Surviving a Layoff: 10 Things You Need To Do/Know Now!

OK, it seems an everyday thing that layoffs are the top trending topic on LinkedIn right now so I put together a list of 10 things people can do from research I did to help people in what is for many a terrible and abrupt life challenge. If these help you, I would love to hear about it because there are so many tough stories out there daily it would be great to hear some success stories as well.

Before I get to the 10, I also want to give a huge thank you to all of the amazing people who are out there tagging people for jobs, referring people, supporting people, and gladly scooping up talent that other companies have let go. Thank you, some are friends, some are colleagues, and others are just awesome strangers... You all deserve a huge thank you and may it encourage others to join in and crowdsourcing support where we can. Let's get to it.

Number one, take some time to process your emotions. I know you may be freaking out when the foundation of your stability and daily life is ripped out from under you. There is a literal shock many people feel and that can cause a variety of reactions. Take some time as little as it may be to reflect and regroup. The fact is, you have a career path, and this is a chance to go further. Switch mindsets from scarcity to abundance and ask yourself, "What didn't I like about my job? What job/role/company would be even better than my last job?" Our minds are incredibly powerful, make this a job upgrade.

Number two, think about your career. Maybe it is time to pivot, to do what you really want to do, or to go for that company you dream of working for. Many times we don't go for the dreams because we already have a job we wouldn't risk. Now there is no risk in reaching for more or for what you want because you have to make a change anyway. You aren't giving up anything which puts you in a position of power not weakness. The risk is mitigated so start with the jobs you really want and you can work down the list if those don't work out.

Number three, update your resume and LinkedIn profile. Collect all of the great things you did at your last job and make sure you highlight them. There are many talented people who don't brag enough about themselves (yes the opposite is true), but this is no time to be shy. If you don't tell people what you can do, they won't know. You have learned, grown, and developed your skills since you started your last job and they probably haven't been captured in your profile and resume. While you are at it, look back at your previous jobs and make sure the things you are sharing line up with the jobs you are wanting. You don't want to highlight irrelevant skills when positions often develop a large spectrum of skills.

Number four, assess your financial situation. Just like a startup or business, you have to know the numbers of how long you can run before problems happen. Make a list of financial priorities and then rank them and ask yourself how long do I have before this becomes a problem. Next, ask yourself how can I solve this problem. You may have 30 days before money runs out, but even if you got some money but it isn't enough it could extend your 30 days to 60 days and that might give you enough runway to find the next main position. There are many ways to solve a problem or extend your runway.

Number six, network with former colleagues and friends. There are tons of people you might not talk to on a regular basis that love you, appreciate you, and would love to help you. Time to be a social butterfly. Former colleagues can be key when it comes to finding a new job. People can't help you if they don't know your issue. If you haven't been engaging with your network the algorithm may not share your story with everyone so get out there and engage with former colleagues, recruiters, people at companies you

Number six, explore job opportunities online. Job search has come a long way and you can really dial in who is hiring and what lines up with your goals. Remember, your application is either being pre-screened by software meaning you have to make sure and write with the keywords and job description in mind. You don't want to not get contacted because of keywords. Also, the same goes with human pre-screening. They already told you what they are looking for in a candidate so you should align with that and it should align with your skills to be a match. Then you need to stand out enough to be chosen, so don't be generic. They are not hiring a skill set they are hiring a person so make sure some of your personality shows through. To be a good fit you want a company that loves and appreciates you not just your resume.

Number seven, file for unemployment benefits. Don't wait to file for unemployment benefits because the process can take time. Again, it may not solve the problem but it may extend your runway.

Number eight, consider a career change or additional training. New jobs often mean new challenges even if the job fits your skills. When starting your job search it is a great time to learn new skills and refine the ones you have. Many times we are so busy working we fail to refine. This will also help overcome the doubt and feelings that you aren't valuable because a company decided not to keep you. Let me be real here... it is their loss, not yours. Go where you are appreciated.

Number nine, be kind to yourself. Don't create context that isn't real. You may think you aren't worthy, or are not wanted but all of these companies laying people off seem to have a short-term memory loss because for the last couple years there has been a huge talent shortage and many of these companies are taking the easy way out by laying people off vs developing people, doubling down on smart operations and business agility. The leadership it takes to keep people is much greater than firing people to make budget. Those brands need to invest deeper in their people and the people will rise to the challenges the company needs. If a company is not committed to saving their employees, the employees won't be committed to saving the company.

And finally, number ten, stay focused and persistent. Consistency is important and making something happen requires effort. The same effort you were putting into your job is now needed to find and land your next great job. Stay positive, reach high, and be relentless, but make sure you are enabling people to help you along the way.

I just want to say, I am sorry you lost your job. I hope you find something even better, and I am happy to introduce you if I can, just dm me I have a big network. I would love to hear from you if this has helped you and I would love to hear who has found work who was laid off. You got this!

Feel free to comment below if you are looking for work and what you are looking for, and everyone else please see if there are connections to make and people to help. Thanks Everyone!