Lost After a Layoff? Master Your Career Transition with These Powerful Steps

Today, I’m sharing a powerful success story about achieving career change success. Even in the toughest circumstances. When an unexpected layoff threw Jacqui’s* career off track right before the holidays, she found a way to turn a major setback into a springboard for new opportunities. ????

Whether you’re pivoting industries or aiming for your next executive role, let Jacqui’s journey inspire you to stay focused, trust the process, and position yourself for that career change success you’ve been longing for. Let’s dive in!

From Layoff to Career Change Success: Jacqui’s Story

A Sudden Career Setback

Jacqui had built a stellar track record in tech. Yet, just before the holiday season, when many of us are busy juggling Thanksgiving plans and Christmas festivities, she was hit with an unexpected layoff. Like so many workers, she felt blindsided and doubted whether she could make a meaningful career change when the job market tends to slow down.

Even with her strong background in high-pressure, result-driven environments, Jacqui couldn’t shake the feeling that her professional momentum had come to an abrupt halt. She worried that potential employers would be unresponsive during the holidays, and that any attempts at job searching would fall flat.

Struggling with Self-Doubt

Before working together, Jacqui described feeling:

• Shaken Confidence: A sudden job loss can rattle even the most seasoned professionals.
• Hopelessness: She worried no one would be hiring during the holidays.
• Overwhelm: Without a clear strategy, Jacqui felt stuck trying to figure out her next move.
• Skepticism: “Is this even the right time to look for a role? Who wants to hire just before the new year?”

These concerns are completely normal, but they can also derail your career change success if you don’t address them head-on.

Overcoming Doubt for Career Change Success

Rebuilding Executive Confidence

First things first: we had to reset Jacqui’s mindset. You can have the sharpest résumé, the most optimized LinkedIn profile, and a broad network of industry contacts. But if you lack confidence, it seeps through in every single interaction.

1. Acknowledging Past Wins: We listed out Jacqui’s top career achievements. Seeing them in black and white reminded her she was a valuable asset to any organization.
2. Mindset Shift Exercises: Through one-on-one executive coaching, I guided Jacqui to reframe the layoff as an opportunity rather than a dead end.
3. Role Play and Mock Interviews: We practiced how she would introduce herself to potential employers and network connections. That prep work reinforced her confidence, ensuring that doubt wouldn’t creep in during real conversations. This was especially important because Jacqui was a very quiet introvert.

Confidence is the cornerstone of career transition. When you believe in your own capabilities, you own your values, so that you can sell it to others.

Harnessing Holiday Hiring Opportunities

Jacqui’s biggest misconception was that hiring simply “dries up” from November through January. While some people do slow down, many companies are finalizing budgets and actively looking to fill positions before the new year begins. This can actually fast-track your interviews and offers if you position yourself correctly.

• Holiday Networking Events: I encouraged Jacqui to attend virtual industry gatherings and festive meetups to connect with decision-makers.
• Strategic Follow-Ups: We created a follow-up plan for after each introduction or conversation. Maintaining consistent, genuine contact helps you stand out.
• Staying Visible: Even if a recruiter says, “Reach back out after the holidays,” it’s smart to keep your professional presence strong on LinkedIn and in industry groups.

Crafting a Professional Brand for Career Change Success

A high-impact LinkedIn profile is essential for career change success. Jacqui’s initial profile was decent but lacked the compelling narrative needed to showcase her achievements and strategic vision.

1. Headline That Speaks Volumes: We crafted a headline highlighting expertise and unique value proposition. Think of your headline as your digital elevator pitch: what do you want recruiters and potential employers to know instantly?
2. Keyword Strategy: We added relevant industry keywords to make her profile more discoverable.
3. Engaging Summary: Instead of a generic job history, Jacqui’s summary now explains who she is as a leader, how she solves problems, and what motivates her to excel in high-pressure situations.
4. Showcasing Results: We added data-driven bullet points of past achievements (e.g., “Delivered a 30% increase in operational efficiency across global teams”) so hiring managers see concrete results of her leadership.

Tailoring Your Executive Resume

We also transformed Jacqui’s resume into a results-focused document that would grab attention instantly:

• Executive Summary: A concise paragraph highlighting her most impressive roles, biggest wins, and alignment with the roles she’s seeking.
• Accomplishment Statements: Each role listed included not just responsibilities but measurable achievements. For instance, “Led a global team of 50+ to implement a $5M project, resulting in a 40% reduction in cybersecurity breaches.”
• Targeted Key Skills: We ensured her technical and leadership capabilities matched the specific needs of each potential employer.

Strategic Networking: Opening Doors to Career Change Success

Building Authentic Connections

In today’s competitive market, who you know can be just as important as what you know. We focused on building and expanding Jacqui’s network in a strategic, authentic way:

• Leverage Existing Relationships: Jacqui reconnected with old colleagues, mentors, and fellow industry leaders. Warm introductions can go a long way in the hunt to find the right position for you.
• Smart Use of LinkedIn: Simple gestures like commenting on thought leadership posts, extensive research on c-suite leaders, sharing relevant articles, and congratulating peers on their successes elevated her visibility.
• Executive Recruiters & Headhunters: Partnering with recruiters who specialize in tech roles sped up her job search. They knew exactly what to highlight on her resume and how to present her leadership qualities to clients. And they gave her really helpful hints and tips about potential employees. This resulted in 2-5 recruiters reaching out to her everyday. Which meant we had to also build in self-care techniques so Jacqui could avoid job search burnout. For a deep dive in job search burnout, watch my Youtube video Avoiding Job Search Burnout.

