What are the most effective coaching strategies for career transitions after a layoff?

In my experience, the first and most important step with any career transition is Career Clarity. MY 5-STEP PROCESS TO ACHIEVE CAREER CLARITY: 1. Identify what you’re great at (STRENGTHS AND SKILLS) 2. Identify activities and tasks you enjoy (INTERESTS AND PASSION) 3. Identify what’s most important to you (VALUES) 4. Identify what to pursue next (TARGET ROLE) 5. Identify where you’d love to work for (INDUSTRIES & COMPANIES) Career Clarity helps you become focused and intentional with your job search. It enables you to communicate your value with confidence - on your Resume, LinkedIn profile, in networking conversations, job interviews and salary negotiations. This accelerates your job search and sets you up for Career Success!

My number one tip as both a multiple JobSearch survivor, former executive search consultant and career strategist: Open up a new document. Make a list of 10 challenges you faced in the past which seemed insurmontable which you subsequently overcame. When you feel lost or discouraged, read those. Read those as many times as you need to before the voice that says: I can't do this, says: Oh, yes, you can...you did it before and this list is the evidence.

The first thing to do is nothing. Recognise losing your job surfaces both anxieties and financial realities, but it’s essential to take time to sit with what’s happened, and allow yourself to feel all 'the feelings'. Remember it's the role that's been made redundant, not you. And checking in with yourself, practice your version of mindfulness, get support and load up on self-care. Otherwise, your early actions will be coloured by the pain and fear you’re experiencing. Whether it’s a few days or a few weeks, take the time to acknowledge what’s happened. Then start to look at what's next.

After a layoff is a great time to sit and think about the following: What areas do you excel in? These come naturally and are easy, while others may struggle to do the same thing. This could be in areas of relationships, persuasion, execution, or even thinking. What are your values? What is your "why?" What are your motivating acquired skills? We can be good at many things, but what lights you up? What type of work aligns with your personality? Do you like to have tangible results at the end of the day? Do you want to create? Do you like to help others? When you do this, you will better understand what roles better fit who you are and what you need to do and experience to thrive.

I've had some clients who want to transition to a new role when they've just been laid off. However, given the tough market conditions, this is not easy at all. Plus, they will sacrifice a lot financially. Imagine you are a software engineer and you want to turn into a product manager. Here's what I told them: 1. Find another software engineering job. 2. Work for a while (6 months - a year) and check if there's an internal opportunity to move to product manager). 3. Ask your manager if you can transition. This is a much smoother transition, which brings you both financial and mental safety. Hope it's helpful. Cheers.

I was pregnant when I was laid off, so I thought my options were very limited. But that was far from being true. A few days after getting the news, I sat down and draw a few columns on a piece of paper. Each column was a possible career path based on my experience, skills, reputation and network. For each, I noted down all the ways I could walk to get there and names and surnames of people I needed to connect with to get some clarity or insights. Seeing my options black on white made a huge difference for me. It helped me staying positive, focused and vocal about my plans and intentions for the future.

Options come from proactive research and conversations. They do not come from only looking at job boards or from your closest friends. Open your world to the numerous companies that interest you but have never been an option because you haven’t made them one. Proactive outreach to places that interest you to see what actually interests you, can be a fulfilling step in taking control of your career.

Your connections and relationships are the most powerful tools for securing your next opportunity. Start reconnecting with your network. Invite people to a virtual meeting or connect face-to-face over coffee or lunch. The people who know what you bring to the table will help you with references, referrals, and introductions. You can also give to others during your search. Do you see a role that reminds you of someone, send it on. Meet a new connection, and you think they should meet a previous colleague of yours? Introduce them! When you are giving, you will definitely receive.

After assessing your situation, exploring various career options becomes key. A career development coach assists in researching fields, industries, roles, and organizations aligning with your preferences. They aid in networking, finding mentors, and accessing resources. Strategies like informational interviews, job shadowing, volunteering, or courses assist in testing assumptions and understanding potential career paths effectively.

The best way to explore new options is to go as broad as possible to afterwards narrow down. Ideally one comes to about 5 options which you can then actively explore. You can attend workshops or event, reach out to people, give a workshop, doing volunteer work indeed etc.

We plan everything from holidays to retirement, so making a career plan is not a bad idea. A career plan should include the following: a summary of your big picture, why you go to work, and factors that influence career choices; the results of any psychometric tests; a breakdown of your career goals (short, medium and long term); a career autobiography and skills gap analysis; a professional development plan to plug any skills gaps; a description of your personal brand, career narrative, value proposition, strengths, skills and achievements; a job search strategy; a SWOT analysis of your situation with contingency plans; a financial plan to get a handle on your finances and budget; and a project plan with timescales and milestones.

Everyone’s situations are different and it’s important to get clear on the priority for you. For some, that will be jumping straight into finding the next exciting opportunity and for others it may be to plan a career transition or just take a break. A career coaching conversation can help organise your thoughts and set the priorities, so you can move forward with purpose.

This part of the planning process is fun. Start a new journal or notebook and reflect on your successes and accomplishments to create compelling job search documents and draft new and interesting interview stories.

