How to Conquer Being Laid Off
Getting laid off really hurts. It makes you doubt yourself and makes you question why you were so committed to a company that cut ties with you seemingly so easily. And getting laid off leaves most people feeling a little (if not very) lost.
If you feel like this now, please read this post as there are three things I’ve found are consistent misconceptions of people who are where you are at right now:
1. You think you’ll never get into a company again that’s as ‘great’ as the one that just laid you off.
2. You think your financial future is in serious jeopardy.
3. You feel ashamed and embarrassed that your network will find out and think less of you.
The truth is I’ve found that most of my clients look back on their unemployment period as the blessing that launched them into something more rewarding and even more lucrative. So let’s debunk those misconceptions and help you turn this transition into your next victory.
How to conquer being laid off:
1. Use the company that just laid you off to your advantage. The good news is you now have that ‘great’ company on your resume. The last time you looked for a job, you didn’t have that advantage. You are more marketable now than you were then. Use that company on your resume, on your LinkedIn profile, and in how you tell your story. And know that how you tell the new version of your story will be key to winning in this transition. You do not need to volunteer the information that you’ve been laid off when you introduce yourself. If they specifically ask you why you left, you can share that but there’s no need to volunteer it in the first three minutes of meeting someone.
2. Know your worth. One of my favorite parts of people going through a career transition is they get more in touch with their market value and so often they were being underpaid. So many of my clients have been over-the-moon thrilled with how much more money they make in their new jobs after coming out of a layoff. Your resume, and all the success it showcases, wasn’t an accident. You spent years building it. You will absolutely land a new job. Please just don’t sell yourself short financially. I recommend planning the transition to take up to 6 months to get the right job. It’s much easier to take something too junior (in pay and responsibility) quickly but that will indeed jeopardize your financial future. I recommend payscale.com and glassdoor.com to check on pay ranges for your industry/profession. Know your worth, put in the work to strategically search for your next job, and be patient. It will pay off.
3. Leverage your network. People want to help you. You just need to take the time to get over the tough feelings you’re having. I always challenge my clients to tell me the five people in their network who they think are the most likely to lead to their next job. Those are the people you want to get on a call with so you are on their radar. I also recommend building a target list of companies you’d love to work for. Use LinkedIn as the tool to fill out your target list with people’s names. I bet you’ll be surprised by how many connections you already have that can help you start making progress on building relationships with people on your target list!
It might feel really crappy right now but you’ve overcome tough times before. You’ve got this.
If you need help, feel free to reach out.