7 Tips to Propel Your Employment Search After a Layoff
A layoff is a frightening thing for everyone. It can be unexpected, lifechanging, and can disrupt any sense of normalcy you may have had. Layoffs have hit tech and startup companies hard, but with continued talk of a further economic downturn, layoffs may hit more Fortune 500 companies as well. We often talk with candidates after these types of events and here are some of the common tips we tell people:
Take a breath. Seriously, take a few days to collect yourself and gather your thoughts and emotions. Any type of serious life changing moment can cause a stir of emotions, thoughts, and feelings, so make sure you take a little bit of time to reflect on those and realize that your life is not over. This is not the end; it is a new beginning!
Assess your situation. Did you like the industry you were in? Did you like the job you were doing? Is now the time to switch jobs or industries, or is it possibly the time to start the business you have been putting off for years?
Craft a plan. Take a few days to think of what you want to do and where you want to go. I would urge you strongly against common reactive decisions including immediately searching for the same job you just had or jumping back into school. Don’t get me wrong, these are not bad decisions, but they are purely reactive and you should take more time to think outside of common paths.
Revamp your resume. This should be a high priority now that recent projects and accomplishments are fresh in your mind. Make sure you get all the information in there, and then work with a recruiter friend, a resume writing service, or anyone who does any sort of editing to trim it down. If you are an Executive, please hire a resume writer immediately. They are backlogged but they are experts for a reason, and well worth the money.
Fire up your network. Reach out to everyone: old friends, colleagues you haven’t talked to in a while, the guy you always talked to at your kid’s baseball practice, everyone. Try and reconnect over coffee and form relationships. You never know what that person does for work, or who they know, and you may find the right role just by talking with someone new. Also, this is more critical the higher up you were in your previous company’s hierarchy. The higher you are in the food chain, the fewer the jobs that are out there.
Understand that this may take a while. If you are a software developer or carry any other type of super in demand skillset (you know if you have 10 recruiters in your LinkedIn Inbox waiting on you), this likely will not apply to you, so skip to 7. The higher you are in position title, especially non-technical ones (Manager, Sr. Manager, Director, etc.) the longer it will take to find a new position. Therefore, after you’ve taken a few days to level-set and evaluate your next move, it is imperative that you start your job search immediately. Save the month or two career break for after you secure the offer and are setting the start date with your new company. That severance will run out very quickly, often faster than you ever thought.
Create ACTION! Once you have the plan, YOU need to make it happen. Applying for jobs on websites and LinkedIn is a must, but you must also network with your existing network, with people outside of your network, and try to meet people inside the companies you are targeting. This is difficult, but finding a job is truly a full-time job. Take people to coffee, ask friends if they know friends in the companies, and try to expand your reach to as many people as you can. This is the time to be very pro-active and get in front of people to prove you are the best candidate for the role. Don’t wait on that recruiter to follow up with you, call them first.