What to do about your resume after a layoff

You may be tempted to dust off an old version of your resume after a layoff and send it off to any position that looks slightly interesting. Experts say to hold off on that instinct. Instead, take time to process your emotions and carefully think about the next step in your career. Then, create a great resume with what you’ve learned that is targeted for the job you actually want.

By Helen Harris

You’re aiming to put your best self forward anytime you submit a resume for a job. Yet, rushing to send out resumes right after a layoff can be counterproductive if you don’t take time to process your emotions and plan your next step.

With this in mind — before opening your laptop to spruce up your resume and other career materials — take the time you need to process any emotions you are feeling and reassure yourself that what has happened is not a reflection of your work performance, skills or value.?

“The immediate reflex following a layoff is to hurry up and find another job,” said Caroline Castrillon , who is a career coach and founder of Corporate Escape Artist. “Yes, a paycheck is important. But, if you’ve been laid off and received an attractive severance package, this might be the perfect time to consider a professional pivot.”

“Take some time off to take a step back to reassess your career and determine what direction you’d like to go in,” she added. “Even if it's just a few weeks, doing a little soul-searching before jumping back into the workforce is worth it.”?

You’re Probably Not Starting From Square One

Once you’re ready to start building your resume and cover letter, the good news is that your old ones are probably still good starting points.

“Whether you were laid off or not shouldn't dramatically affect the resume template,” said Castrillon.?

Still, it’s a good idea to check your resume against some recent templates to make sure it aligns with best practices. Plus, you’ll want to make sure you’ve updated your resume to match your experience as someone who is probably deeper into their careers than you were the last time you sent out resumes.

For example, you’ll want to move your education section to the bottom of your resume if you’ve been in the workforce for five years or more, said Castrillon.

The other item you may need to address is a career gap — especially if you’ve been out of work for a sizeable amount of time. Luckily, recruiters and hiring managers are much more forgiving when it comes to career gaps than they used to be, according to Anne Genduso , who is a career coach, strategist and owner of MPWR Services.

There are a few ways to handle a career gap on a resume, including writing about what you’ve been doing while unemployed. For example, you may have spent time volunteering, taking online courses, serving on board positions or taking on freelance projects .

You can also just add a line within your experience to address the gap, such as: “took leave of absence to care for ailing family member.”

People with long-term career gaps may want to consider a functional resume, though. Such a resume emphasizes skills and experience without drawing a lot of attention to dates.

Perfect Your Professional Story?

Although a layoff says nothing negative about your professional performance or character, you still want to tell your story in a way that highlights your strengths and instills a sense of assurance for your next employer. Make sure your resume tells that story.?

“My top advice to a job seeker who is crafting a resume who has been laid off is to not dwell on the negative and just remember you have so much experience,” said Genduso. “Getting laid off is not personal and it does not negate all of the wonderful contributions you've made. And it's important to highlight all of those contributions and not let your confidence take a hit.”

(A version of this article first appeared on November 14, 2022 on the Get Hired by LinkedIn News page . You can read the full article, which was written and reported by Helen Harris , by clicking here. )

Careers are complex. Oftentimes, it's beneficial to hear from someone who has successfully navigated their own professional journey. Few people have chartered a career better than Asahi Pompey , who is a partner at Goldman Sachs and president and head of global engagement at the Goldman Sachs Foundation. She joined me for the latest episode of #GetHired with Andrew Seaman to share her career journey (including how she pivoted from a successful career in law to one in finance and threw herself into learning her new field). She also shared some of the exciting initiatives she’s worked on at Goldman Sachs, including One Million Black Women and 10K Small Businesses , which empower underrepresented entrepreneurs. Listen to the episode below or by clicking here . You can also read a transcript of the conversation by clicking here .

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LinkedIn News ' Gianna Prudente will chat with career coach Cynthia Pong, JD Pong about navigating salary negotiations on the Friday, November 18 episode of #GetHired Live. They will go over how to secure the salary you deserve, what to do if you are being underpaid and answer your questions live. RSVP to join them live at 12 pm ET on Friday by clicking the image below or by clicking here .

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Being laid off is not a good feeling but try to remember that it is not personal. Use it as a catalyst to take the next step in your career or an opportunity to do what you love. This LinkedIn Learning course teaches you to adapt to organizational change and how to use uncertainty to your benefit. You can watch the course below or by clicking here .?

(Additional editing by Ciarra Maraj )