Recovering from a layoff

Getting laid off can be demoralizing. Here are some ways to cope.

When my tech employer laid me off, I was definitely shocked. The headwinds affecting my company’s industry did not seem to be strong enough to knock us off course. We were hiring people as layoffs happened elsewhere. Losing my job along with dozens of other employees was not what I was expecting.

Few of us go to work one day and think “my company might have layoffs tomorrow and I will be one of them.” But even the largest tech companies are laying off thousands of employees. The layoffs are across every function imaginable. There are no guarantees, even if you have seniority.

How do you recover and cope with a decision that was completely out of your hands? Here are a few things I learned.

Take a bit of time…

Social media conditions us to broadcast everything. After your layoff, consider whether this is information you want to share right away. You may want to spend some time thinking and processing on your own before firing off a status update.

Giving yourself some time also helps you prepare for your next steps. You may have been completely happy with your job, or you may have been ready to quit anyway. Think about what you liked about your job and what you did not. Take an inventory of your accomplishments and strengths. Has anything changed since you last switched employers?

You may find yourself wanting to try a completely different role or a different industry. Or you may realize you miss what you were doing earlier in your career. Taking a moment before reaching out will help you better understand what you want to do. Having this understanding will improve the way you communicate your goals. In turn, this will increase your chances of finding an excellent match.

…then definitely share about it

I almost decided not to share about my layoff on LinkedIn. It felt embarrassing. Some recruiters had reached out in the previous weeks and I had turned them down. Those positions might still available. I could reach back out to them and would not even have to turn on that green “Open To Work” profile frame.

But for many reasons, I am glad that I did share about my layoff the next day. First, it was a growth opportunity for me to swallow my pride, talk about the layoff, and put myself out there. I had never lost my job before. Having this happen to me was disempowering and disorienting. But staying quiet about it was not going to help me in the long run.

Another reason I am glad I shared about my layoff is that I was able to help destigmatize layoffs for other people. When you experience a layoff, you worry about what it all looks like. You wonder if you will get a new job again. It can be very isolating. But when you are open about losing your job, you normalize it. You acknowledge the fact that this has happened to you as well as many other people and that there is no shame in it.

Finally, if I had not shared about my layoff, I would not have landed a new job so quickly. The likes and shares drew tons of attention to my post over days. Some led to comments and DMs, which led to interviews. The job I accepted came from a friend who saw my LinkedIn post and reached out. If I had not been this open about my layoff, I would not have heard about the opportunity!

I am ready to post now!

Great! Before you rush off to LinkedIn, pull up your text editor of choice and start drafting. Yes, this is going to take a little bit more time, but it is going to be worth it. Once you post about your layoff, the algorithms will give you one big shot at grabbing attention. Taking a little extra care up front will help ensure you are broadcasting the right message.

The more details you have in your post, the more likely it is you will find a strong match. For instance, posting “hey there, I got laid off, looking for a new job, thanks” tells people little. Instead, you can post specific details about the type of work you want. List your desired industry, your interests, and your ideal work environment. With these details, you are more likely to find a suitable job. 

Get ready for the rush

After posting about your layoff, a wave of reactions, reposts, and comments will start. You may be getting overwhelmed by the well wishes and links to job postings. You start envisioning yourself at different organizations and how you would fit in.

Right now, you are at the peak of the honeymoon phase. Keep some of this energy with you, because you will need it over the coming weeks. 

You may also be somewhat (or very) off-routine right now. That’s okay for a couple of days while you re-adjust. But you have an opportunity to craft your time while unemployed in a way that is restorative. You may not have to worry about being online by a certain time at the moment. But without even intending to, it is easy to fritter away days of time.

Be intentional about your schedule right now. If that means finding time to exercise, catch up on undone tasks, meditate, or a side project, do it. When you are not intentional about this time, you risk wasting it. Without realizing it, you can spend hours doom-scrolling LinkedIn. Instead, use this time for self-care and interview prep.

Dealing with recruiters

After you post about your layoff, recruiters are going to start reaching out to you. It is important to treat them graciously, stay positive, and also exercise vigilance. Always thank them for reaching out, even if it does not seem like the position will be a fit. 

At the same time, you need to make sure the opportunity is viable before “hopping on a quick call” to talk. Even though you are not currently working, your time is still valuable. You should not waste time talking with a recruiter about an opportunity that is not a fit.

First, you need to see the salary range and job description. If they have not yet provided this information, gently ask for it. You can phrase it something like this: “Thanks for reaching out! This opportunity sounds interesting. Can you pass along the salary range and job description? I’ve attached my resume.” (And of course, attach your resume at this point!) 

If they are still not forthcoming about the details, abandon the opportunity. The days of tech salaries being a mystery are drawing to a close. Sites like levels.fyi have salary range information for many tech companies. Colorado, California, Washington, and New York City all have laws requiring salary ranges. In this environment, you do not want to be working for a company that is hoping to save a few dollars on your salary.

There is little legitimate reason for a recruiter not to provide a job description. If you don’t get one from them, bail. The next problem to watch out for is recruiters sending several job descriptions. In this case, the recruiter has a database of companies they are working with. 

At this point, you need to determine how closely they are working with these companies. In viable cases, they are working directly with the hiring manager for the role. Ask if this is the case. If they are not working with the hiring manager, this means they do the application on your behalf. Your resume will sit there in the same stack as everyone else who has applied and may not ever be even seen again.

If everything checks out and the salary range is one you would consider, proceed with the call. Also, trust your gut. If something seems weird in the process, it could be a warning sign. Definitely check sites like Glassdoor for reviews. If possible, also talk to people who have worked at the company.

The long haul

Once you have settled back into some routines, you are now in the middle of interviews. 

You will get excited about certain opportunities. Then they will fall apart at the last interview. You will have a conversation with a recruiter that will go well. Then you won’t hear back from them until three weeks later when they decide to close the job. You may get an offer from a company you were not as excited about and then feel pressure to make a decision right then.

There can be a temptation to take the first job with a reasonable salary that comes along. You might have to cut the process short with another employer, but at least you will have a job, right?

Resist this temptation. Yes, you just went through the trauma and shock of a layoff. But this does not mean that you have to sell yourself short for your next job. Your sense of time right now is different from when you are working. After participating in several interviews and calls, a week can feel like a month.

Whatever you do, remember your worth, take your time, and stay positive. You will feel hope, excitement, disappointment, and frustration all in the same day. And this will happen for weeks on end. But there is light at the end of the tunnel and you will find a new job. You’ve got this!