Many of community colleges have these cool placement tests that tell you what kinds of work you'd be happy doing. They ask you a bunch of multiple choice questions like if you'd rather work indoors or outside. Do you want to travel as part of your career or stay home? How much weight are you willing to lift? How introverted or extroverted are you? How much money do you want to make? After you answer these questions and a bunch more, computer system spits out a list of careers that you would be suited to. Keep in mind that what interested you at twenty isn't likely to be same as what interests you at forty. I would think that you could do an online search and find some of those tests online. These will give you some ideas you may have never considered. I remember taking one when I was in my early twenties and I ranked extremely high at "Clergy." I laughed and thought that was stupidest thing I'd ever heard of. I wanted to be a motivational speaker and it took me a couple of days before I realized that it's a very similar job description. Whether I'm telling you about God or I'm telling you how to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, it's same skills and many of same daily tasks. I'm preaching a different topic, but I'm still up on my soapbox telling you what to do and telling you how to live, aren't I? So be open minded to what test results show.

So, start out by brainstorming ideas of things that you would love to do if money was not an issue. Then add to it results of one of those placement tests. Take ideas from those two exercises and start looking at practicalities of marketability and how much education and training are necessary. If you can find a way to do what you love and make a living at it, then you've got key ingredients to creating a life of abundance and prosperity that rest of world only dreams of. You don't have to stay with something just because you used to love it and now you make a lot of money doing it. If you are bored and ready for something new, then start dreaming and planning your next adventure.

Copyright 2004, Skye Thomas, Tomorrow's Edge

Sign up for a personal e-mail account. Include this personal e-mail address on your resume rather than your business e-mail address. If you lose your job, your business e-mail account will no longer be valid. If you decide to pursue a new job while still employed, use your personal e-mail account to transmit your resume to employers.

Research outplacement services. Outplacement services are career transition services that employers pay for to help you with your job search. To be prepared in case of a layoff, research services provided by various outplacement firms to determine what would be of most value to you. Would you want an outplacement firm that would write your resume and cover letter for you? Do you value one-on-one time with a career transition consultant? Or are you interested in attending group workshops to learn how to prepare your own marketing materials? If you are laid off, be prepared to negotiate for outplacement services that you feel will benefit you. The best time to negotiate is when you have most leverage, prior to signing your separation letter.

Ask for a letter of recommendation. If you are laid off, ask for a letter of recommendation from your former employer. Reach agreement with your employer on this request prior to signing your separation letter. Negotiate your severance package. If you are downsized, negotiate terms of severance package you are offered. Again, best time to negotiate is when you have most leverage, prior to signing your separation letter.

By following these tips, you can prepare yourself to recover as quickly as possible should you be laid off.

Copyright 2004 Quest Career Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved.