Ive been laid off so if it has happened to you, I know the feeling.

Actually I've been laid off twice.

The first time, I was walking into the office first thing in the morning and found my manager putting a note on the door stating that all our training classes had been cancelled for the day. I worked for a training company at the time.

Given the sad look on her face and our recent low sales results, I knew this was pretty bad so I asked her if I needed to bother unpacking my lunch for that day.

She said I didnt.

The company went out of business that day I found myself out of a job for the first time since I was 16.

The second time I was laid off was a case of a company restructuring.

Up until this time, I had experienced several other corporate restructurings and had managed to survive each of them.

The first company I worked for after leaving university regularly restructured and I survived four major ones. The last restructuring that occurred, the seven other people in my group were laid off. I was the only one who survived.

Getting laid off can be a very devastating experience especially if you really relied on the position for income (who doesnt?) or if you have been employed with the company for a significant period of time and havent had to look for a job recently.

The job search market has certainly changed over the past ten years even if you just consider the effect that the Internet has had on it.

If you have found yourself the victim of a layoff or downsizing, here are some tips to keep in mind when you are looking to get your career back on track:

1. Dont take it personally.

Corporate downsizings are a way of life especially if youve worked in the Internet business or auto industry!

Dont disparage your former employer during interviews and dont hold a grudge. This will appear noticeable when you are speaking with people who can influence your ability to find a new job and might hurt your level of motivation and attitude.

The last thing you want after being laid off is to become despondent or depressed. Thinking negatively about your former employer will certainly negatively affect the success of your job search.

Also, don't take it personally if on the day of the layoff, you are escorted out of the building or given 30 minutes to pack up your stuff and leave. This is fairly standard and although it can feel pretty brutal, it's generally how things occur. The first time I was laid off, our computer access had already been taken away and we were given 30 minutes after being notified to pack up our belongings and leave.

2. Figure out how you will handle the layoff in your resume and during interviews.

If you were laid off as part of a larger corporate restructuring or simply had your job eliminated, this is what you should be telling people during interviews if you are asked why you are no longer with the company.

In other words, you tell the truth.

Some people want to try to sugarcoat the situation or invent an elaborate story especially if they are embarrassed about being unemployed or if they think being unemployed will hurt their chances when compared to other job candidates who are currently working.

This is a natural feeling but the best thing to do is simply tell the truth.

Plus, you might actually luck out: Sometimes a company needs to hire someone as soon as possible and if you are the only candidate who can start right away since you dont need to give several weeks notice to your current employer, all things being equal, you might get the job over other suitable candidates.

Ive seen this happen.

3. Figure out a plan to get your job search in gear as soon as possible.

This doesnt mean you actually have to start looking for a new job right away. You might decide this is a perfect time to take a vacation or to take some time off to figure out what youd actually like to do next in your career.

The best thing to do is to immediately start thinking of the methods you will utilize to get your career back on track. Among other things, you might:

• Let family, friends and former colleagues know that you are looking for a new job. They might know someone who knows someoneOften this is the best way to get your name out there. Knowing someone and being in the right place at the right time is a legitimate and popular way of finding a new job.

• Find several recruiters that can help you with your job search. Recruiters are paid when they help companies find people to hire and they are experts in the job search field. Good recruiters can help supplement your job search and make you aware of positions you might not have otherwise known about.

• Find several relevant and possibly industry or job-related Internet job boards that at a minimum will help you see jobs in your industry that are currently available. Even if you choose not to post your resume, you might get a better sense as to what the market is like for people with your skills and experience.

If you are laid off, move as quickly as possible to close one door and figure out what you need to do to open the new doors that are about to appear in front of you. Remaining motivated and keeping a positive attitude will be key to your success.