Nurturing Long-Term Relationships

While Jacqui was primarily looking for immediate career change success, she also laid the foundation for future opportunities by nurturing genuine connections. Remember: The best relationships aren’t just transactional, they’re built on mutual respect and shared interests.

From Layoff to 5 Job Offers

The Real Payoff of Strategy and Persistence

Jacqui’s diligence paid off in a big way. By the first two weeks of the new year, she was juggling five job offers. All from companies that appreciated her background and expertise.

These offers didn’t just align with her professional ambitions. They also met her personal requirements for work-life balance.

Key factors that made the difference:

1. Steadfast Confidence: Her new self-belief made a noticeable impact in interviews. She told me how good it felt to feel so confident. Recruiters and hiring managers could sense her excitement and energy.
2. Optimized Professional Brand: With her polished LinkedIn presence and results-driven resume, Jacqui stood out as a top contender. Read Michaela Alexis' article, "LinkedIn Profile Ultimate Optimization Checklist: Updated for 2025!" for some great tips to optimize your profile.
3. Focused Networking: Every introduction was intentional, and each follow-up showcased her thoughtfulness and genuine interest in connecting.

Balancing Fulfillment and Executive Leadership

For Jacqui, success wasn’t just about landing a new position. It was about finding an environment that respected her expertise, recognized her value, and offered the work-life balance she craved.

Each of the five offers aligned with those goals in different ways, giving her the freedom to choose the perfect fit.? Since she was ready for a move, she chose the company offering to pay for a full cross country relocation move at the salary she that met her needs.?

Key Takeaways for Your Own Career Change Success

1. Confidence Fuels Leadership

Your attitude sets the tone for how others perceive you. If you’re wavering, employers will sense it. Investing in mindset coaching and confidence-building techniques pays off in every professional conversation.

2. Don’t Underestimate Holiday Hiring

Rather than viewing the holiday season as a dead zone, treat it like a golden opportunity. Companies are eager to lock in next year’s key positions, and fewer jobseekers are actively competing during this time.

3. Positioning Is Everything

A well-crafted LinkedIn profile and resume can be your biggest assets. Tailor them carefully for each application, highlighting metrics and narratives that speak to the employer’s biggest pain points.

4. Action Over Perfection

Waiting for the “perfect” moment can keep you stuck. Sometimes, taking imperfect but consistent action, like networking, refining your brand, or updating your resume, brings you much closer to landing the role you deserve.

5. Embrace Support and Guidance

Career transitions can be lonely, and it helps to have someone in your corner. An experienced coach can guide you in refining your strategy, boosting your confidence, and helping you see opportunities you might otherwise overlook.

Practical Tips for Holiday Job Seekers Aiming for Career Change Success

• Stay Visible Online: Keep posting relevant industry updates on LinkedIn and share any professional wins or insights you have.
• Set Clear Weekly Goals: Aim for a specific number of networking calls, job applications, or recruiter reach-outs.
• Invest in Skills Upgrades: If you have downtime, take an online course or certification relevant to your field. This not only adds to your resume but also keeps you motivated.
• Practice Interview Skills: Regularly role-play answers to executive-level questions. Even a short 10-minute practice session can sharpen your delivery.
• Leverage Holiday Events: If you’re attending end-of-year parties (in person or virtually), don’t hesitate to talk about your expertise and that you’re exploring new opportunities.

The Transformative Power of Executive Coaching

I often see women who think they must tackle an unexpected layoff or tough career pivot alone. In reality, strategic coaching offers:

1. Clarity: Identify what you truly want from your next role, beyond just compensation.
2. Confidence: Get real-time feedback and proven techniques to rebuild (or enhance) your executive presence.
3. Accountability: A coach keeps you on track and ensures your tactics align with your goals.
4. Industry Insights: We can tap into market trends and knowledge about what recruiters and hiring managers are seeking.

For Jacqui, having an external perspective and consistent support helped her see opportunities where she once saw roadblocks. And that’s exactly how she found herself with five compelling job offers, all before Q1 wrapped up. ??

Realize Your Own Career Change Success

Jacqui’s story is proof positive that timing doesn’t have to sabotage your next career step. Whether the holidays are approaching or you’re dealing with any form of seasonal slowdown, career change success is possible if you invest in the right strategies and maintain a steadfast belief in your own value.

Ready to fast-track your career transition?

Join my 2?-hour interactive masterclass, Leverage Your Transferable Skills for a Career Transition: Learn How to Pivot Without Starting Over, on March 16, 2025 at 6:00pm EST (Live on Zoom). You’ll learn:

• Proven pivot strategies I use with my private clients
• How to leverage your transferable skills for a smooth career transition
• The essential tools, including checklists, worksheets, and a workbook, to get you started

This session is great for professionals who are ready to transition into a new role without going back to square one. The investment is $149, and I’m offering 15% off for the first 15 federal employees who register. Email me at [email protected] to grab the code!

Only 25 spots are available, so secure yours now and let’s get you on the path to a successful career transition.

Can’t wait to see you there! Register ?? here.

Let’s turn your existing skills into new opportunities together.

I'm an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and a certified executive coach for Twanna Carter Professional & Personal Coaching, LLC. I flubbed my first career transition from the military so badly, it took me the next 10+ years to build my confidence and? recover. I know what it feels like to struggle with imposter syndrome and uncertainty about my leadership skills in the workplace. It's why I am dedicated to empowering Black women. Helping them navigate career challenges and uncertainty by providing them with the tools and strategies they need to be successful. Schedule a V.I.P. Roadmap session today.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain about the path ahead, I invite you to connect with me. As an executive coach, I specialize in helping high-achieving leaders, especially those facing unexpected setbacks, land roles that align with their values, ambitions, and lifestyle needs. ?

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