10 Things To Do After A Layoff

You've been laid off. It's devastating, but it doesn't have to be the end of your career. If you know what to do after a layoff, you can get back on your feet in no time. Here are some tips for how to handle yourself during this difficult time:

1. Take a deep breath.

It's okay to be sad, angry, frustrated and/or confused. But don't spend too much time thinking about what your boss could have done differently; that's not productive. You can only control your own actions in this situation—and that means focusing on what you need to do right now:

• Take a deep breath (or ten!)

• Don't beat yourself up too much over the situation; it's not like anyone was plotting against you or wanted this to happen (unless they did)

• If possible, avoid social media for at least 24 hours while working through these emotions; there will be plenty of time later on when everyone else is talking about how lucky they are and how great their new jobs are that it'll become overwhelming

2. Call Your Financial Advisor And/or Attorney

It's important to figure out a financial plan and make sure you have the right legal advice before moving forward. Your financial advisor can help you determine what your options are, including taking a buyout, negotiating a severance package, or finding another job (if you're still employed). If this is your first time in this situation, it's also good to talk to people who have been through layoffs before so they can give their perspective on how they've handled it.

3. Set A Date To Start Job Searching

You need to start looking for a new job as soon as possible.

Don’t wait until you are out of work to start looking. Don’t wait until you are desperate to look for a job. Don’t wait until you are fired from your job to start looking. The longer they have been unemployed, the harder it is for them to find jobs that pay as well and have good benefits—and the more likely they are to end up taking worse positions or none at all.

4. Build Your Professional Network

Good networking is important, and it can also help you find a new job. If you take the time to build your professional network and maintain relationships with people, it may be easier for them to put in a good word for you when an opportunity arises.

Use LinkedIn as your main social media platform for connecting with others who work in your industry. Use Twitter or Facebook as secondary platforms if that's where most of the people in your industry hang out online—but don't neglect LinkedIn!

If possible, attend events where large groups of potential employers might be present; this could include conferences or meetups focused on things like technology or design or journalism (or whatever else). You can also join local networking groups (like The Freelancers Union!) which will help get you plugged into existing networks of freelancers in your area—people who may be able to recommend jobs they've heard about while out doing business at local cafés/coffeeshops!

5. Update Your LinkedIn Profile

As you're looking for a new job, it's important to have a LinkedIn profile that's up-to-date and reflects your current skill set. Here are some tips for making sure that your profile is ready to go when you need it.

• Update your summary section. This is the first thing people will see when they visit your profile, so make sure it's compelling and tells them what makes you special. For example, if you've been working as a freelance writer before being laid off, include this information in the "Experience" section of your summary along with any other relevant skills or accomplishments that speak to why employers should hire you (e.g., successful track record writing landing page copy).

• Update your education section. If there are any classes or certificates in you have completed since starting this new job search process—such as an Excel class at Udemy—add those entries here as well; they show potential employers that not only do they value continuing education but also demonstrate initiative on their part!

6. Join An Alumni Association, Relevant Group, Or Networking Club

Whether you’re looking to land your first job or you’ve been out of work for some time, connecting with others who understand the challenges of being unemployed is crucial. Alumni associations are one way to do this.

Alumni associations can be a great resource for job seekers because they often have some kind of database that lists members or events that might help in your search. They also tend to be very supportive when it comes to career advice and giving feedback on cover letters, resumes, and interviews. A quick Google search should yield plenty of results for alumni associations in your area or industry, but here are some things you should look out for:

• Is there an online presence? This doesn't necessarily mean they need their own website; Facebook groups are another good option if they're active and well-moderated (in other words, no trolls). It's also helpful if there's a way you can connect directly with others through email rather than having to go through an intermediary like Facebook Messenger -- though don't rule out those options either!

• Are people using it? Check out how many members have joined over time (and what percentage have left). You want something that has staying power; otherwise, all those hours spent searching will feel wasted in the long run!

• Is there an active community? If so then chances are pretty good it'll be worth joining up with them so long as its values align with yours or at least isn't too far off course from where yours would go if given free rein."

7. Write Regular Thank-You Notes To References And Former Colleagues Who Are Still Employed At The Company

You may think that writing a thank you note to your former colleagues and references is unnecessary, but it's not. They're still your friends and they want to hear from you.

If possible, it's great to send these notes immediately after receiving their letters of recommendation. That way, they'll be fresh on their minds when they review your application materials.

A good thank-you note should include something personal about how much the recipient means to you or how much respect/admiration/gratitude etc., you have for them as well as any special request (i.e., "I'm hoping my application package will be in by next Friday").

8. Make Sure You Have A Good LinkedIn Profile and Photo

• Make sure your LinkedIn photo is recent. This can be a challenge, especially if you're not the type to have a bunch of selfies lying around on your phone. But if you've been laid off, it's time to bust out the camera and take some new pictures.

• Take care of your outfit. Even if you're not in formal work attire all of the time, it's good practice as an entrepreneur (or whatever title suits you) to make sure that you look professional in photos for social media—even if your business is more casual than others. Don't wear sweatpants!

• Don't use a photo that is too small or blurry; this will make people think less about what kind of professional services or products you offer.

9. Start Looking For A Job Yesterday!

• Update your resume.

• Use social media to find jobs you’re interested in.

• Use job search tools and your network for leads.

Now is the time to start looking for a job as soon as possible! You want to get as much of a head start on the competition as you can, so this should be a top priority for you during this phase of unemployment.

10. Consider Career Coaching To Ensure You're In The Right Industry

If you are in a career transition, having a coach can help you make the right moves and get back on track. A career coach will help you figure out what you want to do next, how to land the job of your dreams, and find new opportunities in your industry.

A good coach should work with you one-on-one over a set period of time (usually six months), so they can really focus on getting to know who you are as an employee and what motivates and inspires you at work. They'll also look at where your skills lie, which industries might be best suited for those skills, how much money could be made in those industries, and what kind of lifestyle would go along with them — both now and over time as things change within their respective fields or industries due to technology advancement etcetera...

With the right advice and tools, you'll be back working faster than you can imagine!

When you’re in the state of mind that comes with losing your job, it can be difficult to imagine getting back to work. The sense of loss that comes with a layoff is significant and unsettling. But there are ways to recover and make the best of your situation—and one of them is by getting back into the workforce as soon as possible.

When you have an income, everything feels better: Your mental health improves; so does your physical health (because being unemployed causes stress). You also start feeling better about yourself because you understand that no matter what happens at work, there are other things going on in life that are way more important than what's happening at work—like seeing friends or family members, spending time outdoors or doing something creative like writing poetry or drawing pictures.

Using this advice allows people who have been laid off from their jobs to find themselves again: They get a new job and re-establish themselves professionally until they find their next great position!

Remember, you are not alone. Many people have been down this road before and they can help guide you through it. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your layoff, consider reaching out to one of these groups for support: