Recently laid off? Consider this...

I received an unsolicited email recently from a recruiter with about 2 years of experience (at several different companies) who expressed an interest in applying for a position at my company.

In his short email, he briefly introduced himself, and then wrote, “I am actively seeking a new job because my current company is laying off.”

• No mention of his capability or experience with recruitment.
• No highlight of his contributions to his current company or any achievements.
• The message was about his need. Not mine.
• The explanation for his need raised questions about his capability. (Why the lay off?)

When you have been laid off from a company, and are actively seeking new employment, it’s best to take a bit of time and do some research on the company that you are applying for and address your potential suitability in your messaging.

• Are you great at what you do?
• Have you won any awards, or been recognized for your performance?
• Have you been rapidly promoted, or shown a strong capacity to solve problems?
• Do you know – or can you imagine – what kinds of problems that I ?- as a business owner - might be facing? Have you presented some ideas of how you might profitably solve these problems?

These things are basic, but they can be easy to forget when you are in a panic when you need a new job.

Take a step back.

Calm down.

Think about what you are doing.

Get your messaging right.