Laid Off Twice In One Year—Here’s What I Learned

It's a regular Thursday morning. I've got my coffee, the pups have been walked and fed, and I've just received some promising news about a deal I've been diligently working on. It’s 9 am and these are the things on my mind. I have a plan for the day, meetings I'm prepared to attend, and deals I'm eager to close. I've just hit 7 months at my job after being laid off in January. I'm in my element—building relationships, understanding my target audience, and feeling confident about my work.

But, as we all know, the universe doesn't always care about our plans. That's when, for the second time this year, I got that ominous last minute meeting invite. My heart dropped.? A few things happen when you’re about to get life-changing news. For me, it starts with panic. I immediately start retracing my steps. Did I miss a meeting? Was there a deliverable with a missed deadline? Who else got this invite? Is it just a team meeting?

To which I checked the invite and saw it was with the Chief People Officer and the CEO. The feeling of nervousness becomes a feeling of dread. I know what’s about to happen. I start sending out messages to my management team and co-workers, asking for information. A last-ditch effort to put my mind at ease before the meeting starts within five minutes. I'm greeted with silence. To be fair, we're talking about a small amount of time and they had no idea what was about to happen either. Those small five minutes feel like an eternity. I'm alone. There's no co-worker next to me since I work from home. It's just me, my pointless to-do list open on the notebook in front of me, my coffee, and a lot of anxiety.

Once the news hits me, all the other words from the call are reduced to a buzz—not the fun kind you have on a Friday night with friends. But, the buzz of thoughts and worries. How much money do I have saved up? How many rent payments can I make with that? Why is this happening to me—again? These kinds of questions are normal in my opinion. However, we know the internal dialogue probably doesn’t end there for some of us. Those are the innocent and human questions. The dark ones rooted in insecurity or self-doubt, they show no mercy. They hit me right in the throat and don’t give me a chance to breathe. For me, it was: Am I not good enough? Did I not do my job well? Maybe they just acted like they liked me? What could I have done differently? This barrage of uncomfortable questions throws my attention back into the webinar. But it’s over. The only thing I have time to see is my accounts signing me out one by one. Slack shows a login screen, my email window is asking to confirm my Gmail account, the shared drive closes, and boom again that feeling of being alone hits.

You might be wondering why I'm going into such detail about my experience with getting laid off. It might seem like an unusual way to kick off an article dedicated to providing ideas and strategies for success after your life has been turned upside down. But, it's crucial for you to understand that I've been there – I'm still there. I don't want you to think that I'm just telling you these things from a place of ignorance. I'm not about to suggest something absurd. Instead, I want you to know that everything I'm sharing is rooted in understanding and genuine care.

So, let’s talk about a few things. It’s just you and me. You're not alone. It’s bittersweet because you know that there are hundreds of other people in other companies, countries, and industries going through the same thing you are. You don’t wish it on anyone. But, wishes and intentions don’t always work out the way we want them to. Let’s get a few things out of the way.

This is not your fault.

Even if you weren’t performing amazingly in your role, unless you were on some sort of action plan, chances are you would have had an opportunity to improve or make adjustments before you found yourself out of a job. Being laid off is NOT AN INDICATION of your value as an employee or your talent as a person. I know it’s hard, but the next few months are going to need you to be at your best, and we don’t have time for those unhelpful emotions. Acknowledge your fears and doubts, and then send them to the junk folder where they belong.

There is a difference between being disappointed and feeling defeated.

It’s okay to be disappointed. It’s okay to be sad, to be scared, and even to ask yourself what you should do next. But listen here, we’re in this together, and we don’t give up. We don’t listen to negative self-talk or doubt. We pick ourselves up and we start making moves. Use your disappointment to motivate you into the next chapter of your life. This is an opportunity. And yes, you may think it’s easy for me to say and wonder what my financial situation is like and why I am so calm. Well, I can tell you that when this happened to me in January, I truly did not know how my bills were going to get paid if I didn’t find a job before my severance finished. Trust me, I get it. In reality, that’s all the more reason for you to get your mind right, take a moment, and get ready for this new journey.

