Here's how you can present yourself as a valuable candidate and overcome the stigma associated with a layoff.

Every career shift, like a layoff, brings initial worries, but in hindsight, these changes often lead to growth. Six months ago, I faced my second layoff and realized I hadn't stopped grinding for 20 years. This break was a blessing in disguise. It gave me time to rebrand myself as a technologist in 2024, spend quality time with my family, and learn new skills, even unrelated to my career. For instance, I learned welding instead of a new programming language, which brought a refreshing perspective. Embrace these moments, stay positive, adapt, and reflect. They often lead to unexpected and beneficial growth.

To present yourself effectively post-layoff, own your story by honestly explaining the circumstances while focusing on lessons learned. Highlight achievements and contributions from past roles to showcase your value and capabilities. Emphasize continuous learning through new skills or certifications acquired since the layoff, and expand your network for referrals and hidden job opportunities. Approach interviews with enthusiasm and confidence, tailored to align your skills with potential employers' needs and values. Lastly, maintain persistence and patience in your job search, treating each opportunity as valuable experience towards securing your next role.

Whether discussing a layoff or time out of the workforce for any reason, highlight for the potential employer the personal and professional development work you have been doing during this time period. For example, what formal learning have you invested in (e.g., online courses, credentials, certificates, books read, etc.)? Demonstrating investment in self even during a time period off work exemplifies focus and drive. Also, what are your “Points of Difference” (PODs)? What experiences, skills, and character traits set you apart from others? Truly knowing yourself and being able to articulate those PODs in a positive way that highlights your unique value can raise your profile in a job search situation.

After I was laid off, I found myself in a difficult position as the job market has been particularly challenging, and more time passes, the least appealing you are to employers. The secret is to avoid being stagnant, and with that I mean that it's important to understand what are gaps you might have that are not allowing you to shine, and work on those gaps. 1- Update your LinkedIn. 2- Find JDs and requirements for the positions you'd like to take - and identify the gaps. 3- Upskill/reskill. 4- Connect with people on LinkedIn, not necessarily to talk about jobs, but let them inspire you, something could come up! 5- Rinse and repeat.

Turning a layoff into an opportunity is like spinning straw into gold! Keep the conversation upbeat and focus on the new skills and insights you've gained. Employers love a comeback story, so highlight your resilience and adaptability. Stay positive about your former employer—no one likes a negative vibe. Show that you’ve turned a tough situation into a chance to grow, and you'll shine as a candidate who's ready to thrive anywhere!

Don't be afraid to use a paid service to update and polish your resume. Just make sure they optimize it for ATS (the computer systems that filter resumes), and that they also offer to optimize your LinkedIn profile.

It is not only important to update the CV, but also to reconnect with the labor market, especially if the separation was unforeseen and the person was not prepared to look for a job. Then, the following steps will also be key: 1) generate networking, activating and updating the LinkedIn profile, and also participating in spaces that allow the interaction with colleagues and market referents, 2) look for a training proposal to update some competencies that may be required by future employers and 3) prepare for future hiring processes, in order to go through them with confidence and clarity of ideas.

When updating resume, make use of the forced vacation. Keep projects moving that are transferrable to the roles you're seeking. For example, I'm looking for Scientific Director positions; I am writing educational articles, tips for success, and trying to organize teams. The job history in my resume has LinkedIn as the company, and I'm an unpaid networker...because that is exactly what we are doing. Whatever you are doing to improve skills should be included.

Update your resume. K.I.S.S. = Keep It Simple Stupid. I recommend a strong "about me" statement on top. Who are you and what you are looking for. Short, 2 - 3 sentences. This give the reader a better understanding vs. reading the bullet points on your job duties. Speaking of those, keep it down to 3 - 4 bullet points as well. If you give them too much information on your resume they don't need to interview you. Give them enough information to "want" to call you for an interview!

