Here's how you can rebuild your career in Project Coordination after a layoff.

In the current economic conditions, this basically boils down to: "The cost of rent just went up by another $250/month and the price of groceries just went up another 30% over the past six weeks... so I need to redo my budget and reevaluate my salary needs to cover the new cost of living." And this process will need to be repeated about every four months even if you don't get laid off. As for myself, I've never had the LUXURY of considering my own passions or what I enjoy about my various positions because I'm always adapting to the disparity between the rising cost of living and the stagnating pay rates. Focus on SURVIVAL first. Then your marketability. Personal satisfaction is a luxury for those who are earning six figures.

Don't limit yourself to one type of role in your job search or you may find yourself cornered with zero prospects. This will require you to have a few different versions of your resume, each focusing on different skills and experiences. And also keep a few pre-written "templates" of cover letters for each type of role you're seeking, so you can quickly edit them just by changing a handful of words when you want to apply for a specific job.

A lot of these certification courses and exams cost thousands of dollars. So it's always best if you try to upskill BEFORE you get laid off, get your current employer to pay for them since they'll benefit from your new skills, too. Also, try to be open to accepting and ACTIVELY SEEKING cross-training opportunities. I don't mean physical fitness LOL, I mean look for ways to expand your job training beyond your primary role. Make yourself useful to multiple departments or teams as needed. If you have some down-time, go down the hall and ask someone to show you how to do THEIR job, too... but phrase the request like you'll be assisting them with their work.

Interview tips: Brevity. They don't want to hear your 10-minute story about this one time you did a thing. They want to hear < 90 seconds per topic. Active listening. Don't cut them off or talk over them. Nobody likes that. LISTEN until it's clear that it's your turn to speak. Deep breath now, be patient. And when you do say something, try to appear thoughtful even if it's actually a well-rehearsed answer. And be aware of your anxiety, SLOW YOUR PACE. Re-engaging. Remember the interview goes BOTH WAYS, so come in prepared to ask a few good questions of your own. And be ready to adapt and respond to things they might say or questions they might ask that are not on any "common interview preparation" lists.

How long did you work for that employer before being laid off? And how long have you been out of work since then? The shorter your time with an employer was, and the longer the gap between jobs, the harder it will be for you to rebuild. Prospective employers stop taking you seriously if your resume looks like you abandon ship too often or if it looks like you prefer not having a job, even if your intention was always to make that last job turn into a lifelong career with that employer. Which is BACKWARDS because the corporate practice of laying off EVERYONE before their first performance review and raise is all too common.