Laid off? Here are 25 strategies to rebuild your career and decide if it’s time to relocate for a higher paying job
“We no longer have need of your services.”
That’s the email message thousands of workers received this month. Can you imagine the shock they felt? The fear of how they will pay their bills and financially care for their families. Being fired for not meeting expectations usually doesn’t come as a surprise, but a layoff is different. It’s sudden. It’s painful. It feels personal, and in part it is since much of our sense of self worth comes from work.
"Losing a job can feel like losing a part of yourself, and the fear of financial instability can be overwhelming." – Unknown
What to do? Stop. Catch your breath. It’s a lay-off, not a funeral. You didn’t die. Your job ended and you are being forced to move on, which is usually happening to many other people.
Breathe to clear your thinking, let go of the resistance you feel seeking help from others. Resistance is the enemy. Shatter the resistance with assistance, starting with reading the stories of others who were suddenly laid off. Search for people on LinkedIn who are going through the same process, to learn from them, to gain their insights so you don’t have to feel like you are walking through it alone. ?
Give up the impulsive desire to move away, at least until you consider your options.
When faced with the need to find a new job after a sudden layoff, some people struggle with the decision to uproot their family to move and find stable employment on the other side of the country.
The lure of a huge paycheck for a new job in a new city may not be as important after considering the 25 elements that shape quality of life (QoL) to determine if this is the right job for this season of life. Below are practical steps to help with the shock and financial fear of being laid off. Followed by a structured career transition process that gives you back a feeling of control about your career and your financial future.
Before you take the new job, there are some essential details to take care of. Which are not a sign of failure about you as a person. You weren’t fired – you were laid off –and these are the tools provided to help you rebuild. Yes, it will take hours to line up these services, often being put on ‘hold’ on telephone calls to various agencies, but it is a free service to provide some financial support.
Sign up for financial resources offered to unemployed workers
1.????? Unemployment Compensation: Provides unemployment compensation for employees who have lost their employment through no fault of their own. Claims should be filed in the state where the employee's last official employment was located, with limited exceptions. Government and corporations often have a wealth of unemployment resources with staff to help you through this transition. DO NOT WAIT to sign up for unemployment benefits – these are benefits directly to you as a portion of your previous salary, and the paperwork can take time, so act now to get that partial income lined up to help you.
2.????? COBRA: The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) allows you to temporarily continue your health insurance coverage after leaving employment. This can provide a safety net for healthcare during this transition period.
3.????? State and Federal Resources: State and federal offices have resource directories for laid-off workers, including unemployment insurance benefits, career guidance, resume assistance and reemployment support.
4.????? Unemployment Insurance: https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/unemployment-insurance : Provides information on unemployment insurance benefits.
5.????? Corporate Career Transition Services: Many corporations, as well as state employment offices like Career Works, offer free services, including job listings, resume help, career coaching, and training programs. Many of these job centers offer job listings and referrals to training programs or placement services.
Take a few days, change your corporate email over to one at Gmail.com, make the telephone calls, figure out the details of your unemployment, sign up for COBRA then your next step is to visit LinkedIn, https://www.dhirubhai.net/ where 1 billion businesspeople network each day, and take these actions.
1.????? Update Your LinkedIn Profile: Add the "Open to Work" post on LinkedIn to signal to recruiters that you're looking for opportunities. Here's a guide on how to do that: (https://www.dhirubhai.net/help/linkedin/answer/a507508/let-recruiters-know-you-re-open-to-work?lang=en)
2.????? Alumni Resources: Your college's alumni network often has helpful resources from alumni who have been impacted by layoffs, sharing their stories, encouragement and hope, along with job leads and recommendations. Your college or trade school has a LinkedIn page, as well as social media links – visit them all, get the word out. When you are seeking work, your network becomes your career ‘net worth’ since someone is looking for a new hire with your skills – but it’s your task to let them know you are available to join their team.
Should you relocate for a job that pays more money?
Once you have these details in place the topic may come up about relocation involving a major move for a higher paying job. This is a big decision, with more factors than money, but is it the right one for you and your family?
Think about your current circumstances, measure them against your potential life in a new zip code and consider the qualities that lead to a meaningful quality of life. This involves charting out essential issues, including how the change would affect your partner, children, and any extended relatives you have responsibilities to care for.
