That network is a social network for employers and employees, so spend the extra dollars to have a professional create an excellent profile for you. You can attach a Web site, a résumé [and] your contact information and don’t be afraid to join groups.” ANOTHER GREAT, IF NOT OBVIOUS,
Use your time wisely. Quite often when people lose their jobs, they’re unclear what to do next, which can lead to stagnation. “Many executives leave with a great severance package,” Zilberman says. “I’ve seen people use it for a vacation and they wait it out. You cannot wait. Someone half your age with newer, not better, skills than you have, could be out there chasing the same job.” Instead, she advises, get busy: take continuing education courses and classes to update your skill sets. “There are tons of benefits available for those willing to retrain themselves,” adds Graff. “Take your existing skills and supersize them with a degree or certification.” RECOMMENDATION:
Also, most experts recommend working with an executive recruiter. And keep in mind: The client always pays for recruiting services, not the candidate; in fact, it’s illegal for the candidate to pay. So find one that has experience in your specific field—for example, Global Recruiters Network in West Palm Beach specializes in medical device, pharmaceutical, biotech, diagnostics and financial services companies—because they can help you work out the next steps and decide whether or not you even want to continue on the path you were on before losing your job. “I worked with someone who worked in media advertising, and he wanted to make a change,” Zilberman says. “He wanted to go into nonprofit. He had to concede salarywise, but he made the tradeoff for happiness. Most of the time when people are at this crossroad, there is more than one way to go.” Remaining open-minded and managing expectations are crucial to making
“A chance to make that change is the most beautiful opportunity in life, and sometimes it has to be forced upon us because otherwise we might not have the nerve to do it.” –Roy Assad, founder and partner of The Human Capital Group in West Palm Beach
Roy Assad
a career change, but the point at which you’ve lost your job can be the perfect time to do it. Indeed, Roy Assad, founder and partner of The Human Capital Group in West Palm Beach, points out that self-reinvention is a wonderful alternative to looking for another job in the same field, because so many executives stay in positions they don’t enjoy or aren’t a good fit, simply because they’re too afraid to quit. “A chance to make that change is the most beautiful opportunity in life, and sometimes it has to be forced upon us because otherwise we might not have the nerve to do it,” says Assad.
His company (Human Capital is a euphemism for an executive’s professional assets and skills) empowers individuals—both employed and unemployed—by helping them assemble strategies for improving their careers, incomes and lives. “Fear may play a part or the executive may feel alone—if someone is single, for example, and doesn’t have a second income in the house to fall back on, or if the unemployed person’s spouse is beside herself with money fears.” To find out what an individual’s unique abilities are, The Human Capital Group performs a thorough assessment—finding out what a candidate loves to do, for example—and compiles up to a 30-page report on that person to help him or her determine what career direction might be best. “Some people have deteriorated in their ability to become marketable by staying in one place too long,” Assad explains. “When that
happens, it’s time to shore up your emotions and finances and find out your value—what else can you do, and what can you make elsewhere?” Working with a company like this or with an executive recruiter is a very different experience from jobseeking on a Web site like Monster or CareerBuilder, where your résumé is submitted electronically among hundreds or even thousands of others, and you have no idea where you stand as a candidate once it’s been sent. Having an advocate work on your behalf to help you move forward—or up— and deal with the stress that comes with being in employment limbo is not only more effective, it opens up more career options—some you may not have even thought about. “Our work is very different than that of Monster.com,” says Assad. “It’s about freedom, true reinvention and success.” O SEPTEMBER 2011
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