Dealing With a Second Layoff in Your Job Search

Conducting a job search is tough enough when you know you’ve been laid off of one job, so you can imagine the challenge of searching for work after being laid off from two. Unfortunately, many job seekers are facing this reality on a daily basis.

Of course, the economy is very often to blame for this difficult situation. However, many employers are not very forgiving of this circumstance and often view it as a blemish on your record rather than a blemish of the economy. So how can you make light of your second layoff when applying for jobs? Here are a few tips to consider …

Think About Taking On New Prospects

Whether you consider taking on new training to enhance your skills or even moving to a new area, there’s something to be said about considering new prospects when the old ones have fizzled out. Maybe losing two jobs in one city is a sign that the city itself is not the best place for employment in your field right now. You might consider checking out prospects in other cities to see if the job markets are more rapidly improving in those areas.

However, if moving is not on your agenda, you might consider enrolling in some training courses for your field while you’re in between jobs. Some career centers offer free courses – and you might even be able to find some online. The point is that you want to find new ways to enhance your life while you’re looking for work. Thinking about these and other prospects might help take some of the weight off of the fact that you were laid off twice.

Make Sure Your Resume is Spic and Span

When applying for jobs after having been laid off twice in a short period of time, you simply cannot afford to have any blemishes on your documentation, including your resume. Employers may understand that you’ve been laid off twice due to those companies’ economic struggles, but they may by default also look for personal flaws that prompted the company to choose you for termination, especially if it is still in business.

So as you write your resume, make sure to check for grammar, spelling and even font consistency. Have multiple people edit and re-edit your resume for errors. Because of your circumstance, it’s likely that you will have a target on your back. Don’t give employers ammunition by submitting a resume with glaring errors.

Consider Innovative Marketing Techniques

Being laid off more than once sometimes requires that you work ahead of the curve when applying for jobs. For instance, you can start your own blog related to topics in your industry then email the link to recruitment agencies. Or you can even create your own newsletter and send to it employers. Making this type of attempt can guide employers in the direction of being more interested in what you offer than what you’re lacking.

Being laid off more than once can have a definite effect on your self-esteem. But by keeping a positive attitude about the experience, you can move forward into a better job position – as well as a better place in your life.