Tips for What to Do When Laid Off
Photo by Yan Krukov from Pexels
Several big-name tech, media, and consumer companies have laid off hundreds to thousands of employees in the last few months. Some believe these layoffs are due to the fear of an upcoming recession. The other more well-known reason is that some companies overcompensated for the number of employees they needed and are now cutting back on their budgets. Regardless of the reason, losing your job unexpectedly without any safeguards in place can be a scary spot to be in.
If you’ve recently been laid off, here are some tips you can take to make your next big career move.
Take some time to relax and reflect
Before hopping right back on the job boards, prioritize your mental health. Getting laid off can bring about feelings of sadness, fear, and frustration. With this in mind, you want to ensure you’ve taken the time to relax and think about your ultimate personal and professional goals. You’ll find yourself in a better place to resume the job search if you have clarity and are in better spirits.
Review your accomplishments
To get a better sense of your professional skills and capabilities, take some time to review your previous accomplishments. You can use the CARL (Context, Action, Results, and Learning) framework to help you reflect on your previous experiences so that you can align with where you want to head next.
Here’s a breakdown of the CARL framework:
Context: Provide a brief description of your experience.
Action: Discuss the steps you took.
Results: What happened as a result of your actions?
Learning: Explain what you learned from the experience.
Have an idea of what you’re looking for in your next role
As you restart the job hunt, consider what qualities you’re looking for in your next position. For example, do you want an in-person or remote work environment? Do you want to stay within your profession, or are you considering other career options? Knowing what you want ahead of your job search can help you be more direct in your path to new employment.