So, You've Been Laid Off, Now What?

It doesn’t matter if you’ve been laid off in one of the most recent big layoffs (Amazon, Dow, Mastercard, FedEx, etc.) or been impacted by a smaller RIF (reduction in force).  Getting laid off stinks.  The key to survival is not panicking.  

I know that’s easier said than done, but let’s break it down to a more manageable plan.

Step 1: Give yourself a day or two of grace to react to the new situation (if possible).  Binge Netflix, clean your house, read a book, allow yourself a moment to grieve.  It’s okay to be sad or mad and feel those feelings.  Just remember to QTIP - quit taking it personally because if you do, it’s a fast slide down a rabbit hole you do NOT want to go down.  Just make sure to move to the next step after a few days.

Step 2: Make a plan.  Assess your savings and your cost of living.  Take a day to deep dive into expenses and plan for as long as you can.  There are a lot of variables regarding the speed you’ll get rehired, but it’s never bad to know exactly what you need to meet your basic needs.  There’s no shame in taking a temporary job if you need to.  This will help you figure out next steps as well.

Step 3: Figure out what you want to do.  Think about the parts about the job you had that you liked and disliked.  Think about your knowledge, skills and abilities; what you bring to the table.  Then go down the rabbit hole and try to find titles for roles that you feel would be a good fit.  

Step 4: Write that resume!  Start by getting feedback on what you have to figure out what you need to change (or not).  Break it down into sections; value statement, core competencies, experience, early career if needed and finally education/certifications.  Work on each one at a time and give yourself breaks between.  Make sure it remains focused on your value and impact instead of reading like a job description.

Step 5: Build out your plan for applying.  It might be 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.  It might be when your kids are in school.  Make sure you’re using job boards that cater to your career needs as the big 2 (LinkedIn and Indeed) are heavily saturated.  And don’t forget to network both online and in person!  That’s just as important as applying.

Losing your job can feel like the end of the world, but it’s a lot easier if you have a plan.  Things will get better, just keep at it.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help and let loved ones know how fast to support you in the ways that you need it.

Brought to you by:

Stephanie Welt, MSW, MSHRM is the founder and CEO of VAST HR.  She is a former psychotherapist and HR Executive known for her comprehensive approach to resume building that helps her clients rediscover their confidence.  She can be found on social media at: LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram or at Stephanie@vasthr.com