What you say and where you say it matters.

My friend, we’re back on the job market again. We cannot afford to let an emotional post be the first and only impression a recruiter gets when looking at our LinkedIn profile—especially if you were angry when you wrote it. I am not saying that your emotions are invalid or that you shouldn’t be open about what you’re feeling. However, look at what you have posted or are about to post and ask yourself if you’d be interested as a recruiter based on the impressions you’re conveying with that single post. If you aren’t able to immediately say that you’d be fine with it, then you should probably delete it. Position your need for a job as an opportunity to companies out there because let’s face it, it is. This is a chance for a company to swoop in and get a new motivated employee and that’s exactly how you need to communicate it to your network.?

If someone offers you help or hits you with the “let me know if there is anything I can do,” call them on it!

For some reason, when people offer help, a lot of us seem to assume they don’t really mean it or that it’s an empty offer. Kind of like when someone offers you the last piece of cake and you know they're secretly hoping you say no. But, you won’t know unless you ask. Hiring a new employee is an investment, and like all investments, people want assurance that they’re making the right call. So beyond an incredible interview, a great resume, and a list of impressive credentials, the next best thing you can have is references from people who have worked with you. The next time someone asks you if there is anything they can do to help, send a LinkedIn recommendation request or ask them to write a letter for you. Even if they don’t follow through, at best you’ll get a few good posts on your page that a recruiter can read through to learn a little about you. At worst, your profile will look just like it did before you asked.?

Last one, get some help with your resume. I am not just talking about human help either!

I feel like professionals are always talking about the importance of having a good resume, and it usually becomes the first thing people forget when they’re back on the job market. Don’t get me wrong, having your resume redone professionally isn’t cheap. If you can’t afford it, right now isn’t the best time to start swiping your card with things you can’t afford to spend money on. However, there are plenty of people on LinkedIn who are offering help or coaching, and it costs nothing to ask.?

I know anxiety can be a player when asking for help, so for my fellow introverts out there, I have a hack. ChatGPT!!! The majority of resumes are screened by technology before they ever appear in front of a recruiter. What does that mean and how do you set yourself up for success? Every application should be submitted with a customized resume! Every. Single. Application! When you hear someone say, “I’ve submitted 58 applications and haven’t heard back from one person,” chances are they’re using the same resume for every application, and they’re getting bounce backs and rejection emails before a recruiter even has a chance to see their application.

Here is where AI can help. Every time you want to apply for a job, copy the job description and paste it into ChatGPT and ask it to tell you the keywords an ATS is most likely looking for when it recommends your application to a recruiter. Take those keywords and make sure that they’re used in applicable places on your resume. If you really want to make sure you’re doing the best you can, paste in your resume and ask the AI to determine the best places to honestly use those keywords and skills on your resume. Check the work, and then use it to apply for that position. That needs to be your strategy for every job you apply for.

We all face unexpected twists in our careers, and these moments can be daunting. But remember, you are not alone. Countless others have walked this path before you, and countless more will follow. It's the human condition, and it's a testament to our ability to adapt and thrive.

So, to all my fellow job seekers and resilient souls out there, let's embrace this new chapter as an opportunity. An opportunity to showcase our strengths, to connect with like-minded individuals, and to grow both personally and professionally. The road ahead may be challenging, but it's also filled with promise.

As we navigate the uncertain waters of the job market, let's keep our heads held high, our spirits resilient, and our determination unwavering. Remember, you possess a unique set of skills, experiences, and qualities that make you an invaluable asset to any organization fortunate enough to have you.

Stay strong, stay motivated, and stay open to the possibilities that lie ahead. Your next adventure is waiting, and I have no doubt that you'll approach it with the same courage and tenacity that have brought you this far.