Do you remember the first time someone hit you so hard in the chest or stomach that you folded into a fetal position and gasped for air? In a daze, you probably started seeing stars, calling on the name of Jesus or your momma for help.
Well, that’s what it can feel like when you lose your job.
Whether the termination was the result of a company reorganization or the powers that be outright — yes, I’m about to drop an f-bomb— FIRED you, the experience can be devastating to your self-esteem.
While hurt feelings and a bruised ego may be part of the process, there is good news: several metro area agencies offer job seekers a soft place to land after experiencing this brutal economic fall.
In order to take full advantage of the opportunities these organizations provide, one has to get his or her mind right.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, the estimated unemployment rate for Blacks in the state of Georgia in 2016 was 13.1 percent, which means that roughly 313,670 men and women were out pounding the pavement.
“We know the feelings of defeat, stress and anxiety that comes from bouncing back from the loss of a job,” explained Traron Moore, certified senior human resources professional for an Atlanta-based Fortune 500 company. “But, you must get over it quickly. Take self-inventory, dust off your resume, and start networking.”
Moore said the process begins with some thoughtful reflection to identify what skills and abilities add value to your targeted employer.
“You can’t just create one resume and send it out to five or 10 different employers anymore,” he said. “Take the time to tailor your resume for each specific job you apply for. Tell a story about your results and effectiveness.”
That means if the job criteria calls for a candidate to run, hop and skip, your resume needs to tell how fast you run, how high you hop and how well you skip – mirroring the same language found in the job postings.
Besides issues of integrity, employment surveys from the online job portal CareerBuilder.com and the Society of Human Resource Management reported the following dismissal trends:
• 22 percent of employers have fired a worker for calling in sick with a fake excuse
• 24 percent of employers have fired someone for using the internet for non-work related activity
• 41 percent of employers have fired an employee for being late
• 17 percent have fired someone for something they posted on social media
• 22 percent of employees know someone who has been fired for wasting time at the office or disrupting other employees
• 33 percent of employers have disciplined an employee for violating social media policy
For those who were fired for a just cause, it is important to get to the root of what underlying issues may have contributed to these behaviors. Then, commit to taking corrective action to change.
Success along the journey toward self-actualization is rooted in securing the bag, which is your money.
We get to the money through the work. Keep your eyes on the prize and fight for the life you want.
The following metro Atlanta agencies are here to assist in your job and career search:
Work Source Atlanta
818 Pollard Boulevard, SW
Atlanta, GA 30315
404-546-3000 • worksourceatlanta.org
Westside Works
261 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd NW
Atlanta, GA 30314
404-458-6413 • westsideworks.org
Georgia Department of Labor Career Center
223 Courtland St. N., Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-232-4700 • dol.georgia.gov
Goodwill Industries
Northeast Plaza Career Center
3337 Buford Hwy
Atlanta, GA 30329
678-891-0100 • Goodwillng.org
Goodwill Industries
South Dekalb Career Center
1295 Columbia Dr.
Decatur, GA 30032
404-728-8614 • Goodwillng.org
