Here's how you can navigate networking and job hunting after a layoff.

Always keep in mind that things happen for a reason. There is no point in dwelling why this happened to you. There are so many opportunities out there embrace it as a new change that came to you rather than the other way round. You should take a few weeks to decompress ( no longer than 3-4 weeks) but then consider the job search as your job. No slacking ;-)

Embrace change to understand this us a transition and not the end. These phases are great for reflections not on only on career but also personal life. Pursue activities that boost your emotional health and on a daily basis dedicate yourself to networking, participating in collaborative events and in general exploring options as even alternate careers. It expands the mind and keeps the focus positive.

Networking is so important but don't forget that there is important to keep a good balance between, staying in the shadow during an event, and spamming recrutors on another hand.

Networking is key but it needs to be focussed. Don’t just talk to anyone and everyone. In your decompression period figure out the direction you want to go and navigate on the basis of this to get perspectives and support from your network. But don’t just throw yourself into any conversation you don’t want to come across confused and open for anything. This won’t make a good impression and it certainly won’t help you shape your next step.

Clean up the page ; profile picture, key highlights, real job titles ( not your own wishful overexaggerated titles that means 0 to people in the market), no spelling mistakes and keep it concise. You can see a lot of people who over sell themselves and professionals viewing your profile will be put off. p.s no one needs to see every single team award you received ;-)

Linkedin is a great tool to leverage network. Besides reaching out to people you can also utilise this time to write about your experience, inspire people and engage in pro bono activities. This will keep you grounded in terms of giving back and also keep your skill sets sharp. Share knowledge about recent trends related to your area of expertise - its great to share knowledge and automatically corresponds to building your personal brand. What do you stand for, what articles you share - says a lot about you. Use this time for just that!

Practice interviews are a great way improve the way you answer the most predictable questions. Do this with different sets of people- frirnfs, ex-colleagues, team members and seniors. This will give you a rounded perspective on your answers and help you bring more substance to your responses. This also involves practicing on body language, introduction and what you will wear for the interview.

Lay-offs are uncomfortable for everyone, including your former employer. A question that you should expect to be asked during your interviews are "why are you looking for a new job?" Before you go in for an interview, you need to know what your references are going to say about your work, and the circumstances surrounding your departure. Knowledge is power, and you need to be in control of the narrative. Have this conversation as soon as you find out that you are being laid-off, or very shortly thereafter. If you've been putting this off, I would strongly recommend that you have this conversation BEFORE you start applying for new jobs. Why? Because almost every job offer will be contingent upon a reference check and a background check.