What To Do If You Get Laid Off: Top 10 Strategies

It feels like nearly every day, yet another behemoth brand announces a massive cut, leaving active job seekers nervous and wondering whether they’ll find a new role. In fact, almost 80,000 U.S.-based tech workers have been laid off so far in 2023. Yet, despite recent layoffs in the tech sector, the job market is actually booming. The U.S. Labor Department’s February 2023 employment report showed the lowest jobless rate (3.4%) since 1969. So keep this encouraging news in mind if you find yourself unemployed and scrambling—plenty of opportunities exist. In this article, we discuss 10 steps you can take if you’ve been laid off that will help you get back to work. Related: What It Means To Be Laid Off

10 steps to take if you’ve been laid off

If you’ve recently been let go from your job, there are steps you can take right away that will help in your job search:

1. Take a deep breath

Losing a job can be emotionally devastating, so taking a break to deal with your emotions and regroup is a healthy first step. Reflect on your role and what you did and didn’t enjoy about your previous position. Often, job cuts are by division or due to job redundancy, so understanding why you were let go will help with planning your next steps. In addition, this reflection can help you start your search re-energized and with more clarity. Once you begin your job search you should treat it like your new job. But make sure to set aside time daily for self-care, like getting fresh air, exercising, or spending time with friends and loved ones to keep your spirits up.

2. Evaluate your strengths

As you consider what you want to do next - whether you want to find a job similar to your last one or make a more drastic change - it can help to consider your strengths. Personality and aptitude tests can help you understand what you’re good—and bad—at and which careers or roles might be a good fit. For example, you might learn you’re an extrovert who should consider a client-facing position, such as sales, customer success, or social media management. A test could also help remind you of the traits to highlight in your resume. There’s a plethora of free and paid aptitude or personality tests online. Myers-Briggs is one of the most popular and widely used and might be a good place to start. If money allows, you could also consider meeting with a career counselor to help you weigh your options and start the search process. You might consider reaching out to any educational institution that you’ve been part of to get career advice. Many institutions are adding career planning and advice for alumni. There may be free or low-cost options that are available to you. Once you determine the types of jobs you’d like to pursue, complete a skills audit to ensure you have the requisite skills. If there’s a gap, search for online courses that could fill it. Harvard Business School Online offers a variety of business courses that have proven to help people advance their careers, get increased attention from recruiters, and earn more money. There are countless other online programs to consider that can help you transition to a new field. Read more: How To Identify Your Strengths in the Workplace

3. Polish and optimize your resume

Keeping your resume updated is a good practice, even when you’re not looking for a job. If it’s outdated, refresh it shortly after leaving your job while the details are still fresh. Emphasize your accomplishments, not just skills. Include how you contributed to the strength or growth of your organization and, when possible, include measurable results, like how you helped with revenue or customer growth or improved website performance. Almost as important as having a standout resume is having an optimized one so recruiters and employers can easily find you. Many organizations use applicant tracking systems to scan resumes submitted for a particular role and discard those that don’t include important keywords. The critical keywords are the skills most commonly needed for a particular job. To identify them, review the job descriptions for such roles and make sure those same words appear in your resume. Once again, there may be resources available to help you navigate this new reality of the job search process, particularly if you haven’t been in the job market for a while. Read more: How To Write About Being Laid Off on a Resume

4. Include a cover letter

It’s always a good idea to include a cover letter, even when the employer states it’s optional. A cover letter allows you to highlight your strengths and accomplishments and shows that you understand the specific needs of the organization. It could also highlight how you could have a meaningful impact in the posted role. You should ideally address your cover letter to the hiring manager or role’s team leader to personalize it and show you’ve done your research. Before applying, ask someone to proofread the documents to guarantee everything makes sense and that there are no errors or misspellings. Another set of eyes on these important documents will ensure you make the best impression. Read more: Cover Letter Samples

5. Narrow your search

Identify your criteria for your next employer. Determining the ideal size of your dream organization, its location, policy on remote work, benefits and perks, and culture will help you focus your efforts. There are lists of the best places to work in most cities or within industries that can be helpful. Glassdoor is a great resource for getting the inside scoop on a company’s culture and the pros and cons of working at a particular organization. For the best results, look for companies that meet your criteria and are looking for new talent.

6. Ask for help

Your prior manager and colleagues know you well and can speak to your strengths. Ask them to post recommendations on your professional social media profiles. They may also have people they can introduce you to within their own networks. Cast your net as wide as possible. Former colleagues, but also friends, family, neighbors, and fellow alumni from your college, can help put you in touch with possible job opportunities. Even without introductions, reach out to people on professional social media sites in jobs similar to the one you want. When seeking advice, many people, even if you don’t know them, will be generous with their time. Ask for a quick phone call or an in-person informational interview and at the end of every conversation ask who they know who might be able to help. Make it a goal to leave every conversation with a next step or a new contact name.

7. Leverage recruiters

Working with recruiters who specialize in your industry or discipline can help secure your next job. Remember that they are typically compensated by the hiring organization, but since they are interested in filling roles, you might be the candidate they are looking for to present to a client. If you don’t already know the right recruiters, ask your network. You can also reach out to recruiters within the organizations you’re pursuing. Finding the right recruiter in the industry you are interested in could also be a great way for you to get a market overview, which is very helpful in a job search process.

8. Prepare to interview

The most important way to get ready for an interview is to prepare. Learn as much as you can about the organization and the people you’ll meet. Outline the key messages you want to convey and prepare answers for tough questions, like:

Describe a failure at work and how you rectified it.
What is your biggest weakness?
What do you expect from a boss?

And remember, interviews go both ways. Identify good questions to ask. Your questions will show that you’ve done your research on the organization and that you’re eager to learn more. Here are some tips that my colleague Patrick Mullane, shared with Fast Company about asking better questions in an interview. Lastly, and most importantly, practice, practice, practice. Ask a friend to roleplay with you and rehearse weaving your key messages into your answers. Record yourself to help refine your messaging, inflection and body language. Related: How To Answer Why You Left Your Job If You Were Laid Off

9. Nail the interview

You’re ready. You’ve done your homework, and now it’s “go time.” The first step is to control your anxiety by thinking of the interview as a conversation. Remind yourself that the interview is as much for you as it is for the company. During the interview, convey energy and enthusiasm in your appearance and demeanor. If it’s a Zoom interview, know that the camera causes an exaggerated frown, so compensate by exaggerating your smile. Also, dress professionally, even for Zoom or a casual work environment. You never want to show up underdressed, so wear professional attire. If you’ll be on camera, choose a solid color you love and avoid flashy jewelry or other accessories that could distract the interviewer. After the meeting, send a thank you note via email. Handwritten notes are a nice touch, but may arrive too late for the interviewer’s decision-making cycle. You can use a thank you note to cover anything you missed in your interview, reinforce a bond you shared with the interviewer and highlight why you are the best person for the job.

10. Be patient

Waiting to hear from a prospective employer can feel endless, but once you’ve sent your thank you note, it’s time to sit back and wait. Ask the recruiter or hiring manager when you can expect to hear about the hiring decision and resist following up after only a few days. The job market is competitive, so reviewing candidates and making a final decision might take longer than expected. Be patient and you’ll be back to work soon. In summary, losing your job can be trying but the time away from work can give you an opportunity to reflect on what you really want and broaden or polish your skills. By putting some work into finding a new role, you may find that you have landed in a better place both personally and professionally.