10 Things I Learned From Being Laid Off.

2017 has been one of the wildest years of my entire life. In the first half alone, I became a homeowner, turned 30, and visited Italy and France. I have had some incredible experiences with friends and family and am humbled by how fortunate I am. 2017 truly has been a year marked by a lot of firsts. However, there is one first that stands out above the rest.

I was laid off...

Nothing could have ever prepared me for the somber experience that is losing your job. While my layoff was due to a company-wide shut down, this was one of the most stressful times of my life. I am fortunately back on my feet and continuing my career down the road to success. Nevertheless, this entire experience has taught me some very valuable lessons that I hope you’ll learn from too.

1. Layoffs are really scary…

Getting laid off is one of the few things in life that truly makes you question your choices, second guess yourself, and doubt your worth. You’ll freak out, get depressed then fight the constant urge to disappear into a pint of H?agen-Dazs and reruns of Friends. Take some time to process your situation and feelings. This is a scary time after all and you need to cope with it. If you have to put on some Linkin Park and write in your diary, go for it. However I found a lot of support grabbing drinks with the awesome people in my network and fostering business connections.

2. Accept you have no control of the situation

My career is built on my ability to innovate, adapt, work well with literally anyone, and do whatever it takes to complete a task. All things that are well within my control. Having the company you work for shut down… definitely not within my control. A lot of time was wasted being upset and going through all the “shoulda, woulda, coulda” scenarios in my head. So don’t make the same mistake I did. Come to terms with your situation and get started on your next move.

3. Swallow your pride.

Success is something to be proud of, especially when it’s self motivated hard work and dedication that got you where you are. It is incredibly easy to continue with the mindset of ‘I got this far by myself, so I will get back on my feet by myself.’ Pride is not a luxury you can afford when you have a mortgage and an HBO subscription to pay for. Open positions in today’s very competitive job market are typically filled through references by internal staff or recruiters. Accept that your next career move will not come without some assistance which leads to my next lesson...

4. Be vulnerable and ask for help

Analogous to the first, pride keeps many of us from asking for it. We live in a culture that highly praises the self-made individual and condemns the idea of a “hand-out.” Plus, showing vulnerability to your professional network is akin to filling out an online dating profile. You want to be honest and open, but you’re afraid of what people will think! Be that as it may, those with the most career success can acknowledge the help they received along the way.  Reach out to your network. You will be astonished how helpful even casual acquaintances are. There are a lot of really great people out there willing to help you in your time of need!

5. Adjust your attitude

A layoff can leave you feeling almost as bitter as the series finale of Lost. In like fashion, getting a steady stream of emails that you will not be considered for other opportunities certainly doesn’t help either. If that weren’t enough, the stress of providing for yourself/family can leave your mental health in a less than ideal state. At some point, you’re going to feel a strong urge to scream at the next person who tells you to “Just be positive.” Unfortunately, it’s sound advice.

Your positive or negative attitude will trickle into literally every aspect of your job hunting endeavors. It will affect how your cover letters are written, perceived and considered by hiring managers. A bad attitude can turn your closest connections off to your situation, or worst of all, hinder your ability to effectively interview. Your situation is temporary, so don’t be a Debby Downer. No one wants to work 40-60 hours a week with that kind of Debby. If you have a bad attitude, say less than favorable things about your previous employer, or come off as desperate at any point of the application process you can kiss your chances of landing that new role goodbye. So try to force that smile.

6. Maintain your value

Let’s all be honest. To get a job you need a job. Companies want talented, dependable, trustworthy employees. People with value. Having a job elevates your standings for open positions because you are perceived to have desirable qualities. It’s kind of like how everyone wanted to date Chad back in High School because he was already with someone else. Being unemployed regrettably leaves hiring managers apprehensive of your candidacy because you are not currently “valuable” to someone else. Nevertheless, there are several strategies to show potential employers they want you on their team.

Minimize employment gaps on your resume by freelancing/contracting while looking for your next permanent position. Meet people or get involved with groups that serve your career interests to showcase your worth and build connections. If all else fails, broaden your skill set by continuing your education to stay competitive and add new talking points to your resume.

7. Find the good recruiters

Ask anyone and they will tell you the same thing. Working with third-party job recruiters is like dealing with someone in car sales. An unfortunate number of recruiters treat candidates like a payday and nothing more. However, if you can find the good recruiters out there, you have a very powerful friend on your side. Kelly McDonald at The Creative Group, was my experience with one of the good ones. She found an amazing role for me as a Senior UX Consultant for PopSockets working with a great team. I cannot express my appreciation to her for being an amazing person and helping me through this uncertain time.

So do your homework if decide to work with recruitment agencies. Ask your own network who they use or if they know anyone that has had a good experience with a specific agency. Furthermore, research the recruiter(s) themselves. Ask how many people they’ve placed and the industries they specialize for. Seasoned recruiters have a good reputation with a network of companies they want to find good candidates for. That’s who you want to work with!

8. Don’t get comfortable

So you’ve got that sweet job with the great salary, a killer benefits package and stability. Your only worries are how you’ll boil that much macaroni for the fat stacks of cheddar coming home with you. It’s very tempting to let yourself get comfortable in this situation and leave caution to the wind. Especially if you’ve been at a company for a number of years. Don’t be fooled. Comfort is your greatest enemy! That warm Snuggie that is the false sense of job security you feel will leave you unprepared when the inevitable bumps in the road come along.

Make yourself uncomfortable. That’s right, make yourself uncomfortable! Even if you’re in the perfect job at the perfect company. In addition to being prepared for the worst, you’ll feel more creative and inspired in your day to day responsibilities.

9. Don’t ignore the signs

After a very successful 2016, everyone at my former company waited for news of our 2017 budget. November turned into January, and still no update. By February it was announced that we were no longer offering half the services we provided to our clients. February turned into May, and my return from Europe yielded no news of a 2017 budget. Less than a week later, the company’s shutdown was announced and everyone from the President down to the janitor was getting laid off. In hindsight, signs were everywhere that the ship was sinking. Between staff departures and a lack of work, the circumstances should have been no surprise. However, I chose to ignore the red flags which left me unprepared when the layoffs came. 

Trust your instincts and be mindful of what is going on around you. Do everything you can to understand how the ship (your company) operates and stays afloat. If revenue quotas haven’t been met 4 months in a row or team members are flocking out the door... it’s time to start considering other options. 

Lesson 10. Be ready for the next one

Nothing conjures feelings of anxiety quite like a threat to your job security… except maybe an episode of Game of Thrones. Automation, artificial intelligence, outsourcing and wealth inequality are rapidly changing the jobs landscape. More and more companies find ways to cut costs through these measures which will keep staffing at a minimum as time goes on. Regardless of your industry, experience level or education your job will always be at risk from one of these factors.

Keep your resume polished, your portfolio up to date, make friends, and maintain your professional connections. It’s the only way you and all of Westeros will make it through the long night.