Getting Laid Off in Sales Isn't Fun. Here Are 3 Tips for Getting Through It.

There is no sugarcoating it: layoffs are scary. They are so scary that we sometimes treat losing your job like a monster who shall not be named – which is the wrong approach in a profession like sales, where occasional layoffs and job churn are part of the gig. 

While layoffs are a constant looming reality in sales, the number of sales professionals being laid off over the last several months means that good advice on dealing with a job loss is more important than ever. In her LinkedIn Learning course Rebuilding and Rebounding After a Layoff, career coach Jasmine Escalera, Ph.D shares tips to help you better process the immediate emotional impact of a layoff.

Here’s what she had to share. 

Tip #1: There are several common (negative) responses to losing your job. Labeling those emotions is a good first step. 

Traumatic experiences have an almost immediately isolating effect. When we experience something that will inevitably leave lasting scars – like being laid off – we naturally tend to feel like we are the only one who’s ever experienced this type of pain.  

Which isn’t true. 

You’re not alone; a relatively common experience like being laid off produces specific emotional reactions. Recognizing those emotions as early as possible is an important part of your recovery. 

“It’s essential to understand your emotions so they don’t run you,” said Dr. Escalera. “And know upfront that you are going to experience different feelings as you go from initially learning about your dismissal, navigating this period of unemployment, to entering a very unexpected career change or job search.” 

According to Dr. Escalera, these are the most common emotional responses to being laid off:

• Fear
• Stress
• Sadness
• Anger

It is common to experience these emotions – often simultaneously – in the aftermath of a layoff. And that’s okay.

“Identifying emotional responses that come out of a layoff is difficult, and can be overwhelming,” said Dr. Escalera. “But this work will help you gain perspective, validate your feelings, and manage your emotions, which right now, in this moment, is essential.” 

While it might not feel like it in the moment, recognizing and validating your emotional experience is also the first step toward turning a dark present into a bright future.

“Remember, the thing that might feel like a failure today could be the thing that creates space and opportunity for big successes to come to you tomorrow,” added Dr. Escalera. 

Tip #2: You’ve labeled your emotions. Now, it’s time to manage them.  

Fully coping with emotions like fear and anger takes more than recognition. Recovering from a job loss also requires establishing a positive mindset – but that’s easier said than done when you’re facing the stress of financial instability and other immediate, practical effects that come with it. 

“For many people, staying positive may not sound like what they should be focused on,” said Dr. Escalera. “They want to be in doing mode.” 

Here are a few tools that Dr. Escalera uses to help her clients manage and process the emotions associated with a job loss:

• Affirmations: These positive statements will help manifest a better mindset. For example, telling yourself, “I will find the perfect opportunity for me” or, “I have overcome challenges before, and will do it again.” Affirmations work by helping us eliminate negative thought patterns.
  
• Mindfulness: In the aftermath of a layoff, being present in the moment can be difficult. After all, the moment you’re in sucks. Real bad. But rushing past the moment can take you out of the present and into a false-future that you’ve yet to build a foundation for. “Making rash decisions is never the right approach,” said Dr. Escalera. “Focusing on today and what you can accomplish from an empowered emotional state are more effective in creating the best strategic plan and landing the right job for you.”
  
• Reframe negative thinking: You couldn’t control the economic environment that led to mass layoffs. You couldn’t control how your company notified you of the layoff. You can’t control broader trends in the job market that may be affecting your timeline on getting a new job. There is so much about losing your job that you can’t control, but there is one thing you can control: your own thoughts. 

When negativity overwhelms you, take a moment to reframe negative thinking. Sometimes reframing a negative thought into a positive one is impossible. When that happens, you can go neutral – which is exactly why the universe gave us the saying, “It is what it is.” 

Your fingers will eventually write the email that lands you the interview. Your feet will take you to a conference room, where your shoulders will help hold up the new shirt you just bought. Your mouth will inevitably give life to words that will dazzle the hiring manager.  

But your body can only finish the job. Your mind has to do its thing first. 

Bonus Resources: Gaining control of negative thoughts can be easier said than done, especially in a moment that can feel frantic or even chaotic. In her course, Dr. Escalera suggests meditation or other forms of intentional quiet time as ways to gain control of and process your emotions. If you aren’t a regular meditator, check out the LinkedIn Learning courses Mindfulness for Beginners or Meditations to Change Your Brain. 

Tip #3: A sense of urgency is normal, but don’t it turn into desperation.

You need a job, and you need a job right now. That’s just the truth.

But allowing the mindset to gain control of your thinking can do far more harm than good. 

“A sense of urgency can sometimes be a good thing,” said Dr. Escalera. “It can provide you the motivation to make things happen and propel you forward in your goals. But the sense of urgency after a layoff can also have some negative side effects.”

According to Dr. Escalera, one of the more immediate side effects of that sense of urgency can be an intense need to regain control. While a need to regain control is an expected response to losing your job, a sense of urgency becomes counterproductive when it turns into desperation. 

“When you feel desperate, you may be tempted to take any job that comes your way, regardless of whether it’s a good fit for you or not,” added Dr. Escalera. “The job may pay less than you deserve, or may not align with your career goals, leaving you feeling frustrated and dissatisfied.”  

Desperation can also cause you to get sloppy with the application process or take the “spray-and-pray” approach of applying for any job you see. The inevitable wave of rejection accompanying this approach will only add to the feeling that you’ll never find a job again.  

Finally, desperation takes a toll on your psyche.

“Desperation can cause you to deprioritize your personal and emotional needs,” said Dr. Escalera.  

Abandoning your personal needs in favor of immediate financial concerns can cause long-term damage to your career. Taking a job because you need a job can easily create a scenario where you’re looking for another new job in six months.

It’s bad enough having to explain a layoff. Explaining a layoff and two years of subsequent job hopping will be even worse.  

Here are a few questions Dr. Escalera uses to help her clients identify whether desperation has sunk in:

• “Am I taking thoughtful and strategic action when considering what to do next?”
• “Am I applying for jobs that may not be a good fit for my skills and experience?”
• “Am I experiencing high levels of stress or anxiety that are affecting my decision-making?”
• “Am I working so hard to figure out my next move that I’m neglecting my well-being?”

If we are honest with ourselves, the answer to questions like this are usually pretty obvious.

“Remember, reclaiming control and maintaining a sense of power over your career are the most important things to focus on as you move through this time,” said Dr. Escalera. “Doing this will help you make the right decisions, not the rash ones.”

Summary and Takeaways 

Experiencing a job loss can be one of the most devastating things a seller can experience. It can trigger a range of emotions and reactions that, if managed incorrectly, can turn a temporary challenge into a long-term setback.

Preventing that from happening requires you to focus on your emotional and mental health – even before you rewrite that resume.

Remember:

1. You aren’t alone. Getting past a job loss can start by recognizing common emotions people may experience after a job loss – and giving yourself a pass for experiencing those same emotions.
2. You’ve recognized and validated your emotional state. Now it’s time to manage those emotions in healthy and productive ways.
3. A sense of urgency after a layoff is inevitable, but don’t let that urgency become desperation.

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