Step 1: Take time to process.
Whether you're pissed off, relieved, disappointed, scared, or completely confused, layoffs are emotional. It's normal. Set aside time to honor this journey emotionally, and take care of yourself. Take off the pressure and honor what you need in this moment, first and foremost. Decide how long you’re going to spend in this phase, and don’t feel guilty about it. Maybe it’s a week, maybe it’s a month. Whatever you need is okay. This layoff didn’t mean anything about you, but rather about the health of the company. Release the judgements you’ve placed on yourself, and remember, you’re doing great.
Step 2: Identify where you want to go.
Maybe this was a blessing in disguise, and you're ready to change industries. Maybe you loved your job, and you want more of the same. Maybe you have no clue where you want to go next, and don't know where to start. Pause and decide first in order to take targeted & aligned actions. While this can be a really scary place, it actually is a perfect place to start. Identify what you liked about your job (could be a lot or it could be nothing at all), but get as specific as possible here. Identify what you absolutely dreaded about your position. Use all your job history as data for what’s next. But do not jump into action until you have a game plan of where you want to go. You don’t have to be 100% about it; just decide this is what you want to try first and see how it feels.
Step 3: Update your resume.
What made you a bada$$ at your last job? What do you bring the table that no one else does? What resulted from your work for both your team & your company? What filled you with pride? What feels easy to brag about? What feels harder to brag about? Your resume should shout all of it from the rooftops. Use keywords from each different job description to pass that computer bitch, and triple check you explicitly show them your skills. This is not the time to be shy or humble.
Step 4: USE YOUR DATA.
Identify what didn’t work or fit in your last job. Maybe there were red flags that this wasn’t the best place for you. Maybe you were totally blinded by this layoff. Either way, use your experience as data to drive your job search forward. If there were red flags, use them. What can you ask in the interview process to support you going forward? What did you enjoy about your last job & not enjoy? Use all of this data to frame up your deal-breakers and create a job search strategy with aligned results.
Step 5: Be transparent.
Layoffs are happening all over right now. Don't try to cover up what happened with fancy word-smithery. All that leads to is more questioning on what exactly happened and why it happened. Tell it like it is, and what makes you an ideal choice for the next company who values you.
Step 6: Rest.
Job searching is tiring. It’s so easy to hustle and lose yourself in the job search. Don't pour every ounce of your energy into it and burn yourself out in the process. Dedicate your day, but give yourself plenty of time to recharge and rest up so you can keep going. The key here is consistency, not sprints.