You’ve Just Been Laid Off. Now What?
November 10, 2022
You’ve probably seen the videos or read stories about companies firing thousands of workers at once over zoom, by email, or even through pre-recorded voicemails.
Many of those people left for work that day thinking they had a good job and a secure future and by the time it was lunch, they started doing the math on which bills they could delay paying and how they would cover their health insurance payments.
And at the same time they were dealing with the trauma of a sudden layoff, they had to answer a vital question: How quickly can I find a new job?
It can be tough to switch gears if you unexpectedly find yourself searching for new work. The job market is constantly evolving and stepping into it without the right preparation is a good way to collect a huge number of “Thanks, but no thanks” emails from HR departments.
That’s why we spoke with Jeries Hanania, our Senior Technical Recruiter at CRB Workforce, to learn about the most important steps you need to take when you’re looking for a new office.
Break Glass in Case of Emergency
The Big Idea: No matter how secure you feel in your current position, it’s essential to have a plan ready in case you find yourself unemployed. Taking these steps now will let you move fast if you need to launch a surprise job hunt.
- Get your resume ready
- The purpose of your resume isn’t to tell your life’s story; it’s to highlight the experiences and skills that make you valuable to a company.
- When discussing your accomplishments, use numbers, such as percentage increases in sales or the size of budgets managed, to provide concrete examples of your success.
- Don’t oversell yourself with empty buzzwords.
- Experienced hiring managers know the difference between well-written fluff and substantive achievements.
- Build a strong portfolio
- For any design, marketing or content-related position, a strong portfolio of work is much more important than a cover letter.
- Your portfolio should be online, well organized and demonstrate all of your best skills.
- A Google doc stuffed full of URL links isn’t going to impress anyone.
- A portfolio is a showcase, not a museum, so keep it current and only feature your best work, not every project you’ve worked on since high school
- All in on LinkedIn
- Take it from us; recruiters love to use LinkedIn to find new talent.
- That’s why you want to optimize your account to be as discoverable as possible.
- Recruiters search LinkedIn using keywords for specific skills, so make sure you write detailed descriptions of your past accomplishments and responsibilities.
- If you only put in a job title like “project manager,” you’re not giving the recruiter the information they need to ask you for an interview.
Bottom Line: The time after you’ve been laid off will probably be a stressful one. Take some of the anxiety out of searching for work by preparing yourself beforehand.
Hit the Ground Running
The Big Idea: After an unexpected layoff, you’ll probably feel pressure to find a new job quickly, but a good strategy is as important as a good resume if you want to land the right position.
- Take care of your emotions.
- Our jobs matter because they give us a paycheck, a sense of purpose and even a social network.
- Abruptly losing all of that can be a traumatic experience.
- Take the time you need to process what happened, talk to friends and get yourself into a better head space.
- Job hunting is both a demanding and detail-oriented process. It’s essential to have a clear head before you dive in.
- Tap your network
- The fastest way to find a new job is to utilize your personal network of friends and colleagues.
- A reference from someone that a hiring manager already knows can help you skip past the resume slush pile.
- Reach out to people on an individual basis. Don’t blast out a group email or text begging for work.
- A personal touch always works best!
- Reach out to recruiters
- You don’t have to look for work alone.
- Professional recruiters can help connect you with the job you’re looking for.
- A good recruiter can give you advice on your resume, interview skills or other important elements of your job hunt.
- Look for recruiting agencies that specialize in your field.
- A boutique agency, such as CRB Workforce, is already close to the employers you’re interested in and can help you navigate the hiring process.
Bottom Line: Blindly sending our resumes might get you a job, but it probably won’t happen quickly. The fastest way to start booking first-round interviews is to work with the people you already know and professionals that you trust.