Do this if you have been laid off... or think you may be
This is NOT another post to tell businesses and leaders how they should or should not communicate about layoffs.
This IS for and about everyone who has been affected. More than anything, people who have lost their jobs need support, empathy, reassurance, hope, guidance, and – ultimately – a new job and income.
This is ALSO for people who may be concerned that they will also be affected by a layoff. Share with your friends, family, and colleagues if you think this could be helpful.
And for company executives, communications leaders and HR teams: your employees are seeing news about layoffs every day.
Do not ignore nor discount how this may affect their mental health and well-being, focus, and performance. This is what we call at SPI Group a “Moment That Matters” that calls for empathetic and mindful communications.
An employee’s spouse, sibling, child, parent or someone else close to them may have recently lost their job. That’s heavy.
It’s A LOT of stress, especially with the holiday season around the corner, dismal economic projections, the ongoing pandemic, and so.much.more.
Here’s a checklist of things you can do if you have recently lost your job... or are worried that you might:
Define and document for yourself what your employment goals and requirements are. Think about how, when, and where you want to work, what you do and do not want to do in your role, the types of companies and teams you want to work with, how much money you want or need to make – and use these goals and requirements as your guideposts. And also know what you are willing to be flexible on to secure your next opportunity.
Update and polish your resume to reflect your job goals and requirements.
Shape and practice your story. When someone asks “what are you looking for? what are you good at?” be ready. Practice with a trusted friend, coach, or former colleague.
Get a framework started for a cover letter that you can quickly update. Some job applications require this and you don’t want to be in the middle of an application then discover you have to write a letter (trust me on this because I have #BTDT). If submitting a cover letter (or references) is an option, ALWAYS take it. It’s an opportunity to share your story, how you are a great fit, why you are interested, highlight any direct connections, and how you can contribute in the role. No errors in cover letter – use Grammarly, ask a friend to review and provide feedback.
Update your LinkedIn page (and other job search and social media sites) to reflect your current resume and story.
Update your LinkedIn profile by adding an #OpentoWork frame. Also click on “Open to: Finding a New Job.”
Set and stick to a routine. Your job now may be to find your next job, so set “office hours,” a schedule, and daily goals – and write them down where you can see them! If you plan to take time off to give yourself a break, set a time when you are “back to work to find work.”
Reach out to your contacts. Let them know you are looking for a new job. They may be in a position to help by identifying openings in their company or by making introductions, or by being a supporter on your job search journey. Always keep your key contacts updated and foster authentic, mutually serving relationships. And thank them graciously for their support!
Get out and network. Meet people face-to-face and create new connections at industry events, social gatherings, and with your professional network.
Get your finances in order. It may take awhile (plan for 1-2 years) to find your next job, so think now about how you can finance the gap, and do not spend all your severance if you got a payout. Also think about have to ensure ongoing medical insurance for you and your family while you are looking for your next job if you had a commercial benefits plan.
Make job research part of your daily routine. Start researching employment opportunities and set alerts for types of jobs you may want to explore.
Be agile. If there is a job opening, apply immediately – with online applications and remote work, often there are exponentially more applicants to compete with, so be the early bird so your application is not buried and too late to be considered.
Leverage connections. If you see a job opening that is a great fit with your background, skillset and interests, look on LinkedIn to see who you might know that has a connection and ask for an introduction – it can make ALL the difference in the world to have a human escalate your resume, no matter where you are in your career. And yes, ask your friends and family to help make introductions. NOTE: There is NO SHAME in asking Mom, Dad, Uncle, Aunt – or your child – to make an introduction. It’s part of job search and professional connections culture. Leverage.all.your.connections... appropriately and with gratitude!
Collect unemployment. After your severance runs out you may be eligible for unemployment wages – do not leave that money on the table, as you paid for it and earned it!
Know your worth. Research compensation packages for similar roles in your area so you know what to ask for. Know what your baseline salary requirements are based on your needs but also your value. Because you have VALUE to offer.
Don’t be shy. Someone else will be bold and skip the line to get the job you may want. Introverts, now is the time to excavate your inner extrovert and put yourself out there so you can secure your next gig. Also, that same notion that helps with college applications, “high demonstrated interest” and persistence can work for your job search, as well. Show interest – do not just throw your application over the fence and wait for a reply. Also, don’t be so persistent, it comes across as nagging or impatience.
Don’t make assumptions and trust your gut. A job I applied to at a large company showed “no longer in consideration for this role” on my application portal after I had just had an excellent interview with the in-house executive recruiter, so I called her. The portal was INCORRECT and I was still in active consideration for the job. In fact, the previous candidates had been eliminated from the process and I asked why, which gave me the opportunity to share how my background matched the requirements. I didn’t assume the portal was right, since I had received different information and vibes from the recruiter.
Be open minded. You never know where that next opportunity will come from or what may intrigue you in your job search journey. You may also have opportunities for freelance or contract work, which can help with income and keep you engaged and connected to your profession, but it could prevent unemployment disbursements.
Be empathetic. When you get that next great gig, your friends, family, and colleagues may still be searching. Celebrate your success, then reach out and help others on their search.
Don’t bash your former employer. You may have pent-up anger or frustration (IYKYK) but focus that energy on your next step – look forward, not back. And you don’t want to burn bridges, since you never know where your former colleagues will land. Also, the people who made decisions about who to let go may be struggling because they were forced to make hard decisions (I threw up for days after conducting a workforce reduction from grief and guilt from having to let good people go – and yes, I know, I still had a job while they did not).
Don’t let your job loss define you. Often, it is not about personal performance, but about corporate performance. Plenty of people who have big roles and titles have either had a job loss in their past or may have one in their future. It happens to the best of the best. Do not beat yourself up! And see all the other tips above to keep your energy and activities up. It’s unlikely that you will find the next great gig wallowing on your couch feeling sorry for yourself and finishing off the Halloween candy while peers hit the proverbial pavement and knock on proverbial doors to get a job that YOU could be in line for.
Most importantly, DON’T LOSE HOPE. Someone close to me was let go from a job of more than 20 years and it took three years of relentless effort – and many finalist interviews, only to not get the offer – to find a job he loves and is excelling at. Keep focusing and moving FORWARD!
YOU
HAVE
GOT
THIS!