Diversity JobsDiversity JobsMassive layoffs are in the news on a daily basis lately. If you’ve been personally impacted, you might be in need of a pep talk and some helpful tips as you prepare to jump back into job-hunting mode. You’ve come to the right place! This article explains how you can begin to deal with your newfound reality while also providing some ways to kickstart your upcoming job search. Trust us – before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to landing an even better job. The future is bright. Keep reading to find out more.
Take Some Time to Reflect
Before you do anything, take a week or so to think things over. You need time to process and accept what’s happened – losing one’s job can be genuinely traumatic and emotionally disruptive. Contemplate why you were let go. What were the reasons this happened?
This is also an excellent opportunity to consider what you liked and disliked about your previous job. Maybe you’ll realize that the job you had wasn’t a good fit after all and you’re ready for a change. Whatever the case, determine what your priorities are as you move forward and what you’ll need from a future employer and role to be happy.
Identify Several Solid References
After you’ve adjusted to your new reality, it’s time to identify and gather positive references. These are the folks in your life who recognize your strengths and will speak highly of you and your abilities to a potential employer. They might be former managers, coworkers, vendors, or clients.
Not only will the act of reaching out to these supporters be a nice boost to your confidence, but you’ll also be taking an invaluable step toward locking down a new job. Once you start interviewing with new employers, these references will come in very handy.
Reevaluate Your Resume and Online Presence
Before you start applying for jobs, you’ll want to take a long, hard look at your current resume, as well as your online presence on sites like LinkedIn. It’s possible you haven’t updated either for quite a while because you were busy working and living life. Now that you’ve figured out what direction you want your career to go, make sure that your resume and LinkedIn profile reflect this.
If necessary, hire someone to spruce up and tailor these documents for you. Without a strong resume and online brand, it’ll likely take a lot longer to impress the right employer.
Start Actively Networking on LinkedIn
Finally, start paying more attention to LinkedIn and your network. Many times this is how people get their foot in the door at a new company. Who you know matters. Friends, colleagues, neighbors, and college alumni are more apt to understand the nuances of why you were let go and advocate for you. Reach out to other professionals in the field that interests you and let them know you’re looking so you’re on their radar when a job opens up. You never know where your networking might lead.
Losing a job can be a real challenge. It might make you doubt yourself and feel temporarily lost. But if you take some time to reflect and then follow the suggestions mentioned above, it’s only a matter of time before your career is right back on track. Getting laid off happens to the best of us so don’t get discouraged – keep pushing forward, and soon you’ll be in a better place than you were before!
