Navigating Ambiguity

I know we’ve all been seeing a wave of posts the last several weeks about the recent layoffs that have caused over 50,000 talented and skilled professionals to lose their jobs overnight. I’ve been there before and the feelings that take over you when you hear (or read) you’ve been impacted can be difficult to process in that moment. From the pit in your stomach that immediately strikes, to instant fear of how you will make ends meet if your savings run out, to the anxiety of now having to navigate through this ambiguity, which let’s be real, many of us are not comfortable with.

I’m sensitive to the current situation many are faced with today and felt compelled to dedicate this newsletter to highlight some of the resources I thought could be useful as you navigate this times. This time can make you second guess your abilities and your value. You may be asking yourself, “Was I ever good enough?” Did I do enough to show my value and how I drive results?” “Did I make enough relationships?” “What could I have done differently?” All valid questions, but in many cases, you’ve done all you could and it came down to very unfortunate business decisions that had to be made.

Let’s take a different approach and ditch self-doubt. Instead, reframe those questions to statements such as, “This is my opportunity to pivot into a role I’m passionate about.” “This is the push I needed to launch that business, write that book, etc.” “This is just what I needed to reset and refresh after feeling burned out for too long.”

I know it is incredibly tough to reframe your mindset. When I was impacted years ago, the most anxiety came from running out of resources if I didn’t land a new role before my savings were depleted. I came from very humble beginnings and didn’t have a back-up plan if I couldn’t find a way to make ends meet. That fear was real, and I know that’s the reality for so many. Without hesitation, though, I started focusing on what I could control. Because while I couldn’t control the company's layoff decisions, I did have control over my mindset, my actions, and where I focused my energy on. It was game time, and I needed to make moves to come out on the other side.????

I jumped on LinkedIn (I've been a member far before I was an employee). LinkedIn is an incredible platform to get you started - engage with your connections, extend your network and connect with hiring managers/prospective employers, learn about new companies of interest, search job opportunities, join groups, and showcase what you are all about in an authentic way through posts and engaging with others. Outside of LinkedIn, I sought local networking events, checked out free workshops, took classes to improve my skills, and said “yes” to nearly every event I was invited to. I encourage you to do the same. Your next opportunity could come from a new contact made in any one of these forums.

To learn even more tips, best practices, and find new strategies to help you land your next play you can check out the LinkedIn Learning Path that has now been unlocked for all members (premium or not) through 7/1/23.

The Finding a Job during Challenging Economic Times learning path includes all of the below courses:?

• Digital Body Language
• A Career Strategist's Guide to Getting a Job
• Recovering from a Layoff
• How to Manage Feeling Overwhelmed
• Finding a Job
• Recession-Proof Career Strategies
• Digital Networking Strategies
• Building Resilience
• Writing a Resume
• Video Interview Tips
• Engage the Likability Effect in the Job Search
• 10 Ways to Stay Motivated While Job Hunting

There are some powerful tips and learnings in these courses and hope you find them useful.

Through this time, I urge you to be gentle with yourself and give yourself some grace. Use your free time between your job search and networking to do things you love, create new habits, develop a mindfulness and wellness routine, catch up on reading, listen to podcasts, spend time with friends and family, and focus on the things, people, and experiences that will help make you feel at peace, happy, and fulfilled. This is just a short period of time that you will make it through. I’m rooting for you!

Sending you all good vibes, continued prayers, and the absolute best of luck as you take on this journey to find your next play.?

Feedback is a gift. Connect, comment, share, leave a question, or shoot me a note.

[Thoughts and opinions in this newsletter are my own and not of my employer.]??