What to do if you are laid off?

#Layoffs are sweeping the firms, from Twitter and Meta in the US to Shopee and GoTo Group in South East Asia to BYJU'S and Ola / OYO in India. There is panic all around. How will I pay my rent? How will my loved ones react? These are some of the thoughts which will naturally come to anyone's mind.

And that begs the question, what to do if you are laid off?

Simply, send your resume to dozens of companies and pray a recruiter will call you. No, that’s not a strategy for success.??

Gathering yourself and methodically working ahead is the only way to overcome that.

So first, just breathe. And take some time to process what has just happened. The next 24 - 48 hours should be about processing this shocking change to your employment status. Then, do these five things before you actively start looking for a job:

1. Reconfigure your mindset ??

Being laid off is not a reflection of your skill set. It is a reflection of your former company’s lack of planning or of its change in business strategy.

Remember, you have capabilities. You are smart. You can find a new job or change careers.

2. Write down your accomplishments ??

Create a list of your success stories using the WHI (What, How, Impact) framework. For e.g., revamped MIS reporting and automated workflow by excel modelling; saved $x.

If you have these stories prepared, you’ll be able to answer any behavioural question you’re asked.

3. Know what you want ??

Do you want to work for a small vs a big company? Do you want to stay in the same role or move into a different career? Do you need to stay in the same location for the right position?

Write down exactly what you want and what’s important to you in your next move.

4. Create a job-hunting schedule ??

Create a daily schedule and religiously track your interactions with the recruiters.

Setting your goal for each day will help you feel accomplished. You will feel that you’re moving forward in your job search, even if you’re not getting traction right away.

5. Find jobs that look interesting — but don’t simply apply ??

Before updating your resume, go through the job descriptions that are interesting to you and highlight the keywords. See if there are any themes emerging.

If your resume is missing keywords for a job, you could be dismissed quickly as not having enough experience or a specific kind of experience.

Take your time, and don’t rush to send in an application to a “perfect” job with a resume that isn’t quite ready.

. . .

Most importantly, if you’re in a negative head space, find something that will lift your spirits and put you in a better emotional place. Now, it could be yoga, music, or simply talking to a friend/ colleague.

It’s critical to take this time to focus on yourself. Your approach and demeanour when interviewing and networking will not only help you land your next opportunity but will make you feel confident about your value as well.

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My friend Mohit Garg and I publish a newsletter 'Weekly Olio' - a weekly collection of knick-knacks on tech, startups, business and life. It carries interesting pieces of content on a variety of topics in an easy-to-read style and is currently subscribed by more than 20,000 people from around the world. You can check it out here.

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