Pamela Kleibrink Thompson

If summer brings an involuntary vacation from work due to a layoff or downsizing, there are a few ways to get in shape and cope.

Before you leave:

Before you exit the company, gather some samples of your work. You should have been working on your portfolio all along and putting recent work in there but if you haven't been, this is the time to collect any recent work you are proud of and get it in your portfolio or on your reel. If you have been working on a project that is not due to be released for some time, get the shots that you worked on onto your reel. If the company doesn't want work shown early to the public, respect that and keep that work out of your reel and portfolio. Ask for a letter from the company indicating what your position was and your role on the project.

Take advantage of your break:

Don't be ashamed of losing your job. Chuck Jones, Glen Keane and Steve Jobs were all out on the street once. Just regroup and take it as an opportunity to move up. Sometimes getting laid off gives you a chance to move up. Think about applying for a job in a category the last company never wanted to promote you to.

Give yourself a chance to grieve over losing your job, if you need to. But don't let your self-esteem suffer. Being laid off or fired is not a crime. Just realize that the skills you have to offer are no longer pertinent to the company. It doesn't mean you are bad or your work was bad, just that the company doesn't need your skills anymore at this time. (I've had so many jobs that I now do career coaching since I have become an expert at changing careers.)

Don't start looking for work immediately. You need to be refreshed to start looking for a job so take a two-week vacation to get away from your normal stomping grounds. The place you go doesn't have to be exotic or expensive. Another reason for getting away is that a vacation will give you a different perspective. During your vacation, your assignment is to daydream. Make a list of what you liked about your last job and what you didn't like. What do you want on your next job? What kind of company do you want to work for?

Take stock of your attributes. What do you like doing at work? What do you like doing outside of work? Evaluate what you want to do. If you have always dreamed about developing your own show, building a Website, or writing a children's book "when you have the time," guess what--you've got the time! You don't want to do anything other than get another job? OK.

Examine your skill set. Make a list of all the skills you've learned and the things you've accomplished. This list will be useful in composing your resume. If you have trouble making your list and thinking positively about yourself, get some friends to help you.