Lost your job recently?

I recently came across a lot of angry and frustrated posts from folks who have lost their jobs recently owing to a lot of companies laying off a big chunk of their workforce.

If you are one of them I am empathetic about your situation. Job loss is one of the biggest fears in an employee's mind and when that happens to you no one can fathom what you are going through.

As probably the sole bread earner of the family you face an uphill climb and what may look like a hopeless and improbable task to find a new role.

I wanted to share some points on this topic.

What to do

1. Stay active on platforms like LinkedIn and other job portals and boost your connections by sending out requests to the right guys and don't forget to say why you want to connect with them.

2. Use the time to work on your profile and possibly upskill. Lots of free and good content out there for you to do that and I don't mean another webinar on Zoom. Identify the gaps in your profile and find the courses to help you fill that gap

3. Ask your ex-colleagues, bosses for recommendations to improve your profile. Wrong place at the wrong time could be the reason and not because you were bad at what you did. Try speaking to clients too coz there is nothing like a glowing recommendation from a client.

4. Post content relevant to the job you are looking for and establish yourself as a thought leader in your domain.

5. Ask ppl for suggestions on how you can go about putting yourself in a position of power when you come across that opportunity.

6. Find yourself a mentor. Someone who can be your sounding board. A person who will find joy in helping you and guiding you.

"The struggle you are in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow. Don't give up"

-Robert Tew

What not to do

1. Curse us. Understand that while most of us empathize with you we may not be in a position to help you directly.

2. Badmouthing guys you reached out to but have not responded especially publicly through your posts. It might be for the same reason as the previous point that they haven't gotten back. This will only help increase negativity and you might come across as the sore loser.

3. Stop feeling bad for yourself. Like I mentioned earlier we can imagine that it's a hard time for you but you don't get to what you want by putting yourself down. The more you do it the more you distance yourself from that goal.

4. Lay on your bed all day binge-watching useless content. This is a time you have to make yourself a better person. Show that you are taking this challenge heads on. Deal with this challenge and you potentially can deal with any other challenge life throws at you.

"The art of knowing is knowing what to ignore"

-Rumi

In the end, let me say that these times are extremely hard. How you come out, in the end, will show what you are made of.

Also, know this that no entrepreneur derives pleasure in rendering people jobless. That's probably the last thing they want to do, at least the ones I have worked with. They are more likely to have their hands-tied in this situation.

Do reach out if you think I can help in anyway and I promise to do the best I can in the circumstance.

Look forward to thoughts in comments