| Between General Motors and Delphi Corporations, 47, | | | | related programs. |
| 600 workers have accepted buyouts or early | | | | Volunteer. If teaching is not an option, and you can |
| retirements in exchange for financial packages. Ford | | | | afford to stay out of the labor market after a job |
| Motors just added their buyout offers to the mix as | | | | layoff, consider volunteering. Call up local high schools |
| well. None of this is good news for the automotive | | | | to find out about programs that need volunteers and |
| industry. Additionally, large scale workforce reductions | | | | could use your specific job skills. You never know |
| and job loss like these are not good for families and | | | | what new programs will be in place in your |
| don't inspire workers' confidence in the US economy. | | | | neighborhood schools as these buyouts take root. |
| Unfortunately, and understandably many people | | | | Look for "Green" jobs. The economy continues to go |
| perceive these changes negatively and won't | | | | "green" and there might be several options for you in |
| necessarily see all the great job options available to | | | | related industries after a job layoff. Think of parlaying |
| them right away. The fact is, I know several people | | | | your auto industry job skills and knowledge into a |
| who were laid off, downsized or furloughed from a job | | | | growing number of "green" jobs. For example, consider |
| who ultimately thought it was the best thing that ever | | | | looking for jobs that manufacture solar panels, |
| happened to them. | | | | weatherization products or jobs related to |
| Here are some positive career and job options to | | | | environmental recycling and reuse. |
| explore. | | | | Relocate a job in the same or a similar field. Consider |
| Go back to school after job loss. | | | | relocation to continue employment in the same type of |
| Early retirement or separation from your job might be | | | | job or a similar industry post layoff. Relocation is |
| just the opportunity you needed to go back to school, | | | | difficult, no question, especially if you have children, |
| part time or full time. Seize the opportunity to learn | | | | family or close friends in your existing neighborhood. If |
| new skills, explore a hobby, finish a degree or just | | | | relocation for a new job is out of the question, consider |
| expand your knowledge to start a new career. | | | | a job in a related field. |
| Train or teach in job skills programs. Many people go | | | | A job layoff is a good time to reframe your |
| back to school after job loss for their own job | | | | perspective, shed your specific job title and move |
| retraining. However, instead of going back as a | | | | towards broader, more inclusive definitions. For |
| student, consider going back as a trainer or teacher. If | | | | example rather than labeling yourself as an auto |
| you already have the education and the work | | | | worker, consider labeling yourself as an employee |
| experience, the classroom needs you. Inventory your | | | | working in the transportation sector. These broader |
| job skills and find community colleges, tech schools or | | | | definitions will give you more options to look for work in |
| vocational programs where you could be an asset for | | | | rail, airline, trucking or the transit industry. |