As we have seen, a number of organisations have had large scale layoffs, affecting thousands of people. Being made redundant or getting ‘fired’ can be a shock to the system and a hit to your confidence, as well as causing major life stress. It’s easy to start panicking and worry about the impact on your finances and your life.
Here is our advice on how to get back on track after being laid off.
Budget and organize your finances
It’s a good idea to get a handle and understanding of your finances, including how much time you can afford to take off in between finding new work. For many, a redundancy will be enough (or more) to keep their bank account healthy before finding another job, but not everyone receives a redundancy package. When you understand your finances better you can create a smart budget to stick to that can make you feel calmer for the next steps in your job search journey.
Refresh your resume
If you haven’t done this yet, this is a must! Having an updated resume that includes your latest achievements and capabilities is important to have ready for as soon as you want to send it out (either via applications or through connections). The last thing you want to do is send out an outdated resume as this will prevent your chances of being successful in finding work.
Reach out to your connections
When you have a fresh resume ready, it can be really helpful to reach out to connections to let them know you are looking for a new role. You can contact and let people know in several ways, including LinkedIn, via text or calling, emailing colleagues, or a coffee catch up with some familiar work friends. The power of recommendations and word of mouth is still one of the best ways to find a job. Many doors can be opened by simply having real conversations with people you have connected with throughout your career.
Talk to your family and friends
A stress relief that can also double as a kind of networking is talking to family and friends. Not to ask for favors necessarily but just to let them know where you are at and how you are coping. This alleviates stress and help you feel less alone. Perhaps someone else you know is going through something similar! It can also open the chance for new opportunities. When people are aware of your situation, they may think of you and pass on your name when they hear about a job opening.
Reach out to a recruiter
When you are ready to start actively applying and interviewing, it can be helpful to reach out to a recruiter in your industry to let them know your skillset and experience as well as what type of job you are looking for. Recruiters have new roles crossing their path every day, if you’re on their radar, you may be able to get to an interview without even formally applying. This could be one way to fast track your job search journey.
Apply for jobs on multiple channels
When applying for jobs, make sure you are looking across several channels. You can apply through the typical sites like JobsDB and Indeed, as well as on LinkedIn, or other, more niche websites, such as recruiter websites.
Take care of yourself
Don’t forget to take care of your mental wellbeing and keep up some semblance of routine when you aren’t working. This can help keep your motivation levels high and prevent getting into a slump of worry and uncertainty. Some ways you can take care of yourself during this time include:
- Exercising regularly
- Eating well
- Keeping social
- Drinking enough water
- Keeping your mind active
- Taking time to rest
- Sleeping enough
If you have any guidance for people who have recently lost their job, let us know and we can pass on the advice!
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