6 do's and don'ts when dad loses his job

When we are busy being a dad we have many things to worry about. Sometimes a bump on the head is the least of it. But when you walk in to work on a Wednesday only to be told to go home permanently, you level up to a new high of worry.

Here in Wisconsin, the unemployment rate is 9.8% as of March 2010. This means that approximately 77,000 people were unemployed. Coming home after being laid off gives you a terrible feeling, especially if you are the sole provider.

Here are six things you should do when faced with being laid off:

1. Don't panic. This is a first step under any stressful situation. Avoid burning your bridges at the place you were just laid off from.
2. Do put on your pants in the morning. Chances are you feel like you've been kicked down and there is nothing else for you to do but laze around the house in your pajamas. Maybe you feel you deserve a little down time. Maybe you have convinced yourself that you can be productive in flannels and comfy slippers. This will never be true! Nothing is more detrimental to productivity than staying in your jammies. It's a psychological thing. Instead, when you wake up in the morning, get dressed exactly like you always did to go to work. This will put you in productive mindset. (You don't have to wear a suit and tie if that is what you were accustomed to. Office casual will do.)
3. Do apply for unemployment. Applying for unemployment insurance has never been easier, especially for the Internet crowd. Go go the Wisconsin Unemployment Insurance website and get the process started.
4. Do update your resume. The resume is your foot in the door, your self-marketing tool. Update it, polish it, make it shine, then get it out there.
5. Do brush up on your job search skills. It may have been years since you were in the job market scene, and just like the dating scene things change over time. Today's job search is all about networking and using the Internet. Waukesha County Technical College offers excellent career services, including resume counseling and mock interviews.
6. Do spend time with the baby. This was saved as the last point for a reason. Losing your job has at least one very positive side effect: you can give your baby more daddy time. This is good for your baby, and good for you. Enjoy this time. Realize you have a new opportunity to be a part of your baby's day and can watch a little more of her growing up.

An unemployed dad has more to do than just these six tips. Please visit the next article for more do's and don'ts when you're in between jobs.