“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” -Jimmy Dean
Losing your job is not something one usually plans for. We all know that it’s always a possibility but to plan for failure is not our natural way of thinking as human beings. And while it can ultimately turn out to be the best thing that ever happens to you, it can definitely be difficult and a stressful experience no matter what your mindset is. I personally like to think of myself as super positive and one of the most optimistic people around so even after seeing I had a meeting with HR scheduled, I thought to myself, “I must be getting a promotion.” Little did I know that I would be soon facing those harsh words of “your position has been eliminated.”
It hit me like an arrow right through my heart. I couldn’t believe my ears. I tried to keep myself composed and listen to all the directions that were to follow but it all seemed like a blur to me from there. I was told what to expect for next steps and that my last day would be the end of the week.
I quickly realized what happened after that zoom session ended and I knew I had two options on how to handle the situation at hand. I could be spiteful, blame others, and resent everyone at the company or accept that it was my time to move on and go out as classy as possible. I chose the latter and haven’t looked back since.
I spent a few days decompressing, reaching out to former clients and drafting thank you notes to colleagues. It was then that I realized I know exactly what I need to do here. I have shared tips with former colleagues when they went through the same and now it was time for me to believe in my own words. Below are a few tips that I’ve given to others as well as additional ones that have been given to me in these past few weeks that have been very helpful as I navigate through this process of being laid off.
Tips
1. Take some time to decompress and process your emotions. It’s natural to go through a grieving process when you are separating yourself from a role that was a part of your identity. Below is a chart of different emotions that you might be feeling after being laid off. Allow yourself time to clear your head and spend some time to create closure. Reach out to your former colleagues, clients and vendors that you worked with to update them and close the circle on any pending items. Remember it’s the company that let you go, not your peers or clients. They are also dealing with your loss and can be a great source of help for comfort as well as be a resource for you as you explore what’s next. And if you’re in a position to take a trip somewhere, a change of scenery is always a good idea to really get away and reconnect with yourself again. If you’re not in a financial position to travel, consider taking a short local trip or nice long car ride. Whatever you do, don’t just go rushing into the first thing that comes your way. Allow yourself to go through the emotions listed below.
2. Create/continue with a morning routine and daily positive rituals. Make sure to take care of yourself as losing your job can be stressful. It’s important to take care of yourself mentally, physically and spiritually. Try to maintain a healthy diet, exercise, connect with others, and make time for activities you enjoy. If you haven’t done this before, then now would be a great time to start because you’ll want to have the best energy possible during these trying times.
3. Update LinkedIn and your resume. Opportunities will be coming before you know it and it’s important to make sure your resume and LinkedIn profile are up to date. Define what roles you are interested in next and include highlights from your most recent experience that are relevant for those positions. Change your profile to “open to work” and create a post letting your network know that you are looking for new opportunities. Not sure what to write? Give ChatGPT a try for ideas and ask it what to say in a post about being laid off. I wouldn’t suggest using what it recommends as is, but it can be a great tool to get you started and is a very valuable resource to get familiar with for many other uses.
4. Network! Did you know that 50-75% of jobs are usually found within your network? Actively reach out to your professional contacts and let them know you are looking for new opportunities. Call, email, direct message, or text those who you’ve had a professional relationship with and be open to hearing any and all advice. You don’t need to necessarily take everyone’s advice, but approach your conversations from a place where you want to learn. Networking can be a great way to learn about job openings, get advice on what to do next, or be introduced to others not in your direct network that may also be hiring. And if you’re not sure what to do next, use this opportunity to ask those you connect with what they do, how they got into it, and how they like it. It’s best to start with casual conversations and not just are you hiring.
5. Seek out resources. If your company is offering offboarding resources, make sure to take full advantage of them. If not, there are many resources available to help with finding a new job including career counseling, job search workshops, resume writing assistance, and unemployment benefits that can be really affordable. Find offers online to assist you or many resources are available through searching on Google, YouTube, or TikTok. My good friend and career coach Denyse Rabbat is great option to reach out to if you’re looking to get started now. She has a webinar coming up on Feb 1st on tips for resume writing which is a great free event you can sign up for here.
6. Be open to different opportunities. You may not find a role in the same field or with the same level of responsibility as your previous job. Be open to different opportunities and consider building your own business, starting a consulting practice, or even taking on a temporary or part time role while you continue your job search if finances are a key concern.
7. Look for ways to upskill: Consider new certifications, taking training classes, or signing up for programs that add to your skill set to increase your employability. Find at least a few new things you can read, engage or learn from daily so you can stay up to date with the demands of today’s workforce. Udemy is also a great resource for online courses that can give you a certification at a affordable rate. Many classes start at less than $20 and they have an extensive range of topics you can choose from. I signed up for a digital marketing course myself and it includes 25 hours of training to get me started on a topic I’ve been wanting to learn more about.
8. Stay positive. It can be challenging at times and easy to get discouraged during the process of looking for a new job. Try to keep an optimistic view and positive attitude. Remind yourself that many people have gone through this experience and have been able to find new employment. You have to believe that everything happens for a reason and trust that you will find yourself in a better place if you just keep staying active in your search.
While I realize that these tips are easier to type than to follow, do your best to be kind to yourself during this process and just keep going. Take things day by day, task by task, and trust the process. You will find yourself in a new role sooner than you think and it will then be your turn again to help others that face this situation as layoffs are a part of working in the corporate environment. It can happen to the best of us and the key is to not let it get you down, but use the opportunity to find a better fit for you. I wish you all that are searching the best of luck in your efforts and please reach out if there is anything I can do to assist you.
And please provide any other good tips you may have below in the comment section and share this with anyone who you know that might have been affected from all the lay offs happening as of late.
