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Unexpectedly Unemployed
by Tanzi Merritt
Unemployment is scary and frustrating on its own, but finding yourself unexpectedly unemployed creates an additional set of anxieties and worries. It's unfortunate, but the world of libraries is not immune to the corporate phenomenon of downsizing. Any number of factors can lead to good workers finding themselves dismissed. Hopefully you will never find yourself either unemployed or downsized, but, if you do, there are some things to remember that will make the process of charting a new path for yourself a bit easier.
Hearing the Bad News
When an organization's health is so poor that layoffs are on the horizon, you may be lucky enough to know what's coming ahead of time, and have some time to prepare. There are times, however, when a layoff comes as a complete surprise. The emotions that you face are not that different than those you would face if you were dismissed. You will likely feel frightened, especially if your savings are small. If you are fired rather than downsized, you additionally suffer a blow to your self-esteem and confidence.
The most important thing to remember is that intelligent, capable people do get fired. This does not necessarily mean that you are a poor worker, or that you are not bright or knowledgeable enough to do the job. If you were dismissed after a probationary period, it could be that you and the organization just didn't "fit," and you could do the same job in another organization with a different culture and succeed. It's also possible, especially for those new to the field or changing specializations, that you need additional education in a particular area. Take what you have learned from the experience and use it to help you find an even better position.
If you are dismissed from an organization where you have worked for a while, take a long, hard look at your performance and attitude. Were you burnt out, or did you no longer feel challenged? Both of these feelings can result in a decline in performance. It could be time for a change in specialization, library type, or even field. If you've been unhappy in your position, you might even feel a bit relieved at the same time that you experience more negative emotions. This just might be the push that you needed to start making a needed change. In some cases, you might be the victim of internal politics - again, dismissal does not always reflect on your work.
What Next?
In an unscientific poll of friends and acquaintances, the most common suggestion for your first step is to take a break. Take a day or two to pamper yourself and get some extra rest. You are undoubtedly stressed about your situation; the most stressful part, the job search, is still to come. Give yourself a few days to work through your feelings of failure and fear and prepare yourself for the hunt. (The most frightening aspect of losing a position for me was telling my parents, who were petrified that I might move back in with them. Once I got past that moment, the rest was easy - I didn't move back home, by the way!)
Now that you are feeling rested and have stopped beating yourself up, it is time to start planning for the near future. If you have been smart and saved that recommended three months' salary, you are to be commended. Often, though, librarians are starting out with a student loan balance higher than their first year's salary, and may not have as much saved as needed. Where are you going to get money? Think about whether you need to get a temporary job outside of libraries, or maybe you can work out a loan from your rich Uncle Eddie. I cashed in a small IRA that had stopped growing, and that kept me above water for the two months that I was unemployed. Fear of running out of money is probably one of your strongest emotions right now, but remember, there are options.
Now is also a good time to assess your skills and interests. Is there a skill that you would like to add to your repertoire? Take a class, if possible. This will be especially helpful if you think that you would like to pursue another specialization. Have you wanted to go back to school and get another degree? Maybe this is the time to go for it. If you felt burnt out in your last position because you'd been doing the same thing for a long time, it might be time to consider changing careers completely. No one said you had to be a librarian forever, and no one said that if you do something else for a while that you can't come back. A total change may be just the thing that you need to reenergize and recommit to the profession.
Additionally, if you've been thinking about moving across the country or to the other side of the world, you could do it now. Focus your job search on the place you want to live, or go ahead and move there if you can. Once you get there, take a temporary position while searching for something permanent. You might land a great job in your dream city, and you will already be relocated. Many libraries prefer local candidates, and being in the area could give you one up on some of the competition.
How to Talk About It
One worry is that of how to address your situation in an interview. If you were laid off due to budget issues, you've got an easy answer. If not, explaining the gap in your employment can be tricky. It may be enough to say that you didn't feel that the institution was a good fit for you, or that you were ready to move on and take on new challenges. If you have moved, explain that you wanted to live in your new area.
I decided that, since I was looking for a new job, I might as well move to the city where my boyfriend (now fiancé) was living. Maybe you will take some time to spend with family. While I was unemployed, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and I felt extremely lucky that I was able to be free and available at any time to help her out. There are many ways to put a positive spin on your situation.
Now, go out and find your dream job! And remember, many great people face unexpected unemployment, but a good number of them move into a better position than the one that they lose.
Tanzi Merritt is the Associate Director of Library and Information Services at Gateway Community and Technical College in Northern Kentucky. She can be reached at tanzi.merritt@kctcs.edu.