Five-Step Plan to Surviving a Layoff (thanks Jobfox)

MCLEAN, Va., June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The scene: your office cubicle, a
typical Monday morning. For some reason, when you arrive at work, you can't
log on to your work e-mail. You notice a "see me" note from the boss. And
there's a memo announcing an all-hands meeting in the main conference room.

Career setbacks are a part of life in today's workforce, especially in
a weak economy with unemployment at a 22-year high. Jobfox
(http://www.jobfox.com), the fastest-growing career site on the Internet, provides
a Five-Step Plan to Surviving a Layoff:

Step 1: Slow the Cash Burn. Pairing back your expenses will reduce
stress and give you more time to land a new job.

Step 2: Address the Big Benefit Decisions. In most cases, terminated
workers are entitled to continue their medical benefits at their own cost.
Also, make plans to rollover 401(k) investments to another qualifying
401(k) or to an IRA retirement account. If married, this may also be the
time to get health care coverage through a spouse's benefits package. By
federal law, you become a "qualified beneficiary" of your spouses plan if
your employment ends for any reason other than gross misconduct.

Step 3: Notify Your Network of Contacts. It is much better if your
contacts hear the news from you than from the rumor mill. This is also an
important way to get the word out that you are looking for a new position.

Step 4: Take Advantage of Outplacement Services. Many companies offer
outplacement services to help terminated workers find new jobs. Even if
these services don't directly help you land a new job, many offer valuable
help with resume writing, interview skills advice and career coaching. Some
outplacement services provide office space and office resources to help you
conduct your job search more effectively.

Step 5: Take Deliberate Action on Starting a Job Search. Don't be rash,
but don't lollygag either. For most professionals, it's easier to find jobs
within a few weeks of the termination. The longer you're out of a job, the
more questions and doubts you plant in the minds of employers.

"The best strategy is to strike an informal verbal deal with your boss
to let you know when it's time to start looking," said Rob McGovern, the
CEO of Jobfox and a nationally recognized career advisor. "Your odds of
finding a good job while you're still employed are much greater than when
you're not working."

Jobfox makes it easy for already-employed candidates to stay connected
to career opportunities. By completing the Jobfox profile, candidates
instantly see the most compatible job matches and are constantly alerted
when new matches arise. Complete confidentiality is also provided via alias
profile postings and controls that enable professionals to selectively
divulge contact information to recruiting employers. Finally, Jobfox
professionals can create free personal Web pages to dynamically share
career achievement with prospective employers.