Help, I've been laid off! What's next?

The layoffs that we have witnessed in the past few weeks have been difficult to see, it’s caught many by surprise and understandably caused a lot of anxiety. Some of the biggest organizations globally have cut back on permanent and contract staff, and the number of now ex-employees looking for work is exponential. Twitter laid off 50% of their workforce, Meta 13%, and Peloton 12%.?

If you have been impacted you may well be wondering, what’s next? It can be difficult to know what to do if you’ve been let go from your current organization.

We’ve put together a 5-step process to give you a guide on how to approach the coming weeks.

#1 Feel the emotions

Being laid off can affect us all in different ways. For some of us, it can be a feeling of frustration and betrayal, whereas for others it can be a sense of relief and the opportunity to start a “clean slate”.?

Most importantly, there are no correct emotions to feel when you’ve been laid off - but you should try to process them before you get back out in the market. It’s also key to acknowledge that we have had a transformative few years due to the pandemic as well as the hiring boom that we saw in 2021, which has challenged us all mentally. Businesses have had to adapt to volatile market changes and the effect has been felt by employees across the world.?

It’s important to be kind to yourself during this time. Placing the blame on yourself and internalizing what has happened is easily done - but it probably isn’t the healthiest way to approach it.?

Imposter syndrome can also kick in when trying to put yourself out there, and before you know it your headspace is one that has the potential to be incredibly negative. Instead, it’s better to talk things through - whether it’s with others who have been laid off, friends, family, or even an impartial third party (like a recruiter).?

Chances are they’ve experienced what you’re going through, and in times of crisis finding solutions and trying to be positive will have a much better outcome, instead of placing the blame on yourself.?

#2 Don’t wait too long to get back out there

If you have the privilege of being able to take a couple of weeks off, this can be a great reset for you mentally, physically, and emotionally. It gives you the opportunity to take a step back and process what has happened, whilst also reflecting where you may want to take your career from here.?

Whilst it’s great to have the benefit of introspection, we don’t recommend that you wait too long. You want to have an element of momentum and motivation to get back out there and start interviewing. Equally, if you aren’t ready to jump into a formal interview process - spend your time reaching out to recruiters and finding the right person to represent you.?

This will enable you to conduct your own research for active roles in the market whilst your recruiter reaches out to their client network to seek roles that may not be live yet. If you’re in a position where you have been working for one employer for 5+ years, a lot would have changed since you last interviewed, so pace and momentum are key.?

BONUS tip for Web3 | Events

Have a look and see if there are upcoming events that you can attend in locations that are considered Web3 hubs so you can start networking; remote events can also be just as effective.

#3 Network

Your network is one of the most valuable assets in your career, so make sure that you nurture it - as it could be the key to unlocking a new opportunity.?

Who have you worked with in the past? Who can you reach out to for advice? Or, who can you reach out to that is hiring? Whether this is a recruiter, an ex-colleague, a peer, or someone you’ve met at an event - utilize your network to the best of your ability. There will be so many people in your network who have been in your position before - and it’s human nature to help each other!?

Think about the viral posts that you’ve seen on LinkedIn of those who are looking for a role - all it takes is a few individuals in your network to like, comment, and share it - and a snowball effect happens!

BONUS tip for Web3 | Spend more time away from traditional job boards

Although traditional job boards can have excellent opportunities available, ensure that you’re investing time in networking across a variety of platforms. Web3 specific job boards (both local and global) are good places to start.?

Additionally, networking on Discord, Reddit, and Twitter will be invaluable. Equally, LinkedIn - especially if you spend time actively posting and engaging with content on there can be incredibly valuable.

#4 Make it clear what you’re looking for

Spend time updating your CV as well as your LinkedIn profile and make it really clear what you’re looking for. If you decide to write a post asking for help - you need to be crystal clear on what you’ve done, what you’re looking for, your location, and in essence - make it easy for people to help you.?

The key to doing this is by keeping it simple - particularly on LinkedIn. You want to ensure that the two following sections are up-to-date as a starting point:

Your headline/summary

What role are you looking for? When are you available? Your headline will be the first thing that recruiters or potential employers see when they look at your profile on LinkedIn.?

Job Roles

Focus on bullet-pointing your responsibilities and achievements, and back up with statistics where possible. If you were in a leadership role - provide details on the team size you managed as well as any accolades that were achieved during this time period.?

Your LinkedIn is your digital Resume - don’t leave it bare, but also don’t try and overcompensate and provide too much detail. Think: succinct, engaging, and data-driven! If you’re struggling to articulate yourself, working with a recruiter or even a peer to proofread what you’ve written can be incredibly helpful. You can then replicate what you’ve done on LinkedIn for your Resume.?

#5 Keep your options open and don’t rush into the first opportunity that comes to you

Try to not have a scarcity mindset - don’t rush to the first opportunity that comes to you, unless it’s completely aligned and meets your objectives. Making rash decisions isn’t necessary, stay balanced and weigh up your options.?

After a layoff, it’s normal to feel a little fragile and think that you have to make an immediate decision, or you’ll lose out on an opportunity. Instead, it’s quite the opposite; take it as a confidence booster and have one or two other options to compare it to. Then, you have enough options (and time) to decide.

At BlocHaus, we are supporting candidates in the Web3 ecosystem with finding their next opportunity. If you have been impacted by recent layoffs, then reach out to one of our specialist consultants and we are happy to share up-to-date market information as well as roles that we are currently working on. You can reach us by DM here on LinkedIn or [email protected]