Its 3:00 A.M. and you find yourself sitting in front of the TV, unable to sleep. There is yet another rumor of an impending layoff in your company and you don't know if you will survive the cut this time. You worry about bills, mortgage and tuition payments. What will you do if your job is eliminated? What options will be available to you?

The purpose of this article is to help people who are held captive in a world of uncertainty, waiting for the proverbial ax to fall. We will review three options available to individuals, should the worst happen. It is my hope that the content of the article will, in some small way, ease the concern of those who are burdened by the fear of loosing their job. I believe that we can learn from others who have survived a layoff, and in many cases, gone on to prosper in other career situations. For more than twenty-five years, as a human resource manager and consultant, I have observed numerous cases where people have chosen Career Continuation, Career Change or a Fallback Plan with positive results.

Career Continuation:
We read daily of people who have been unemployed for extended periods of time. What we don't read about are the success stories of individuals who are landing jobs, even in a difficult market, and in professions that have been severely impacted. In recent weeks I have spoken with two individuals who have started new jobs with quality companies as human resource managers, a profession that has suffered some of the most serious downsizing. What can we learn from these two individuals? In each case, someone who understood the quality of their work spoke to the hiring manager on behalf of each of these individuals. You can borrow a page from these two scenarios by investing one hour each week to stay in touch with people who could be influential in your job search. To facilitate this process, read Harvey MacKay's book on networking, Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty. This small paperback will provide numerous tips to help in your networking.

In the case of the examples described above, the two individuals chose to stay in the career field where they had been working prior to losing their jobs. But what if, after a reasonable period of time, you are unable to find work in your chosen profession? It may be time to explore a Career Change or to execute a Fallback Plan.

Career Change:
Most people will select to pursue career continuation when they lose their jobs. However, there are situations where people may use a job loss as an opportunity to change careers. They make use of this time to review their values, interests, aptitudes and financial responsibilities. Many times this period of reflection opens the door to renewal, excitement and a surge of energy as they pursue a different career. This phenomenon has been evident in previous recessions and soft economic times. One of my friends lost his job as a teacher several years ago. He made a career change by starting a home remodeling business with a friend. Today they have a successful business where his income far exceeds his previous salary. My professional group, the Society of Professional Consultants, has more than one hundred and forty members who transitioned from traditional occupations to consulting. The society is offering a wonderful opportunity to explore this option at our "To Be or Not To Be" seminar on May 8, 2003 at the Newton, Marriott. For more information on the seminar, go to www.spconsultants.org.

Fallback Plan:
What have people done historically when neither Career Continuation nor Career Change is a viable alternative? I have observed numerous situations where individuals have chosen to ride out a difficult employment market by taking a position that helps cover their fixed expenses. A good friend watched the prospects for his consulting practice dry up. He assessed the situation and decided to work with his wife in a real estate business while keeping his hand in consulting. I was impressed with his decisiveness. Once his assessment showed the futility of further work in consulting, he took immediate action. He is making a good living in real estate and his consulting business is slowly coming back.

Depending on the person's financial needs, he or she might choose a fallback plan that includes a part-time or full-time position. This third option allows individuals to earn an income while still looking for employment of their choice. On numerous occasions, individuals have told me that their fallback option gave them much valued time with their families. It also allowed them to get in touch with what is really important in their lives. They learned that the pace of their previous life style left little room for reflection or family activities.

During these uncertain times, you have an opportunity to consider these three options and their place in your survival plan. Each positive step you take in this process will help manage your current feelings of uncertainty. Psychologists have known for years that positive action will punch a big hole in mild depression. Every conversation, telephone call or email associated with your plan will raise your spirits. Which of these options will work best for you?

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