Customer Reviews

Life After Layoff: Six Proven Courses of Action

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If you've ever been affected by a layoff, you've felt the fear, shame, anger, self-pity and maybe even relief. You've also experienced a certain helplessness. You craved some direction like a roadmap to recovery.
Life After Layoff will come to your rescue. Drs. Donohue and Van Ness have laid out a path for you to follow...a step by step approach that will guide and comfort you throughout your transition. Read the stories of others before you. Learn what they did, how they succeeded and how you can follow in their foot steps.
Read and re-read. First thing in the morning and last thing at night. In no time, you'll look back on another accomplishment in your life.

When you picture a book entitled "Life After Layoff", you imagine that it's going to discuss what happens in the time period between your lay off to the moment of gainful employment. This is not the case. Take a look at "About the Book" on the back cover. The cover says "Life After Layoff" provides you with the knowledge and strategies to manage your career during these turbulent times".

If I were to define this book, I would say that it's geared more toward employed professionals who are facing the possibility of a layoff while providing a small amount of information about what happens after you are actually laid off. It also deals mainly with self reassessment, financial strategizing and understanding your strengths and weaknesses. Fortunately all of these factors are important whether or not you're employed.

One of the sections that I like most about the book is the introduction. Like most books, "Life After Layoff" starts with a Table of Contents to guide you through the book's contents. What I really like is that after the Table of Contents, the author provides an actual "Introduction" section. This section provides narrative, in paragraph form, regarding the learning points for each of the book's seven chapters. The final chapter titled "Pull it all Together" enables you to take all of the objectives from the book and guides you to applying the lessons to your own situation.

What makes this book different from books I have reviewed so far are the numerous scenarios the book presents to illustrate each "course of action" that the book identifies. I found the scenarios to be very realistic. The discussion after each scenario provides additional information and resources for the reader to look into.

I found that the charts and graphs provided in the book were interesting and informative. Worksheets were also provided so that the reader could work through some of their own personal and financial situations. Even though the worksheets were self explanatory, the authors provided examples to guide the readers in filling them out.

"Life After Layoff" is not a book that you can just pick up and read through. It is a book that you will want to take the time to reflect on each lesson provided in the six courses of action. You may even find yourself revisiting each chapter as you ebb and flow through your career.

While I found that the title did not necessarily provide an accurate picture of the book's contents, I found the contents of the book to be helpful, insightful and thought provoking. Would I have cataloged this book in the unemployment category of the book stores as the title implies? I probably would not. I would categorize this "Life After Layoff" as a self help book for people in the 21st century as they struggle with impending unemployment. Either way, I see "Life After Layoff" a definite great find.

Drs. Van Ness and Donohue have focused on a subject that can devastate an individual. Their message is one that we all should embrace. In this day and age, we need not fall victim to corporate circumstance. We can prepare, strategize and manage for inevitable change. Any company that has the unfortunate task of laying people off should distribute this book. Beyond that, however, lies an opportunity for the rest of us to enhance our way of thinking, and become self-empowered. To do so, we need a solid game plan, and this book provides a just such a plan.

Life After Layoff is a 'must read' for anyone who is experienc ing being laid off from his or her job, especially for the first time. It provides an insightful look at the emotional as well as practical aspects of being laid off from work and how to overcome a frequently paralyzing fear of being out of work. Dr.'s Van Ness and Donohue present real people in situations that we can all relate to and practical advice on how to move on with your professional and personal life. I was particularly impressed with their chapter on how to think outside the box with career alternatives. Instead of just looking for a "job", they teach you how to create work opportunities that are more fulfilling and rewarding, including starting your own business doing something that you love.

Life Afer Layoff gives you the tools to begin your next career move. The authors take you step by practical step to help you restart your career. And just as importantly help you emotionally adjust to your currect situation, an area that is rarely discussed and written about during your "between engagements" status. The authors provide case studies of people you'll identify with and take heart from as they enjoy a new self-awareness. Both authors are experienced professionals, highly regarded in their field, and have written a valuable book.