Making a major move could expand your life for the better by adding value to your family, finances, and future. However, a poorly thought-out move can explode your quality of life and potentially hurt your family. There is a lot to consider and compare because some moves are so extreme there's no going back. As the ancient carpenter's advice goes, "Measure twice – cut once."
Consider how personal factors like Mental, Physical, Relational, and Spiritual would change if you made the move to a new city, including
1.????? Relationships with immediate family here, and access in a new place.
2.????? Relationship with peers in both places, here and possible new location.
3.????? Consider what age/life stage you, your partner, and children are in now?
4.????? Access to medical, dental, and mental healthcare.
5.????? Access to nature, parks, and recreation in green spaces.
6.????? Community services and resources that match your values.
7.????? Availability of houses of worship that fit your traditions and beliefs.
8.????? Community that values fitness, youth sports, concerts, arts, social events, and fun.
9.????? Affordable housing that fits your family’s needs.
10.? Neighborhoods that welcome new people and ideas.
11.? Time and opportunity for travel or other social experiences to connect relationships after the move.
Next, consider professional factors like Career, Finances, Organizational Health, and Life Purpose if you make this move:
1.????? Meaningful work that aligns with your natural talent and gifts.
2.????? Purposeful work that matches your interests and core values.
3.????? Opportunities for legacy work through mentoring or coaching others.
4.????? Ability to express your voice and agency to create change.
5.????? Opportunities for decision-making where your voice can be heard.
6.????? Access to mentors or leaders who might expand your thinking and skills.
7.????? Opportunities for professional development and leadership.
8.????? Organization values new ideas and respects all voices.
9.????? Financial income to support a lifestyle that fits your values and family needs.
10.? Work that matches your personality, motivation, and natural curiosity.
11.? Joining an established team or doing solo work with clear direction.
12.? Organizational culture of growth that embraces positive change.
13.? Position offers room to grow and expand capacity and potential.
14.? Preparation for a new leader to take your place in the position you would be leaving, ensuring their success after your departure.
Mapping out both sides logically prepares you for the psychological pressure that may come from extended family and friends who may not want you to leave. Their arguments are often based on the fear of not seeing you, your partner, or kids as much.
Sometimes they can layer on F.O.G. (Fear-Obligation-Guilt) to manipulate the decision for their benefit, while pressuring you in the process. In extreme situations, they may become controlling or angry. This pressure may not just come from relatives but also from friends, coworkers, or even a boss.
Emotions are normal but often cloud the decision process. Manage those emotions using the Quality-of-Life checklist above. Spend time charting out the options, create a comparison with known and unknown variables, then sit down with your partner and measure what matters at this stage of your life. There is much to consider, so give yourself time to honestly look at all sides of the situation. Remember:
-??????? Moving won't fix a bad or failing relationship.
-??????? Moving may not lead to your kids’ finding friends or getting better grades in school. However,
-??????? Moving might lead to more meaningful work with greater opportunities.
-??????? Moving could lead to a community of like-minded people where you feel like you belong. (Like the theme song to the 1980's sitcom "Cheers" https://youtu.be/h-mi0r0LpXo?si=xl57pSkS5FPyXjCl celebrated – we long to belong and making the move might open those doors).
The shock of being laid off can almost ‘freeze’ your brain’s ability to make clear decisions. Grab a pad of paper and begin to logically sort through these twenty-five factors that lead to quality of life (QoL). As you take time to create a map of what matters, you can move forward with a new job in a new place feeling the confidence of beginning a new chapter of life in a place where you can put down roots and build deep relationships.
Mapping out what matters is the place to start. After securing unemployment resources and taking time to align your personal and professional goals, you can accept an offer in a new place and start packing the moving boxes as you turn the page onto an exciting new season of opportunity. The best part? You navigated a major career loss to begin a new chapter of meaningful work in a place that fits your values. A major career change might be the defining moment you always look back on with gratitude. You can’t control a job – but by taking control of your response you can build a better future, and that starts now. ?
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About the Author: Dwight Bain is a Nationally Certified Counselor specializing in managing major changes. His research on rapid psychological recovery was featured at the World Congress on Crisis, Stress, and Human Resilience. Dwight is a trusted media resource who has been interviewed on over 500 radio and television stations and quoted in over 100 newspapers/websites including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Orlando Sentinel, The Chicago Tribune, FoxBusiness.com, MSNBC.com, and Yahoo! He lives in Orlando with Sheila, his wife of 35 years, and their rescue cat, "Scrappy."