemployment benefits. Unfortunately, many of theses individuals are seeing these benefits run out and are in a situation where they must find immediate employment. DON'T PUT YOURSELF IN THIS SITUATION! Below is a list of things you can do to make sure you did not end up in this predicament.

1) Keep your resume up to date: During this economic crisis, NO ONE is safe. You could find yourself laid-off without any notice, no matter how long you have been in your current role. Keeping your resume current will ensure that if you are in a position where you have to look for a new job, you will be ready to hit the ground running.

2) Network: Keep networking and speaking with professional contacts. The more people you speak with, the better. You never know when your business contacts will come in handy.

3) Keep in touch with a recruiter you trust. If your company has recently gone through layoffs, consider contacting a recruiter. I would strongly suggest that they are either someone you have worked with in the past or someone that has been recommended to you. A good recruiter can help you find a new position very quickly.

4) Follow-up: One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is just sending resumes and hoping for a response from the employer. That employer is most likely receiving hundreds of resumes per day, so follow-up with a phone call or email. Showing some initiative can go along way.

Following these four simple steps will increase your chance of securing a new position expeditiously. Do not put yourself in a situation where you have to take an undesirable position because you waited to long to find the right job.

Kenny Hanson is the owner of Hanson Consulting. He specializes in working with individuals who are looking for new employment opportunities. His main focus is writing cover letters, professional resumes and working with individuals on interview techniques. Kenny has worked in Recruiting and Human Resources for over a decade. He has worked with hundreds of different companies and has helped thousands of individuals locate employment. In addition, Kenny has been designated a Certified Staffing Professional by the American Staffing Association. He was recently dubbed "The Resume Writer" by Philadelphia Magazine. He can be reached via email at hansonresumes@gmail.com.