Even though the experts are suggesting the economy is turning around, companies in selected industries are continuing to downsize and slash costs. If you have been or think you may be part of a downsizing or rightsizing; these tips will help you ease what is typically one of the most stressful events in a person’s career.

Don’t Panic
As difficult as it may seem today look at your career transition as a new beginning. Take this time to look at your situation as an opportunity to create a better career for yourself. You now have the time to look for a job with better pay, better hours or perhaps even a shorter commute.

Don’t Be Critical of Your Former Company
As you go through the interview process don’t be critical of your former company or your former supervisor. Prospective employers may view you as a negative person regardless of how you were treated at your former company. Remember a new employer will not hire you if you come across with too much negativity.

Re-Write Your Resume
Pull out your old resume and begin re-writing it. As you add your responsibilities and accomplishments from your most recent employer, look at past jobs for items you can delete from your resume. Prospective employers and headhunters want to know what you have done recently in your career, not five jobs ago. A well written, easy to read, streamlined resume will get you more interviews than a long drawn out verbose one.

The Internet has changed a lot about how resumes and cover letters should be written these days, so it may be time to consider having your resume professionally written. If you are at an executive or managerial level in your career most experts will agree that you should at least have one professionally written resume during your career. Two resources that available online are AwesomeResumes and ResumeWriters

Consider Adding to Your Education
If you were fortunate enough to receive a severance package now may be the time to consider finishing your degree or getting that advanced degree you have always been promising yourself you would get. E-learning through online universities has made getting a degree or advancing your current degree easier than ever before. With an online university you can complete courses at your own pace and on your own schedule.

Two well known online universities are the University of Phoenix

About Changing Industries
If you are thinking of changing industries because the employment outlook is not strong for the industry you just left, make certain you fully understand the new industry before sending out your resume all over the place. Do some research on the Internet, about the industry you are thinking of transitioning to. Learn who the major players are both nationally and locally, find out if their business is on the upswing or are they getting ready to downsize as well. Become well versed in the publications that are popular to those in the industry. Gain a keen understanding of key business issues and common problems within the industry. Discover what the hot topics are and learn the jargon. This type of info will help you not only in tailoring your resume and cover letter, but will also give you a leg up in the interview process over a candidate who may not be as prepared as you are. Vault.com has a done an excellent job of researching and profiling dozens of industries.