Law Librarians of Leisure

Advice for how to act after a layoff

One Response

1. 

   Evelyn, on August 20, 2009 at 8:51 am said:

   I enjoyed this article and I thought there were a lot of very relevant elements in it. There is no doubt that being laid off is a life changing experience and it’s not anything you have control over. But you do have control over how you react to it.

   When I was laid off I chose to look back on my years at the law firm in terms of what I had gained and not what I had lost. Much as I had enjoyed my time there, that time was over, and I was moving on. I had no idea what was around the corner but I was open to all the possibilities.

   I did not feel the need to bad mouth my former employer or to look back in anger and bitterness because that would mean that they still had power over my life. I left them in the past where they belonged.

   And that bit about fashion in the article … I have a different twist. I did not go out and shop for a new wardrobe or new shoes but I did wake up every morning and got dressed and kept to a routine … checking job sites, keeping in touch with friends and colleagues and what was going on in the law library world and in the world in general. I did not allow myself to stay in pajamas all day long and wallow in misery. I think that if you allow that control to slip, you can spiral into self-pity and defeat very quickly. You have enough to deal with, you do not need self-imposed burdens to add to what you are already carrying.

   My advice is to stay connected to your friends and family and to the people in your profession. They will keep you grounded. Librarians are one of the most caring of professionals and I have thanked God for them many times over these last few months.

   Sorry Christine, didn’t mean for this to go on so long.

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