There’s really no sugarcoating it: Losing a job stinks. And unfortunately, it happens to millions of Americans every year at every level of employment – from hourly earners to the C-suite.
It happened to me and my husband 12 years ago. We worked for the same company for almost two decades, and maybe we should have seen it coming. We didn’t. I share that only to say I know what it feels like to lose a job unexpectedly, and I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. (It might just feel that way for a while.)
So once you have given yourself permission to feel upset, hurt, and maybe even a little scared, it’s time to start working on a plan for what comes next. The good news? There are steps you can take right now to help yourself (or someone you know) survive a layoff (and even thrive)!
1. Kickstart Your Job Search
Don’t wait until your current job ends to start looking for new opportunities. Go ahead and go through your contacts list and begin reaching out to trusted colleagues and sources outside of your firm to see what may be available. When I found out my last day of employment all those years ago, I emailed a few key people immediately to let them know I would be open to new opportunities on a specific date. I used those exact words and kept it positive. One of those folks ended up hiring me a few weeks after the other job ended.
This is also a great time to reassess your career goals. If you ever dreamed about working from home, this could be your chance to finally scope out remote jobs that will allow you to do just that.
2. Take Advantage of Employment Services Offered by Your Employer
While rejection can sting, this is no time to let pride get in the way of free help. If the employer who is letting you go offers resume-building classes or time with a career coach – or pretty much any form of assistance – sign up. Take advantage of every opportunity to update and enhance your skill sets as you begin to assess your next career move. You never know what new skills you may learn or who you may meet to open the next door in your journey to find a new job.
3. Try to Negotiate Severance Pay
If you haven’t been offered severance pay or a severance package, it never hurts to ask. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Severance pay is sometimes given to workers when they are fired. It’s usually based on how long an employee worked for a business. Unfortunately, companies aren’t required to offer severance under the Fair Labor Standards Act, but some firms still offer it to workers under certain circumstances.
And speaking of certain circumstances, if you have something going on in your personal life, this is when you should let your employer know. That means if you or your spouse or child are going through a health or other type of crisis, it’s critical to communicate that information to your manager and human resources department. It could make a difference, especially when it comes to negotiating the amount of time you can receive health benefits after leaving the company.
4. Apply for Unemployment Benefits
If you were let go from a job through no fault of your own (and you did not quit), you likely qualify for unemployment benefits. This website – careeronestop.org – is an excellent place to find resources in your state. And even if you have solid leads for new work, it’s a good idea to investigate what’s needed to get the ball rolling on unemployment benefits where you live. Remember, every bit of extra income will help after the final direct deposit from your old job hits your checking account.
5. Reach Out to Friends and Family
Sometimes, the best jobs are the ones that haven’t been advertised yet. That’s one reason it’s wise to reach out to your family and friends to let them know about your situation and ask them if they know of work that might fit your skills and goals. The idea here is to cast a wide net so that your support network has your back and can help you. Have an updated resume ready to email to them so they can share it with their networks, too.
6. Update Your LinkedIn Profile
When you are open to work, LinkedIn can be a great place to let the world know. But before you change your status to signal you are looking for a new job, tidy up your profile, update your skills section, if needed, and give your experience section the once-over. Career Contessa has some great advice from job recruiters on how to build a rockstar profile on the digital employment platform. Protip: Career experts say you’ll want to get super creative with your headline and summary.
7. Don’t Trash Talk Your Former Employer
We know it can be tempting to vent your frustration about a job loss to your friends on social media. The trouble is, your friends also have friends (and acquaintances), and you never know who might see your outburst and judge you too harshly for it. If you can, redirect that hurt and anger to a more private setting like a heart-to-heart with a good friend, parent, or spouse. After all, jobs may come and go, but screenshots last forever.
8. Sign Up For Personalized Job Emails
If you have been in the same position at the same company for a while, you might just be amazed at how many jobs are out there that fit your skills and talents that are now remote. To personalize your search – and save yourself hours of mindless scrolling – you can sign up at sites such as Glassdoor and Indeed. Answer some questions about the kind of work you’re looking for and sign up for emails to get notified of jobs that fit the profile you create. If leaving the office behind sounds appealing, there are tons of jobs posted every week at The Work at Home Woman.
9. Check in on Your Finances
When your work life is in flux, it’s wise to check in on your bank accounts to see how much you have in savings and where you may need to adjust your budget to make it through a rough patch. It’s essential to cut back on non-necessities, such as eating out and entertainment, and focus on the things you can’t live without – such as groceries, utilities, rent, and transportation. If it looks like you won’t be able to pay a bill on time because of a job loss, reach out to your lender or utility and let them know about your situation. They may be able to restructure a payment plan to help you.
10. Know Your Worth and Negotiate
If your unemployment spans more than a month or so, it may be tempting to take the first decent job offer that comes your way. It may also be very tempting to take the first salary offer. Whatever you do, don’t quickly agree to that first offer. Most hiring managers see this as a jumping-off point and expect you to negotiate. In most cases, the offer won’t be rescinded if you ask for more money. Read that again. You may even get it – or part of it. And if they won’t budge on the financials, ask for more PTO or vacation time or flexibility to work a hybrid schedule if it’s not already a remote job. Remember, the answer is always no if you don’t ask.
The Bottom Line
While losing a job can be painful, you can absolutely make it to the other side and find something new. Remember to open up about your job situation so that the people who may be able to help you find a new career can do so. Take advantage of any free job counseling or other services offered by your former employer and try to negotiate a severance package if at all possible. Finally, if you qualify, apply for unemployment benefits. Every little bit of extra income helps!