Do This Not That – Layoff Edition

While unemployment is still at historically low levels, an acceleration of mergers and acquisitions as well as internal trimming of staff is occurring. Even if you feel valued and your job is safe, your manager or director may not be the decision maker that ultimately makes the call of whether or not to keep you – especially if the problem the company is addressing is one rooted in budget, not performance. If you are laid off, it can be dizzying to figure out what to prioritize first when it comes down to not only finding new work, but living life in the interim. Here is what to do – and what to avoid.

Do this: Take a week off to clear the head and prepare the household.

Not that: Furiously apply immediately for jobs and post erratically on social media about being laid off.

When you are first laid off, your emotions will likely be running high and your fight/flight reaction will be to rush in an attempt to find new work. There are a couple of big problems that emerge with this behavior. These problems can not only hinder your ability to find that next job, but can also hurt your ability to live safely should you forgo immediate personal needs.

First, rushing to apply for jobs means that you are likely not putting your best foot forward in those applications, such as strategizing your resume for the work you want to pursue, examining carefully who the prospective employer is and whether they are a good fit for you, and tailoring your resume and cover letter for the position. These processes take time, including securing both current recommendations and having peers help review and optimize your LinkedIn and resume. Your career progression, future earnings, and wealth building ride on getting these things right – and like a great dish being cooked they cannot be rushed or shortcutted. Having your strongest foot forward, with an emotionally clear and relaxed frame of mind, is important in order to achieve the best result possible.

Second, you have things personally you will need to do and have real, legally binding deadlines to secure some resources to help daily living. Filing for unemployment can be a lengthy process including time spent both online and on the phone. Examining your former employer’s COBRA options and weighing that against the marketplace health care options has a very limited timing window (usually 60 calendar days) for special enrollment. You and/or your household really need these resources, so take the time not just to clear your head, but get your proverbial “house in order” during this week of rest and recovery.

Do this: Treat applying for jobs like a full-time job.

Not that: Obsess all day, every day about finding a new job.

A plethora of studies show that people are able to truly focus for 5-6 hours a day. Adding in lunch and taking breaks to stretch/walk periodically, a typical 8-hour work day fits nicely. Set specific, measurable, achievable goals for what you want to accomplish within the day. Make certain to follow up promptly with any leads that come your direction. But also make certain that once the day is done, that just like being at work you close the laptop, turn off the email and notifications, and enjoy down time. You want to avoid stressing out, finally getting an offer for an interview, only to be so burnt out that you don’t give your best performance and either not get the job, or get the job and end up getting lowballed on the offer where a more refreshed, confident performance would have yielded better results. Again, the goal here is to be consistently fresh, relaxed, focused, and giving your best when you are “on.” 

Do this: Practice sample interview questions – including the seemingly “easy” questions – in front of as many people as will give you the time.

Not that: Assume that you “have it” just because the prompt isn’t complicated.

Practicing responding to interview questions, even the easy ones, provides a number of benefits. It allows you to freely communicate with the interviewer without having to dedicate as much energy into the content of what you want to express. It allows you to focus on using your best techniques for communication, such as eye contact and body language. It also frees you to watch how the interviewer responds to what you are saying, and it gives you bandwidth to ask your own questions and truly converse with the interviewer instead of mentally scrambling to give responses off the top of your head.

An amateur practices until they get it right. A professional practices until they can’t get it wrong.

Do this: Exercise at least 30 minutes a day with moderate cardio and stretching, consistently eating balanced meals and drinking plenty of water.

Not that: Sit obsessively for hours on end eating junk food and pounding soda/energy drinks.

Maintaining your health and wellness are integral to interview success. Part of this is maintaining a healthy mind and body for the rigors of the application processes and preparing for eventual interviews and negotiations. Part of this comes down to how you present yourself – if you take time to focus on your health, chances are you will be healthier. When you are healthier, you will be more confident in yourself and your abilities. This will translate into how others perceive you when you interview. From stronger job applications to the best job and compensation package possible, being healthy increases the chances of more positive outcomes in a faster period of time.

Do this: Cut back on discretionary expenses to conserve resources.

Not that: Punish yourself with abstaining from anything that provides joy.

Job hunting does not have to be a punishing experience. Economic flagellation will not make the process easier or better in any way, so avoid the mental temptations that you should never experience things that you enjoy because you don’t currently have work. Yes, you likely should be more careful about what you choose to spend on and you’ll naturally cut back on things as a reaction function to more money going out than coming in. However, having a coffee a couple times a week at the local cafe or a Friday lunch (that you pickup) from the local sandwich or pizza shop is likely not going to make or break your budget. Be mindful, not merciless with your money.

Do this: Network with colleagues to secure recommendations, including from your former employer.

Not that: Trash the former employer on the Internet (at least, right now).

Networking and securing recommendations will help you fill out your resume and give you concrete examples of work product to refer to during your interviews. Being toxic on the Internet, while tempting and potentially cathartic in the moment, will not only not help your cause in finding work but can actually be terminally detrimental should a prospective employer discover your musings online and somehow link them back to you. Your former employer does not pay you anymore, so don’t let them live rent-free in your head. Avoid the temptation to exact retribution for now – focus on what builds you up instead. 

Do this: Maintain routines for waking up, hygiene, eating, and a consistent sleep schedule.

Not that: Wake up late, not shower/shave, forget to eat or eat poorly, and go to bed extremely late because you don’t have work the next day.

Your body is used to having a rhythm for getting things done during the day. Avoid abandoning those daily routines just because you don’t have a job at the moment, because that’s all this is – a temporary pause. Being your best self requires that you take care of the whole self. Consistently waking up when your mind is most alert, dressing “for work” even though you aren’t going to a job today, eating consistently, and going to sleep at a normal hour will help your body give its best effort for you in finding that job, nailing the interview, and advancing your career.

Final Thoughts

Losing your job can feel as though the entire flow of your day or week has been entirely upended because what you used to do, how you used to live, is no longer the case.

Right now.

And that’s the point. Right now, yes that’s true, but this is where leaning into healthy habits, taking care of yourself, treating the job application process like a job, and deliberately preparing for each step of the hiring process will ensure that you are giving yourself the best chance to be successful. However, keep in mind that there are no guarantees as to how many applications it may take, or how long it could take to find work. This dynamic makes it all the more important that you apply an approach that you can consistently and sustainably attack this process. As you work through the hiring process, look back at this guide periodically to help you stay on track and be your best self from start to finish.