Lost your Job?
What to do next
I’ve been in the career business for a while now (starting before the internet and blogs, so that says something.) and I have a few ideas that can help you if you find yourself on the receiving end of a pink slip.
Photo by Mark Fletcher-Brown on Unsplash
NOTE: This is in no way an exhaustive list.
File for unemployment in your state. Yes. Just do it. You’ll thank me.
Use professional language. If you were let go in a RIF from a world-renowned FAANG company or a smaller boutique business find the official language that the company is posting about their RIF, and include it either in your cover letter, your About section on LinkedIn and on your resume. There’s no shame in being part of the fallout of a company’s economic downturn. Using the dry language that the company is using keeps you from sounding bitter.
Take a beat. I know you’re bitter. You should be. There was likely more than the ‘usual’ amount of stress leading up to this lay-off. That’s why it’s imperative you find some way to shift your mindset BEFORE jumping into the “easy apply” race.
Resist Easy Apply. You likely will ignore #3. I get it. You are full of adrenalin and ready to GET THIS. Good on ya. Instead of hitting easy apply, take a minute.
Drill down to your must haves and nice to haves and won’t put up withs as you think about your next job. Include your honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses at work. It’s an opportunity to laser focus on what you really want to do for the next company. Instead of focusing on ONLY the money, focus on the results you want to be known for.
(Photo by Austin Chan on Unsplash)
Re-do your resume before you hit send. I know you ignored #5 and started looking at jobs based on the salaries they are posting. Still, review your resume, is it focused on results that you bring or is it a list of adjectives telling how “multi-faceted” and “team oriented” you are? Not sure what to do with your resume? Find a resume writer if you can invest in that or find a trusted colleague who can give you an honest assessment of your current resume AND your strengths and weaknesses on the job.
Pay attention to your network. It’s been said that your network is your net worth and while that may not be 100% accurate, there is truth to the idea that the people who are doing the types of work you want to do and/or in the industries where you want to work are very good contacts. They can give you honest feedback, ask great questions to prepare you for your search and also see patterns in your career path that you may miss.
Talk to the people you love. Not necessarily about your job search - odds are they think you are the best in the world at what you have been doing and may actually get in the way of your search by setting you on such a high pedestal that you’re afraid to let them down. Instead, talk to them about how you’re feeling and tell them precisely what you need from them to support you.
Think about your side-gig or a part-time gap job. Many people need structure to feel productive. If you’ve been working a side-gig in the hopes of growing it, now may be a good time to invest time to making the dream come true. (Make sure you have enough money in the bank for at least 6 months to give this time to grow.) No side-gig? Find a part-time job. There are plenty of opportunities in restaurants, retail shops and small shops. While they will not replace your current income (most likely) they do keep you focused and provide some supplemental income. Set up hours that work around your job search. You never know, doing an outstanding job at a part-time gig can lead to a leadership role you never expected.
As I said when I started, this is not an exhaustive list. It’s a place to start while you lick your wounds and reassess the next phase of your career.
I’ve been in this business for decades and one constant is that every single person finds themselves in this position at least one time in their career - heck, even Steve Jobs got ousted from his own company.
If you need help, reach out. I’m happy to provide a one-time consult or a longer-term program. Note, subscribers to this newsletter at $10 or more receive a 15% discount on their coaching fees.
Until next week, get into sweater weather, find some fun socks and embrace the changing seasons.
Big hugs, '
Peggie