Once your target career is identified, crafting a plan to attain it is crucial. A career development coach aids in setting SMART goals and breaking them into manageable steps. They assist in creating impactful resumes, cover letters, and online profiles highlighting transferable skills. Moreover, they offer guidance in interview preparation, negotiation, and handling feedback or rejections, ensuring a well-prepared and resilient approach toward career advancement.

All helpful suggestions mentioned her. Doing a mock interview and getting feedback is a great way to prepare for an interview.

Managing emotions during a career transition can have a huge impact on everything 'job search'. Because our emotions show up in how you apply for jobs, how you have networking conversations, the efforts you place on making your application stand out and ofcourse your interview performance. That's why a good first step is to take a small breather after the layoff. Take just a bit of time to process what has happened and how you would like to proceed from here. Once you take a stock of things and accept all the hard emotions you may be experiencing, you will have room to work on the strategies to market yourself & target the right roles with the drive, passion and enthusiasm one needs to exude to win in the job search process.

Being laid off can be tough, and it's important to acknowledge your emotions. It's okay to take a moment to process these feelings. Suppressing them isn't beneficial in the long run. By openly expressing what you're going through, you create space for healing and clarity. This approach helps you fully engage and prepare for your next career move with a clear mind and renewed focus. Remember, every setback is a setup for a comeback. Stay strong and focused on your journey ahead.

Amidst a career transition post-layoff, emotional challenges like anger, sadness, fear, or anxiety are common. A career development coach offers a safe, supportive environment to express and validate these emotions while providing encouragement. They aid in cultivating a positive mindset, fostering resilience, and acknowledging achievements. Additionally, they assist in maintaining a balance between personal and professional life, prioritizing health and well-being during this transitional phase.

Any layoff or firing can mimic the 5 stages of grief. Instead of rushing into finding a new role and pushing down your emotions you need to sit with them. Spending time connecting to your inner self with help to build up your confidence and resilience. Scheduling time to reconnect is vital to a healthy job search strategy. You cannot successfully transition into a new role if you have not done the inner work to regulate your nervous system.

Always remember the words of the late Frank Sinatra: The best revenge is massive success. Most of my clients will tell you that losing their jobs is the greatest gift. They have secured better jobs in better work environments, and, most often, at higher salaries.

Tracking progress gives you data. Data helps you make better decisions. Job searching can benefit from analysis, just like any project. Track your networking meetings, track your proactive outreach, and follow up with those you have met with to stay in the loop. Adjust your approach based on the results you are or aren't seeing.

My coaching interactions help people gain clarity, find motivation and overcome their personal barriers to change and find new direction. A good coach listens to you without judgement, is your thinking partner and mental motivator. Be sure to check for accreditation and genuine recommendations before choosing a coach and ensure you are offered a free 30 minute chemistry session to ensure coaching compatibility.

Also, instead of the traditional mentor-mentee dynamic, establish reverse mentoring programs where individuals in career transition mentor established professionals. This two-way exchange brings fresh perspectives to both parties, creates a collaborative learning environment, and breaks down traditional hierarchical barriers.

Something I encourage my clients to do is split out all their recent jobs and to list out all the achievements big or small per role. Then, add the day to day activities. Next, go back through the lists and highlight those key (and often transferable) skills, you will be sure to find repeated activities like stakeholder management or project management etc. This is a fabulous exercise to acknowledge your achievements (hello bath list), but great opportunity to find those key skills and to be a base for any examples for potential interviews. (If you want to go one step further, I’d suggest you go through the roles and highlight or make a note the areas that brought you joy, Monday blues or just was part of the day to day)

Your job search is not a full-time job no matter what advice you get! Job searches are filled with rejection, so if you would spend 40 hours a week devoted to getting all of the rejections, it's gonna be pretty disheartening. Instead, I recommend that you treat your job search like a part time job! That's 20 hours of being intentional with the actions that you're taking. You enjoy it more, you get more results and you find a job faster!

First and foremost, layoffs are not necessarily a reflection of your performance and value. Understand the drivers behind the layoff and make peace with it. Next, you need to look forward every day, not backward. Your time at that company is finished. Don't dwell. 1. Think deeply about what you'd like to do next. Bigger career changes can take more time. That's okay as long as you have time to search. 2. List out the skills and accomplishments that align with where you want to go. 3. Speak with professionals already doing that work to learn as much as you can. 4. Update your resume based on the above. 5. Practice with a friend or a coach to ensure you story/background are aligned with the new role. 6. Be confident in your new direction.

Assess your skills and where you are currently positioned in the market: As you transition, you may consider your options for a new role, transitioning into entrepreneurship or going back to school. Identifying your current strengths and skills, and possible roles you will consider will help you be properly positioned. If you are looking for a new role, look at a few job postings and identify what reoccurring skills and which skills align with the roles you are targeting and which skills you are missing. If time permits, identify relevant up-skilling resources or certificate programs that can get you up to speed with the demands of the role. Also make note of the salary ranges for the roles you target for when you begin to interview.