With everything that is going on around us lately, it is affecting business everywhere. With that being said, a lot of people everywhere are getting laid off. If you are one of those people who have gotten laid off from your job, don’t feel like you are the only one that is lost on what to do next. First off, take a deep breath, decompress and use some of these tips to get yourself back out there.
Take a break. You need time to take a step back, breath and absorb what happened. A lot of the time layoffs are unexpected and you may not be quite sure what to do with yourself. Before completely jumping into applying to new jobs you need to sit back and think of what you want your next step to be. Are you looking to have the same job you just got laid off from? Do you want to go on a different career path? What do you really see yourself doing at your next job? Ask yourself these questions so you can start to plan your next steps.
What you have to offer. Write down all your skills, abilities and experiences. Take the time to develop an understanding of all of the skills you have learned throughout your career. Really analyze your professional background and develop supporting evidence to specific skills and experiences. This will help when you are doing your resume and searching for opportunities.
Get out your contact list and network. Make a list or record of people you have worked with or people you have met through your career. Email, call or text them, see if there is anything they can do to help you or if there is anyone they can put you in touch with. You are going to want to utilize your contact list and your LinkedIn network. Let people know that you are looking for a new job or a new career.
Set weekly goals. Each week set a goal for yourself. For example, your goal could be to apply to 5 jobs a week or reach out to 10 people in your network whether it’s by email or calling them. Setting time aside each day to look for new opportunities and contacting people will help you land your next opportunity. Also, you want to be sure when looking for new opportunities you are using multiple channels. There are many job boards, for instance: LinkedIn, Monster, Indeed and Glassdoor.
If you use this free time you have wisely and follow these tips it will lead you to your next opportunity.
