Here's how you can navigate your emotions during a layoff.

Initially, process the emotion within your body rather than intellectualizing it. Notice where you feel the sensation (where is it in the body? How does it feel?) and identify the emotion (can you name it?), understanding that even negative emotions are natural reactions to external events and that you are safe here and now. Once your body is calmer, turn to your thoughts. Challenge and reframe them into something more neutral or positive—do not freely welcome all your thoughts! Is it true that you may never find a job again? What would be more neutral or realistic to think? What would happen if you stopped believing this? What do other people think? Your more neutral or positive thoughts will then gradually quiet your emotions.

Experiencing a layoff can be completely decentering. It's a significant life event that can stir up a whirlwind of emotions. In times like these, having a mental health counselor or career counselor by your side can make a world of difference. They play an integral role in the healing process as you transition to a new role. They're there to help you process your feelings, whether it's anxiety, depression, grief, or adjustment disorders. Their guidance can be invaluable as you navigate through these challenging times and move forward with confidence.

When I work with clients who are facing redundancy I ensure that they have time and space to vocalise all of their emotions without any judgement. We then work together to identify which emotions are paralysing them and turn them into drivers so my client can use this to motivate themselves for the next stages they may face.

Working with a career coach, a mentor or an accountability buddy can keep an individual going despite all the uncertainty. Quite often my clients will have worked with a therapist to help process deep emotions and then come to career coaching for future focused next steps and to take action.

The power of reflection can often be overlooked as we tend to be hyper focused on having to find another role as quickly as possible. Sadly, this can lead to decisions being made in desperation and the wrong roles being chosen. I use a Look Back To Learn exercise with my clients to help them identify not only the role they want to have but the organisation, the industry, the team, they ways of working, etc. By looking back in this way they are able to uncover their strengths & skills as well as their expertise so they are ready for interviews.

Leveraging your network is crucial at this stage even if you are not sure how your connections can help you as you never know who they may know or who they can introduce you to. It helps to be clear on what your ask is here: - finding out more about what they do / the organisation they are in / the industry itself - directly asking for introductions to certain people in their network - asking if your value is required where they currently work or even what roles are open

It can feel so disheartening to keep plugging away but not get anything back - not even a "No thank you"! Treating your job search as a job will help as you create your career strategy to include: - CV & LinkedIn refresh / updates - job searching - research into organisations - training or upskilling - meetings - interview preparation - interviews - follow ups And of course including fun too. For many of my clients they do see a break as an opportunity to work on themselves as well which enables them to return to work feel refreshed and vitalised.