Bouncing Back After Being Laid Off

Being laid off is a lousy feeling. One moment, you’re a part of a team and building a career; the next, you’re out of work and wondering where your next paycheck will come from. Being laid off can be stressful, embarrassing, and depressing. But it’s not a hopeless situation—far from it!

With the right attitude and the right moves, you could bounce back fast after being laid off. You could soon land in another role, or even take the opportunity to improve your credentials and advance your career. Here’s your guide to bouncing back after being laid off.

Work your professional network

When you need a new job, things can feel pretty lonely. But, if you’ve been diligent about your professional networking, then you shouldn’t be completely without allies. Now is the time to bust out the Rolodex, and see if any of the people that you’ve gotten to know over the years might be able to help you.

This doesn’t mean that you’ll be calling people and begging, of course. It just means putting out feelers. Let people know that you’re looking for a new opportunity, mention the things that you’re interested in, or simply touch base to say hi to an old contact. If you’ve been networking properly, then you’ve been more interested in helping others and getting to know people than you have been in asking for help and handouts, which means that your contacts will be more likely to give you a hand, now that you finally could use one.

If you don’t have this kind of professional network, that’s okay—Now’s a great time to start building one. Just remember not to neglect networking once you’re happily employed once again.

Look at your options for continuing education

Depending on your circumstances and where you are in your career, you may find that you aren’t as employable as you wish you were, or that your current resume doesn’t line up with your long-term goals. That’s okay. Being laid off gives you the perfect excuse to take a more critical view of your credentials.

If you find them lacking, consider returning to school. These days, going back to school doesn’t have to mean taking out loans and attending school full-time in person. You could just as easily start with an online learning self-assessment to see if learning online makes sense for you. Part-time and low-residency programs, community college degrees, and other ways to learn and secure degrees are all options to consider.

Turn to a headhunter

You need a job, and somewhere out there is a company that needs an employee just like you. It’s a little tougher than you might think, though, for the two of you to find each other. That’s where headhunters, or recruiters, come in.

Headhunters are professionals and organizations that focus on finding the right candidates for the right jobs. And executive retained search firms will look carefully for the right fit, and they’ll make money if they find it. What you need to do is to be that perfect fit.

A headhunter can be a valuable ally in your search for your next job. Headhunters love finding qualified job seekers, and they can even help you fine-tune your resume or cover letter to suit the position in question. Just be sure to send a thank-you note to the headhunter if you land an interview with their help (even if you don’t get the job). You never know when you might need them again, and a little politeness can go a long way.