What to Do if You are Over 40 and Have Lost Your Job

Unexpectedly loosing your job can be a very traumatic and distressing experience at the best of times. If you are over 40 and can't find the job you deserve, you will need great inner strength and self belief to come out on top.

Could this be you?

You're working at your family's welding business during the day, and then go to your second job at night. You're 50-some years old, working as a cashier at Target. You always said that if you're 40 years old and have a career that requires you to wear a name tag, then to just shoot you!

Not that there's anything wrong with working at Target or wearing a name tag or working the family business. Those are all honest jobs. It's just that after 20 years with your previous company, and with your education and expertise, you hadn't exactly planned on ramping up to your golden years asking customers if they'd like to save ten percent on their purchase by opening a store credit card.

You heard rumblings about the company folding. But as far as you knew, the numbers were good. At least they were good. Then competition took over and the owners decided it was a good time to bow out gracefully. You were hoping you weren't going to be one of the countless main wage earners to get let go. But sadly, you were. Unemployment ran out. You sent out literally hundreds of resumes and still nothing. Your spirits are down, you're frustrated (that's an understatement) and you even had to humble yourself to get some help from a local food pantry.

You've done all the online courses; you have tirelessly pounded the pavement and scoured the classified ads. You've even hit up all the online sources to jobs such as www.monster.com www.usajobs.com hotjobs.yahoo.com and about 800 other job boards that you regularly surf. If one more person tells you that a door closes and a window opens or that good things come to those who wait, you think you're going to puke.

You have a family counting on you; so now what? For starters, keep plugging along. Keep on keeping on. You know a job isn't going to fall from the sky, so you need to just accept that your job right now is finding a job. You are working and you're working harder than most at this task.

More importantly you need to keep a positive outlook. Yes that's easier said than done. But if you can't control the circumstances you can control your attitude toward it. You can either look at downsizing as an opportunity to do something different or to learn something new; or you can view it by accepting that you've been dealt a bad hand of cards and now all you can do is play it out. Do not view yourself as a victim. No good will come from that attitude.

You wouldn't have advanced nor had the longevity that you did in your former career had it not been for your wherewithal and internal drive. You need to find that strength again. If you're still having a pity party, it's time to get over it. If you've sent out that many resumes and exhausted what you believe to be all your leads and you're still bitter and feeling sorry for yourself, it's time to reevaluate. If you haven't already accepted a job that you're overqualified for and underpaid, then it's time you did.

Pride can be our biggest downfall. Working a family business that you never wanted to, or working nights at the concession stand may not be what you envisioned for yourself. View it as temporary. View it as a paycheck. View it as an opportunity to network with people you would have never had the opportunity to cross paths. Maybe your next customer could be a business owner that you've been attempting to get an interview with.

As for the people who give you clichés ? know that they mean well. People who have not been a mile in your shoes don't understand it. They don't know what to say. Remember downsizing sometimes sucks, but it may be forcing you into a new opportunity that you really love. Make the best of it.

Roger Clark is senior editor at Top Career Resumes who provide free information to job seekers on all aspects of finding a new job and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

---

Career Change Is Not For Wimps! 3 Powerful Steps to Do Work You Love

Tough words... but I truly believe that folks who make... Read More

Career Strategy When Your Boss is a Bully

Q. Right after I accepted my new position, the manager... Read More

Job or no Job: The Certainty of Uncertainty

Headline from AP via Yahoo News! January 11, 2005: "Chrysler... Read More

What Exactly Online Recruitment Agencies Do?

Any online recruitment agency can help you to submit for... Read More

Manage Your Boss - And Get Ahead!

It's clear there are a number of common issues faced... Read More

Are You an Ex-career Woman Living In a New Country?

Were you once a successful, professional woman who had a... Read More

Success at Work : People Skills : Networking

Getting along with your co-workers is critical to yourhappiness and... Read More

I Just Lost My Job: How Am I Going To Tell My Kids?

One of the responsibilities of a human resources professional is... Read More

Certification for Freelancers and Home-Based Business Owners

When we think of technical certification, most of us think... Read More

Offer Letter Limbo

Recently we concluded the placement of a Senior Sales Representative... Read More

For Effective Decisions, Look Beyond Career Stereotypes

You've probably been taught not to stereotype people based on... Read More

Resume Writing Service Website

Promote Your Resume Business Website!While we make our websites to... Read More

How to Make Money as a Reflexologist

Being a reflexologist is one of the top five career... Read More

Simple Interviewing That Works

Powerful questions to get below the surface1. Ask for specific... Read More

Dont Quit Your Day Job! Convincing Your Boss To Let You Telecommute (Part 2 of 2)

Ok, so you've determined that you have the right skills... Read More

Your Resume Format - What Is The First Thing You Need To Do?

The first thing you need to do before you write... Read More

The Big Mo : Momentum and the Hiring Process

Momentum as defined by Webster's is: strength or force gained... Read More

Analysing Adverts for the Creative Response

The fundamental rule is: if you are going to apply... Read More

So You Want To Be a Nurse When You Grow Up?

You're interested in becoming a nurse. How do you get... Read More

3 Resume Secrets the Pros Use

You don't write a resume every day. Not even every... Read More

Finally The First Online Job Agency in Mauritius

Mauritius is a small island in the Indian Ocean with... Read More

Pebbles in Your Shoe Dont Only Hurt your Foot But Cause Back and Hip Problems!

CIO Magazine ran an article entitled, "Ten Mistakes CIO's Too... Read More

How To Get More Interviews In Your Job Search

Richard Bolles, job search guru and author of What Color... Read More

No Experience? No Problem!

Are you a new graduate with little or no work... Read More

The Pros and Cons of Telecommuting - As Seen Through The Eyes of a Seasoned Telecommuter

Janelle Delacorte has been happily answering calls for the Home... Read More

Don?t Discount the Temporary Position Interview

If you think, 'it's just an interview for a temp... Read More

Are Your Intentions Clear in Your Job Search?

1. Do you REALLY know what you want?2. Do you... Read More

Surviving The Technical Interview

Ah, the technical interview. Nothing like it. Not only does... Read More

Job Search Techniques: Smashing The Gray Ceiling

For decades, women have chaffed at the invisible glass ceiling... Read More

How You Can Find Freelance Writing Employment

How can you find writing jobs? Do you have proven... Read More

Why One Word Answers are Bad News at Job Interviews

It takes a lot of time and effort to get... Read More

7 Tips to Deal With a Bad Performance Review

Q. "I wasn't happy with my last performance review. Should... Read More

Free Resume Template: Beware!

Downloading a free resume template can be so alluring. No... Read More