Everyday we are hearing news/rumors on layoffs, lay off plans, worries of professionals and their relatives etc.

Currently layoffs are happening in India, mostly across export driven organizations in private sector

The prime worry would be stoppage of income. If you have no habit of maintaining a contingency budget (minimum 3 months salary), try to save 25% of your monthly salary in a separate account... start this month itself. In addition to this,the following guidelines might be helpful to professionals in any field

If you are already laid off

• First of all relax...drink lot of water, be with relatives, kids or friends
• Accept the lay off as a reality and don’t tell lies to cover it
• Repeatedly reinforce that your current job is not end of your career
• Don’t stop networking with colleagues, friends and relatives
• Perform a SWOT analysis (just forget about appraisal by company), do it with 100% accuracy
• Do a job market analysis (check career sites, company websites, social networking sites etc) and learn whether job opportunities are reporting for your profile. Also you can check with reputed manpower consultants
• If you have reliable information that job opportunities are there, stick to your current profile and may stick to usual job search. If job opportunities are less, either plan for non conventional job search (like checking company websites and blind shooting your resume, try to speak to company HR contacts randomly and enquire about opportunities, focus on alternate locations etc).
• Learn the current trends, additional skills for the job (if you are lacking some skills try to acquire quickly), build tons of confidence (think positive, avoid people those who spread negativism, read success stories, practice yoga and be spiritual)
• Another option is switch your profile [requires so much efforts, perseverance, confidence, some times investment too because you may need to do a refresher or learn a tool, get a certification]
• Enhance your resume (invest good amount of quality time, be truthful) do it self or get free/paid assistance
• Try to perform self interview sessions (record it with your digital camera or record audio and check it yourself, ask your friends to hear it and request them to evaluate)
• Track your debt -Loan EMIs, Credit card payments, Insurance payments and prioritize payments and also ensure alternative source to fill the GAP
• Alternatively, if you are confident that you can start and run your own venture successfully, plan for that [the pain of lay off may make you ambitious to create jobs for many].

If you are in performance radar (potential layoff)

• Perform a SWOT analysis, do it with 100% accuracy.
• Check the projects/tasks you have handled for the last 1 year, evaluate your achievements and shortcomings.
• Speak to boss, peers and team members reporting to you and get inputs on your performance
• Prepare a plan of action, track it and check for regular feedback from your boss, peers and team
• Track your debt -Loan EMIs, Credit card payments, Insurance payments and prioritize payments and also ensure alternative source to fill the GAP
• If you are thinking that due to business loss or lack of opportunities, your company is planning to cut short manpower, try to believe that you are already laid off and start job search immediately and you may perform steps mentioned under 'if you are already laid off'