Fired Up

Lost your job? No sweat. Here’s how to use your network to find a better one.

By Rachel Kellogg

If you’ve lost your job, you’re in good company, especially in our current economic crunch. But recession or not, just about everyone experiences a job loss at some point. In fact, the average American ages 18 to 40 will be unemployed five times throughout her career, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

While change is never easy, it could be the best thing that ever happened to you. And finding your perfect job is not as hard as you think, according to Terry Kohl, author of Lost Your Job? Now What! 12 Days to Your Perfect Job.

Here’s how she suggests you get started:

Even if you are still employed, Kohl says it’s important to keep your eyes open for opportunities. “There is no such thing as job security anymore,” Kohl explains. “People get hung up thinking they have a really great job they aren’t going to lose, but always keep your résumé and network list up to date.”

Whom do you know? â€¨Whenever you’re looking for a new job, put out the word to your network – everyone you know. “These are the people who will help you find your perfect job,” Kohl says. And don’t limit yourself to your professional network of ex-colleagues, clients and bosses. If you have children, their friends’ parents, teachers and Little League coaches are great contacts, Kohl says. “But you may want to approach them differently than people in your work sphere. Just say to your neighbor or the soccer coach, “Hey, I’m looking for a new job. I’d appreciate it if you let me know when you hear about an opening.”

Keep a designated list of these contacts that you can access just for networking, Kohl suggests. “Every time you speak with someone on the phone about anything, add them to your list.” If you’re not already on LinkedIn (a social networking site like Facebook for professionals), consider starting an account. It will allow you to not only manage your network, but also utilize those of your acquaintances as well. If you’re interested in a job at Accenture, for example, you can see whom you know who knows someone at the company and ask for an introduction.

What do you really want? â€¨If financially possible, considering taking some time off to figure out what you’d really love to do, Kohl suggests. “Write down all the stuff you hated about the job you just lost, whether it was the commute, having to bring work home or the corporate attire. And then write down what you liked about it. Use this as the guideline for finding your perfect career,” she says.

Advertise yourself. â€¨Consider creating a website with your résumé, contact information, photos and any other pertinent information and send it to your network. “It’s a great way to capture the attention of the people you’d like to reach,” Kohl says. “It says, ‘I care enough about myself to create this billboard or advertisement about myself.'”