How To Stay Above Water During the Wave of Mass Layoffs

If you haven’t been a victim of the recent wave of layoffs taking place across multiple industries this year, I’m sure you are well aware of how hectic the job market currently is. People are losing their jobs in droves and almost every industry is in some kind of turmoil. As someone who has been laid off from a job before, I know firsthand how frustrating and depressing the experience can be as you try to come to terms with what has happened to you and find a new role. It is easy to get discouraged and question your value after such a traumatizing event, but it is crucial to remember who you are and what you bring to any table. Here are a few tips to stay encouraged and get back in the field after being laid off.

1.     Take your time. We all know that bills don’t stop but it is important to take a moment when needed to breathe and take this time to rest as you gear up for your next career venture.

2.     Revamp that resume. Take a look at the job descriptions for your previous roles and make sure they align with what you actually did. You can also cross check them against similar roles in your industry to see if there are additional tasks you did that you may not have considered.

3.     Make connections. Most of the time, your resume is parsed through a computer and rarely makes it in front of the actual hiring manager or recruiter. When you find a role or company of interest, try to connect with someone there to learn more about the company/department and get your resume in human hands.

4.     Use your time wisely. If there are free certifications, seminars, or workshops you can do that will help set you apart from the rest in your field, take this time to find them. The time will pass anyway, might as well spend it putting yourself in an even better position than you were in before.

5.     Don’t limit yourself. Even if you have only ever worked in advertising, explore marketing jobs, if you have only ever worked in consumer products, check out positions in tech. Most skills are transferable and there is no time like the present to pivot!

I hope this helps and wishing you luck on your career journey!