For one that has been in the workforce for a while, the resume has become much more complicated than ever before. The biggest change is the ATS system. Your resume must be able to pass through the system. In marketing or an industry where you can specialize, you will need to have a version of your resume tailored for that specialty in order to get through ATS and appeal to potential employers. Another differentiator is to use stats with almost every bullet point. Finally what has been a big help to me is using an AI tool like ChatGPT to write and ensure you aren’t using the same words in every bullet point. You should actually never repeat the same one. These are just a few ways to update your resume for today’s job hunt.

Facing a dismissal can seem daunting, but it also opens doors to professional growth and reinvention. The experience gained in previous roles arms people with a suite of lessons, tools, and knowledge. Each prior experience builds a legacy of adaptability and resilience. Taking a proactive approach to learning about a new organization and its specific challenges can allow candidates to leverage their accumulated skills to demonstrate their value. Focusing on the future and the potential to make a positive impact in new environments is crucial for overcoming any stigma associated with a dismissal.

Networking should be a continuous habit that becomes as natural as going to bed in the evening. An early experience with leveling-up my professional network included connecting with one my favorite authors on LinkedIn. He accepted my invite, which opened the door to numerous other connections. In addition to connecting with this outstanding writer, I started receiving notifications from others in his network. My network graph exploded by intentionally associating with this and other technology leaders! Unfortunately, I too was a victim of a layoff but all was not lost. My professional network was built to support this downturn. I quickly connected with multiple recruiters in my network who eventually helped me find a new role!

Immediately request as many professional recommendations as you can for your Linkedin profile, and ask those people if they would be willing to be listed as references for future interviews.

O Networking é fundamental para todo profissional, mas durante um processo de demissão ela se torna imprescindível. Reconecte-se com contatos antigos. Entre em contato com ex-colegas, supervisores e outros profissionais da sua rede. Eles podem oferecer apoio, conselhos e possíveis oportunidades de emprego. Participe de eventos e comunidades profissionais. Amplie sua rede de contatos participando de eventos do setor, feiras de emprego e grupos de networking online. Isso irá ampliar muito as possibilidades de novas oportunidades.

My position was just eliminated 3 weeks ago and I quickly discovered how Effective Networking is a completely different situation when exploring the broad universe of where you can go next vs. the much more limited list within a company. The very first professional organization meeting I attended 2 weeks later brought a whole new sense of urgency and a whole different set of information to share while networking. The good news - I quickly found 2 fantastic contacts that were quite willing to help. The first had recently set up an independent consulting business after leaving his job and the second was a recruiter looking to match independent consultants with companies in need of their skills!

My position was eliminated 3 weeks ago and the career consultant that I was working with emphasized how important it is to update your skills list on LinkedIn and highlight those that are your strongest. I spent significant time updating my skills and was pleasantly surprised to receive 3 unsolicited requests to talk about opportunities that seemed a great match!

i like to give an example based on my experiences: "While the recent layoff was unexpected, it presented an opportunity for me to [mention a new skill you acquired or area you explored]. I'm confident in my ability to adapt quickly and excel in new environments. In my previous role, I spearheaded a project that [explain the project and your contribution], resulting in [quantify the positive outcome]. I'm eager to leverage my experience and skills to contribute to a company focused on [mention your area of expertise]."

Specially when in an interview do not let the company feel like you need it, let them feel like THEY need you by emphasizing your skill, the skills you know they are unique to you and rare to find else where. Be confident and let the interviewer believe that you will be a great contributor to the company's work and value by working with them.

Emphasize Skills: Focus on problem-solving abilities to demonstrate your value. Provide Examples: Share specific instances where you've successfully solved complex problems. Showcase Innovation: Highlight how you've used innovation, collaboration, or strategic thinking. Address Concerns: Use examples to reassure employers about your capabilities despite a layoff. Position Proactively: Present yourself as a proactive and competent professional in interviews and cover letters.

It may be useful to prepare a list of specific achievements and contributions made in previous jobs, as well as details of the positive feedback received from bosses and colleagues who worked with you. Having these lists on hand will be very useful when conducting an interview or writing a cover letter, to share in a timely manner those examples that best suit the intended position.

