Losing your job or becoming unemployed deals a gut-wrenching blow. Your first thoughts will be, "What am I going to do now? How will I survive?" Then while you're dealing with those worries, you may notice a change in mood. Not the expected sadness. Worse. For many who find themselves suddenly unemployed, depression overtakes them. Is it any wonder? How are you supposed to feel when facing the mortgage or rent that's due? The food and utility bills?

First, if you find those feelings of despair overtaking you, see your doctor right away. Don't put it off, telling yourself you're being silly. Talk to medical professionals immediately. Looking after yourself and your emotional health is the ONLY issue that should matter in the big picture. You have to be healthy in order to get back on track.

After prioritizing your physical and emotional health, you'll be ready to look ahead. Hopefully there's a severance package from your former employer or unemployment insurance to tide you over until you secure another job. For the fortunate, they find suitable employment within weeks. Not everyone is that lucky!

At this time, you may hear from well-meaning friends who say, "When a door closes, another window opens!" This may well turn out to be true but at the time, hearing those cliches only causes you to feel unkindly toward the speaker. Yes, there are many who lose one job and then find something even better. Hopefully, it WILL happen for you. But at the present you just want work!

Steps to take after losing job

1. Network! Talk to everybody you make contact with. Forget shyness. Talk. Explain your situation. Have cards made up with all your contact numbers. Hand them out to whomever you talk with. You'll never know when the most unlikely person will know someone who knows someone...

2. Have resume updated. If you feel your's isn't up to par, look up employment agencies in your area. Take advantage of all services they offer. If you are open and pleasant, you will be amazed with how people will go out of their way to help you.

3. Join job-finding clubs. Social contact with others going through the same thing is crucial. Plus, you can make use of their networking circle and gain knowledge of programs you wouldn't have found out about, otherwise.

4. Look into upgrading. Learning new skills or refreshing present abilities never hurt anyone! Many courses are now offered online. The internet is a life-saver for the unemployed. You'll learn about ideas new to you. You can post your resume online. You can look for employers wanting to hire someone just like you!

Losing a job you counted on is tough. To overcome one of life's whammies, you must become active in your search for new employment. It truly is a job in itself. With this attitude and taking care of yourself, your chances for what seemed like the end of the world, can be a new and better beginning!

(c) Karen Cook

Good Morning America profiled this employment trend set to triple by 2010. Hear what Diane Sawyer says about this at www.virtualagent007.blogspot.com but ONLY if you'd be interested in working right from your own home! Karen Cook is employed at a Public Library where she loves helping the patrons find answers and results to their questions.