5 Actions to Take After a Layoff
In my ten years in the workforce, I’ve seen five rounds of layoffs. Twice, I was included in the group of employees whose roles were eliminated or made redundant, the most recent occurrence being earlier this month.
It’s never easy. It sucks. There’s no way around that.
However, I have found ways to navigate the emotions and uncertainty that come along with losing your job as a result of layoffs. Here are the steps I’ve followed both during my first experience, and over the last couple of weeks. My hope is that these learnings may help someone else who is going through the same thing.
1. Process Your Emotions
There are a lot of feelings that come with being laid off. It’s going to take some time for you to work through them all. Whether your initial reaction is anger, frustration, sadness, fear, or any other valid emotion, allow yourself to feel it. Otherwise it may build up and only increase your stress levels down the line.
Don’t do it alone, though. This is the time to call on your support system. Almost as soon as I found out about my recent layoff, I was on the phone with my parents, my boyfriend, and my friends. It is fully okay for you to lean on those trusted, loved people in your life and talk through things with them. This will help you to fully process what you’re going through.
2. Take Stock of Your Situation
Of course, one of your primary concerns is going to be your financial situation. Once you’re in the right headspace, take a look at what your (now former) employer has delivered to see when your final paycheck will arrive, if they’re offering you severance, and how long you will be able to stay on the company’s insurance plan (if applicable.) Apply for unemployment benefits, or look into COBRA.
For me personally, this makes me feel a lot better about my situation. Once I know how the bills will be paid, I can focus on everything else. I’m fortunate enough that I was able to get everything sorted out within a week or so, but it may take longer for some. Whatever your situation, it’s important to know those details so you can take the most well-informed next steps possible.
3. Develop a Timeline
For many, it may be imperative to find a new role immediately. For others, you may find you have some wiggle room. With the information you have, pick a goal date for you to find a new job, as well as come criteria for what that new job will look like.
If you can afford to take some time off, even if it’s just a couple of weeks, take it. I cannot stress this point enough. If you are fortunate enough to be able to take any amount of time to recover and rejuvenate before jumping into your next role, do so.
The first time I was laid off, I was more or less on the payroll for three months as my severance. I kept my insurance benefits, and was paid regularly. So, I took a month off before even thinking about applying for a new role.
This time is a little different. I’m looking for work, but I’m being very discerning about what I applications I fill out. I still make a point to apply for two to five great roles a week with companies that are ideal for me. Many of these are dream roles. As time goes on, I will widen that search and take a more aggressive approach. But for now, I’m enjoying my spare time outside of the 9-to-5. And to me, that is extremely important.
4. Explore Creative, Fulfilling Pursuits
Almost everyone I know has a side project, myself included! This is a great time to pursue that. If you have a hobby you always wanted to try, or even a book you’ve always wanted to read, leverage this gap in your employment to do that.
As for me, I am doing what you’d expect; I’m writing. I already had an outline for the next novel I wanted to develop and I am taking this time to do just that. I’ve also invested more time into my social media presence and finally reached 10,000 followers on TikTok.
I’m also reading a couple books a week, watching a potentially unhealthy amount of Critical Role, and playing video games. I’m doing the things that make my heart happy and give me a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment while also figuring out what my ideal next role looks like.
This could look very different for you, and that’s okay. This is a very unique experience, and it’s important to explore the things that give you joy to help you navigate a stressful period in your career.
5. Figure Out What Your Next Role Looks Like
When you’re ready to find that next gig, make sure you know what you’re looking for. If you want a role just like your last one, that’s great. You’re probably perfectly positioned to land it.
If you want to change industries, or even functions, that could also be well within your reach! Explore the requirements for the kind of work you’re looking for, see if there are knowledge or experience gaps you can fill, then update your resume and social presence accordingly.
The important thing is to take a beat and identify what you want. What gets you excited? What will a rewarding, successful job look like to you? Once you nail that down, you can really get excited about your next opportunity.
While I am currently somewhere between steps 4 and 5, I am very optimistic. I don’t love the uncertainty that comes with this process, but I’m treating it like growing pains. I’m looking forward to finding that next great role and seeing how I can continue to learn and develop in my career.
I’m not sure what’s next, but I’m going to enjoy the journey as I figure it out.