In today's fast-paced and ever-changing job market, adaptability is a highly valued skill. Demonstrate your ability to adapt by sharing examples of how you've successfully navigated change in the past. Highlight how you've learned new skills, taken on new responsibilities, or adjusted to new environments. This shows potential employers that you're not only willing to adapt, but you thrive in dynamic situations. Additionally, be open to new opportunities and industries, as this demonstrates your flexibility and willingness to explore new paths.

Adapting what I know and learned to new situations has made me stronger in my ability to solve big problems. By taking recent learnings from one role and applying them to the next the I demonstrate resiliency and adaptability to what's now and what's next.

Highlight Skill Updates: Discuss courses, volunteer work, or personal projects that kept your skills current. Show Proactivity: Demonstrate your proactive approach to professional development during your time off. Commitment to Career: Illustrate your dedication and ongoing learning to potential employers. Emphasize Resilience: Showcase how you've adapted to new challenges and continued to grow. Eager Contribution: Express readiness to contribute to a new team with your updated skills and experiences.

LinkedIn has provided me with the opportunity to show that I am adaptable and capable of change through LinkedIn Learning. I am a nurse case manager looking for remote work and having a harder time finding a job than I anticipated. By looking through the learning library I have been able to obtain certificates in program management and AI courses. I will be using these as indicators that I am using my time to update my skill profile and being flexible to potential employers.

La aceptacion del cambio, la adaptabilidad es clave en todo proceso de entrevista asi como durante la ejecucion de las actividades de nuestro lugar de trabajo y el futuro lugar, siempre existiran distintos proceso y tu conocimiento asi como la experencia que tenemos nos ayudaran a afrontar los cambios recurrentes logrando reducir esa curva de aprendizaje

Never lead this conversation with the part about being let go. That's like leading a sales conversation with the price. Instead, tell the story AS a story. Talk about what happened in the order it happened, providing context and perspective, and ending with how it ended for you. By the time you share that piece of information, they will take it completely differently than if you had led with "I was let go".

Utilize inteligência artificial para criar e simular entrevistas de emprego. Pesquise na internet como usar essas novas ferramentas para fazer isso e chegar melhor preparado para a entrevista. O Chatgpt pode ajudar muito nessa simulação. Tenho certeza que fazendo essas simulações você chegará muito mais preparado e mais confiante na entrevista.

It has also many positive aspects. You learn to reframe your needs, goals and limits. Your focus is switched into training, personal development, getting new certifications in your field of expertise, levelling up your game.

Se preparar para uma entrevista é fundamental para que se sinta mais seguro e confiante. Pratique suas respostas. Prepare-se para perguntas sobre a sua demissão, focando em respostas que demonstrem suas responsabilidade e aprendizado. Destaque suas competências, enfatizando suas habilidades transferíveis e como elas podem beneficiar a nova empresa. Mostre exemplos concretos de problemas que você resolveu e resultados positivos que alcançou.

Work on yourself and develop necessary skills. Be confident of what you have learnt and what you know. Say it positively and with utmost confidence and believe in you. Nothing is wrong, it's just relative. So, be what you stand for. Being strong from mind is more important than being strong in intelligence.

Layoffs are nothing to be ashamed of. It's not what's behind you but what's ahead. Simply share your vision, your passion, and where you hope to head in your next role. Stay positive and provide examples of your resiliency.

One of the biggest mistakes I've seen candidates make which can literally kill their chances is their inability or lack of preparedness asking smart questions towards the end of the interview. If there are are minutes left in the interview, one of the best things you can do to position yourself is ask really good questions of the person who's interviewing you. That shows curiosity, intelligence and a willingness to be bold and challenge the other person to get more information. Information. This is also essential for you to really understand what type of company and role you're getting into. Don't be afraid to ask challenging questions. These will set you apart, but make sure they're good.

While you are off work, try to get certifications or dive into additional training. It will help your resume and make you a stronger candidate.

Demonstrate you can lead people. Interpersonal excellence that can drive results will win every time, especially in a world moving fast toward AI. People skills are the next currency.