Steps to Getting Back on Your Feet After Losing a Job

Losing your job can throw your life into turmoil. The best thing to do is approach this with the same methodical and detail oriented fashion that you handled your job.

Make survival and situating yourself for success your new occupation. Take stock of the financial health you have and work your way up from there.

Taking care of any deficits between assets and bills due is first and foremost. Then you can make plans to move on to a new job, or gain the training necessary for the new occupation of your choice.

Health of Your Finances
When you lose a job unexpectedly it can leave you scrambling. The first thing you need to do is figure out just how dire the situation is. How much cash, savings, and assets do you have versus debts and oncoming bills? How long can you stay afloat without needing some type of assistance? You need to create a budget that can help you make it through a lean period. Let go of unnecessary services and spending for the time being. Contact lender’s to explain the situation and bring all payments down to minimum amounts. Find out what type of Centrelink loans assistance is available.

 
Emergency Assistance
When you are slim on cash and savings and have bills coming in that can’t be covered, you might need to try and gain some emergency assistance. There are organisations like Salvation Army that can directly help or give you names of others that can. Assistance can be in the form of food, clothes, partial utility assistance and medication help. The Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs operate in many areas to help with emergency needs. They are at times able to help with rent and utilities. You never know what is available until you get active and seek the assistance you need.

Find Out if there are Monies or Assistance Owed to You
Any job loss since 5 December 2012 due to the bankruptcy of the employer might make you entitled to compensation under the Fair Entitlements Guarantee. You can also check with Australian unions to see if you are due any compensation if it was the loss of a union covered job. You need to contact the Human Services Department and see if you qualify for aid. Current benefit recipients might be qualified for an increase and those previously ineligible might be eligible. Any amounts of assistance you can pull together will help the situation.

Locating a New Job
Finding a new job is a priority for nearly everyone, but it may require a lot of searching, retraining or taking on less than full time opportunities to survive at the moment. Use Australian Job Search as much as possible and check with Job Services Australia if you feel you would benefit from different job training. Try getting work through temporary labor services to get bill and food money. It may not be the type of work you enjoy, but it will put food on the table. Ask family and friends if they have any yard work, child care or home projects you can do for some quick cash. Staying open minded and flexible will serve you well in a tough financial time.

Watch for Depression
If you start to feel overly tired or disinterested in things, then you might want to talk with family or friends about the situation. It is easy to fall into depression during hard circumstances and that can lead to drug or alcohol problems. It can also lead to thoughts of suicide. Life throws a lot of curve balls and staying positive and moving forward is the only answer at times. Reach out for help and an understanding ear when you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious.

Remember, job loss is something temporary. Once you find get more training, get any aid available and get a new job; your life will be back on track. You will have also learned a lot about yourself and what you need to do in case you find yourself in this position again. Prepare today for the minor emergencies of tomorrow and everything will be okay.

 
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