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Career Advice
You’ve been laid off. Welcome to the club nobody wants to be in. Before you panic—or frantically start looking for a new job—take some time to think about what you want next.
Key takeaways
Being laid off is not a personal rebuke, though it feels like it. You can be the hardest worker, the most talented in your role, or the kindest person and still get laid off. It happens. It doesn’t matter how much money you make, either, or the type of job you have; almost everyone experiences being laid off at some point. Companies close, departments get downsized, the economy gets turned upside down.
The important thing to know is you’re not alone. We’ve all been there. It’s a challenging time, but you will get through it. In fact, being laid off can be an opportunity for self-reflection and reimagining what you want from your work.
It’s a challenging time, but you will get through it.
Before you go headlong into your new job search, take a breath. Seriously. You need some time to process what being laid off means for you.
Talk with family or friends about how you’re feeling. Write down your thoughts. Spend a little time clearing your head.
Practice self-care. Even in the best of circumstances, being laid off is a blow to the ego. Now is exactly the time to make sure you are taking care of yourself—mind, body, and spirit. Soak in a hot bath, eat your veggies, get out in the sunshine. Yes, you need to think about practical things. The bills are still going to keep coming. When you take care of yourself, you’ll be better able to face whatever comes next.
Now is exactly the time to make sure you are taking care of yourself—mind, body, and spirit.
Being laid off is scary. Without a steady income, our basic sense of security is shaken. Am I going to be able to afford the rent? Can I put food on the table? Those are real concerns.
You don’t have to take a backseat to your own fears, though. Here’s a chance to really think about what you want next in your life. These questions can help guide you in your process.
It’s normal to feel a range of emotions after being laid off—fearful, angry, relieved. None of them are wrong. Emotions give you information. If you feel relieved after being laid off, listen to that feeling.
Same thing. Reflect on your feelings. What are they telling you? Did you love interacting with customers? Did you relish time alone to work on projects? Keep those in mind as you search for your next role.
Imagine yourself in your next job. Do you want to feel challenged? Do you want a fast-paced environment or one that’s slightly more chill?
Think about your situation. Are you inspired to go full-tilt on your career? Do you have the energy to grow your expertise in your field? Do you have other demands on you that make career advancement less of a priority? Do you have a side hustle and need a low-stress job that allows you to focus on that?
It’s hard to look at ourselves objectively. This is where you may want an outside perspective. Try an online assessment, such as the U.S Department of Labor’s O*NET Interest Profiler or the free personality test from 16Personalities, that allows you to hone in on your particular strengths.
Heather, a Fidelity talent acquisition partner, suggests that you “…reach out to people who know you to see what their thoughts are.” Friends and family are great for boosting your confidence. Ask co-workers and supervisors, too, for their honest opinions. They can speak to your strengths as well as areas you can work on.
You’d be amazed at the number of resources there are out there for job seekers. Here is just a sample of what’s available.
Most states have agencies that help people get back into the workforce. Many people think you have to be receiving unemployment insurance payments to access these services, but you don’t.
For example, MassHire, a Massachusetts state agency, offers seminars, career counseling, resume critiques, career planning tools, and their own job board for job seekers—all free of charge. They also have information about resources outside of their own network. Look at your state government’s website for their career agencies.
You may have used your college career center when you were graduating. They are still there for you. Call them up. They offer a variety of supports—resume critiques, alumni networking platforms, etc.
There are so many career resources online, you could spend weeks chasing them all down. We’ll talk about two of the heavy hitters here—one for job-hunting itself and one for professional learning.
LinkedIn, the online destination for professional networking, has a job board that’s easy to use. It has three features we’ve found particularly helpful.
This program is geared towards people looking to land entry-level positions in tech fields like data analytics, UX design, and digital marketing. It’s great for people just starting out or trying to change careers. Google offers its courses through Coursera for $49 per month. Some career agencies offer Google courses at reduced rates.
Google’s courses are designed for participants to earn their certificate in 3-6 months with roughly 10 hours of study per week. Exams can range from less than $50 up to $200. Financial aid is available if you qualify.
PRO TIP: Whenever you finish a course, be sure to add it to your resume and your LinkedIn profile.
There’s no magic formula for landing your next job. You’ll chart your own path, and that’s empowering. This is your journey. Remember, though, you’re not alone and there’s lots of help out there when you need it.
