Layoffs are the worst!

Layoffs are the worst!

To the many friends and contacts that have recently been laid off, I am so sorry you are going through this, and want you to know that I am here for you for anything you need, from an ear to listen, a hug or a shoulder, as well as a reference or introduction to any one of my contacts. Feel free to call, text, or email me anytime 24/7.

While I know there is not a lot that will fix how you feel right now, I do have a couple tips for managing how to recover from the news.

When an unexpected change like a layoff happens, it touches nearly every aspect of your life, family, budget, housing, travel plans, work friendships, retirement plans etc. It can make the world seem pretty stressful and overwhelming.  The rollercoaster of emotions people deal with range from anger, to grief, anxiety, regret, shame, depression and guilt. It is 100% Okay to give yourself some time to process. What you do next matters.

Tip 1. give yourself a deadline for how long you need for the grieving process. Everyone is different so it will vary anywhere from a day to a week. Whatever that timeframe is, clear your head and plan to start a new day waking up with a plan after however long you need. If you have an affirmation that means something to you start the day off with that, something as simple as “something great is going to happen today” would work, Say it out-loud!

Tip 2. Accept and prepare that the hunt for a new opportunity could take some time. Review and adjust your budget to give yourself the longest runway possible. Once you’ve identified how long that time is, it is important that you have a plan for what to do with the time.

Tip 3. Do positive things with your time that will make you better, stronger, smarter, more confident and give you a sense of accomplishment that may be otherwise missing without the daily work routine. In addition to putting yourself out there on job search sites and application portals try a few of these:

·     Review and update your resume. Run it by a trusted colleague for feedback.

·     Commit to finishing a book, preferably one that has some professional/motivational value

·     Meditate on what is important to you, your values and what you want out of your next opportunity, list them somewhere, there is power in writing it down.

·     Listen to some industry relative podcasts

·     Call all your contacts, you will be surprised how many things are going on in your industry that may be a good fit and how eager most people are to help you

·     If you don’t already have one, start a daily exercise routine, walk, bike, whatever works for you. It will keep your head clear and you will come across more confidently when interviewing in clothes that haven’t fit you in a while.

Finally, don’t shoot the messenger. Remember that the person that delivered you the Layoff news most likely hated to do it, and they had a very long day likely having to have that conversation many times over knowing that they were negatively impacting the situations of many people that they care about and have for many years.