Something old -- Something new

Recently, while watching Oprah (Yes, I do that in the afternoons now), something guest Will Smith said resonated and stuck with me. The box office star was talking about his new film "Seven Pounds," and described death in a way that I had not ever thought of it before. Though humans fixate on their own deaths, Smith pointed out that we experience death more often than we realize. Currently, many of us who have been laid off are experiencing the death of our jobs. And true to form, we experience the same emotions that a death triggers -- shock, denial, grief, anger, and finally acceptance.

But what Smith pointed out is that after death, there is a rebirth. He wasn't talking necessarily in the metaphysical sense of reincarnation, but how something must end or die for something else to be born or given life.

Here are three easy tips for "renewing" yourself after a layoff.

• Stop trying to do the same thing. It's natural to immediately look for a position as a market researcher once you get laid off from your job as a market researcher. However, after six months of looking, maybe it's time to try your hand at something else. Work with a recruiter or resume writer to find another way to present your skills sets in a different light. Of course, if you've been a chef for 20 years, I wouldn't say it would be in your best interest to apply for a job as a veterinarian. I think you see my point here. If you have skills that could be used in another capacity, explore those opportunities as well.
• Hone your skills. I enjoy hearing stories of how people started careers -- most of the time by accident -- even though they did something else for many years. The one thing a layoff does provide is time to think, time to read, time to meditate and certainly time to reassess who you are. You may find that you probably never really wanted to be the District Sales Manager, but were really meant to open your own consulting business. Maybe a temporary job from long ago or a volunteer stint allowed you to express yourself in a way you haven't thought about in a while. This may be the time to revisit that skill set.
• Don't follow the crowd. Make your own path. As a journalist, I remember reading an article about the man who dug President John F. Kennedy Jr.'s grave. While most reporters were staking out the White House and the family compound, a sole reporter went to the graveyard and was able to get this poignant interview with the gravedigger. Sure there will be those jobseekers on Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com, Hotjobs.com -- all of the biggies. But don't be afraid to try some none-traditional sites as well. One way you can learn about different job sites is to check out the drop down menus on the questions tab that asks, "How did you find out about us?" I was able to learn about sites like, "Indeed.com, Simplyhired.com, Jobfox.com and a host of others.

Don't be afraid to try something new. The recent election coverage showed us one very important thing, it's good to switch things up a little bit. Change can be good! True your job has ended. You've mourned it and now must look forward to even better challenges and experiences.

It's just a job!