My new manager stood in front of me and wrung her hands nervously. “I hope you’re not angry. I can’t believe I had to do this,” she said. At first, I wasn’t sure that I had heard her correctly, but when she remained silent I sat back in the chair, emotionless. Her words went in one ear and out the other.
I had just left my job as the Digital Brand Manager at a rapidly expanding franchise organization to pursue a new opportunity at a startup. The CEO had persuaded me to start “as soon as possible” because he was excited to bring me on. Two days after starting, I was taken into a room and let go because the company was going through financial hardship. I was officially unemployed.
I was laid off because the company couldn’t afford to keep me on board, but many lose their jobs for different reasons. You could find yourself terminated because you weren’t a good fit with your company, or maybe you weren’t meeting your performance goals. Things happen – but don’t let it crush your ambition. After all, Steve Jobs, Oprah, and even Walt Disney have all been fired at one point in their career. Keep your head up and focus on what you’re going to do next.
Cover your bases
Though you may be feeling emotional, take some time to ask your Human Resources department questions to ensure that you are taking advantage of all of your benefits before leaving. Remember that the worst that they can say is no.
Action Item: Either ask HR these questions the day of your termination or if you’re too emotional, schedule a meeting to speak with them.
Give yourself a day (or weekend)
When you first get laid off, it is perfectly normal to be hit with a mix of feelings – everything from confusion, regret, anger, or sadness is to be expected.
The first few days after I was laid off were really difficult – I just wanted to crawl into a ball and lay in bed all day. Waves of regret washed over me and I remember thinking to myself: “This is horrible, how am I going to ever find another job? Why did I leave my job? I should have never have taken this leap in the first place.”
As difficult as it is though, you shouldn’t spend too much time moping. Give yourself a day or a weekend (some places will lay you off on a Friday) to gather yourself together.
Do what feels best for you, whether you think that you just want a day to yourself to cry it out or spend the night out with your friends – you know yourself best.
Action Item: Take some time to take a breath and relax, then do something that brings you joy.
File for unemployment
Normally when you are laid off, the HR department will supply you with paperwork which will show you how to apply for unemployment, but you can also search online for the right resources.There are federal and state mandates for employees and they vary from state to state, so be sure that you are looking at the correct website depending on the state you live in – this site sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor will help you find the correct website for your state. You have money that is withheld from every paycheck that goes to your unemployment so do not feel uncomfortable filing for unemployment.
Action Item: Make sure to apply as soon as possible, as waiting to file can sometimes delay your benefits.
Reformat your resume and LinkedIn
After you’ve had some time to gather your thoughts, it’s time to jump back into reality and start looking for jobs. In order to do that, make sure that your resume is up-to-date.
If you’re struggling with revamping your resume, read 8 Tips to Craft a Resume that Will Stand Out in the Job Search to help you get started.
If you have a Linkedin, now’s the time to beef up your profile by:
Advanced tip: Publicly announce you are looking for a new opportunity.
If you’d like to take it a step further, you can update your Linkedin headline to include a statement like, “Available for New Opportunities” or “Seeking a New Opportunity.”
Connect with your references and start job hunting
After I had some time to recover, I began to reach out to my references. Reach out to your professional network and let them know that you are job hunting, contact your references and give them a heads-up that they may receive a call from a potential employer and ask them if they know of any positions that would be a good fit for you.
Even to this day, I am touched by how supportive my previous bosses and mentors were – don’t underestimate the power of your network. I did an internship about four years ago, but yet my internship director sent three recruiters my way and CCed me on emails to her friends. My previous employer took a look at my resume and helped me make changes, which no doubt landed me the position I have now.
Action Item: Contact your references and ask them if they are still comfortable being your reference while you are looking for jobs. Make them aware that you are currently applying for jobs and they may receive a call from a potential employer.
Treat finding a job, like a full-time job
It’s easy to fall into a slump when you’re not working, but it’s important to dedicate time every day to revising your resume to fit the job description, creating cover letters that will help you stand out and connecting with those who can get you in touch with the hiring manager.
Pour that cup of coffee or tea, dress up and treat finding a job like a full-time job. If you prefer to look for a job at home, make sure your desk is clean and tidy and start looking. If you find that you feel happier at a coffee shop, make sure to focus on applying for jobs rather than using that time to check your social media channels or catch up with friends.
Prepare to answer questions about your unemployment
Depending on the reason for your termination, your answer may vary when a potential employer asks about why you are looking for a new job or why you left your previous job.
The most important thing to remember when crafting your answer is to not bad-talk or shine a negative light on a past company, as it can reflect negatively on you.
If you were terminated, you could mention that:
If you were let go due to performance, you could spin it to say:
If you were laid off due to financial issues, you could say that:
Document the status of the jobs you applied for
It’s important to keep organized during your job hunt. Create an excel sheet with the jobs you’ve applied for, the date you applied, who the hiring manager was, and the status of your application.
If you have attended interviews, it’s important to note the date so that you can follow up. Read this blog post on 10 ways to keep organized during your job search for more information.
Last of all, don’t give up
Did I mention that my dream job took more than one month to get back to me and was the first job I applied for? There are times that you will get discouraged from the lack of interviews or calls, but don’t give up. Surround yourself with supportive friends, give yourself a break once in a while (because we all know job hunting can be draining) and know that things will work out.
Diana Trinh is a Content Creator, Social Media Strategist, and Creative Designer. She is the founder of The Coffee Date, a blog focused on Social Media and Blogging Strategy. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
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