7 Things to Do After Being Laid Off
There's no sugar coating it. Getting laid off sucks! But it doesn't have to define you. Here are some things to do after being laid off that can help get you out of your head and back on your feet.
If you’ve been laid off, it can feel a bit like being dumped. Being laid off is a blow to the ego whether you liked your job or not, and it’s pretty darn easy to start flashing that victim card everywhere you go. Believe it or not, playing the victim is also the ego. Our self confidence has taken a hit, and the ego is really just trying to help, albeit not in the healthiest of ways.
Our work is so often where we get validation. When that abruptly stops, it is far too easy to feel useless, and rediscovering your goals and your purpose can seem downright impossible.
I was laid off. There I said it. Even that act can fill one with shame. I was given zero reasoning, zero notice, zero signs. This was not a massive layoff, this was just me. This seemed personal. Truth was that I would never know the exact reason, I would never have all the answers, only my assumptions. But guess what? It didn’t matter. I was unemployed. The only thing I could do was move on.
But I didn’t go out that day looking for a new job. I played it a bit differently. Here are 7 things you can do that helped me after being laid off:
1 | Decompress from the workplace
Give yourself a break. Don’t go out the same day and frantically apply for new jobs, do the opposite. Consider this a day off. Do something with family or friends, do something you enjoy. You might need to be frugal, but don’t sit around wallowing in self pity, or hatching a plot for revenge. Occupying yourself will help keep your mind tamed, because no doubt, you now have a lot of uncertainties swirling around up there.
Pick an appropriate time frame and stick to it. Whether it is 1 day, a week, or a month, give yourself the time you need. If you are collecting unemployment, you’ll need to do that right away, and you may need to arrange alternate health insurance. Beyond that, this time is now yours. Do some things you’ve been too busy to do. Reach out to friends and family, talk to them. Chances are also pretty good that the more people in your network who know you are looking for work, the more opportunities you open yourself up to.
2 | Reflect, but don’t dwell on your lost job
You were laid off. Basically your company dumped you, kind of. Whether or not your are usually the type to journal or not, this is a great time to grab some paper and start writing down your thoughts. If you have anger, let it out there. If you have sadness, let it out there. Anything and everything you feel, believe me the paper can handle it. And while you might also share some or all of this with your mom or your best friend, you’ll spare all the others in your life from your explosion of emotions. Don’t damage your network by ranting about your old employer.
This process will help you sort out your emotions and make sense of them. Realize that while it may feel personal, in all likelihood it isn’t. In fact, you shouldn’t take anything personally, ever. Companies, and people, do things for their own reasons and in their own best interests. So whether your whole team was laid off, or it was just you, realize that it isn’t personal, it simply is, just business. And if it’s not, well you’ll probably never know, and they’ll never tell you, so it’s really best to move on and leave it all in the past.
You’ll probably discover that job wasn’t meant for you. It is my full hearted opinion that things happen for a reason.
In my case, I can honestly say that I had lost all passion for the work I was doing. I was not fulfilled, and I’m pretty sure it showed. Whether or not that played into me being laid off, I’ll never truly know, but it wouldn’t surprise me. However, I consider it a blessing, because it saved me from spending more of my life in what often felt like a cage. I’d always told myself I would never get a job working in a cubicle. But there I was, chained to a desk 9-5. So if any of that sounds like you before getting laid off, now is a great time to take note, and start moving toward work that you feel good about (more on that later).
3 | Exercise + hydrate
Feeling good about yourself has so much to do with how healthy you feel in your body. So take this opportunity to focus on your health. Get outdoors, get some fresh air. Studies show that being in nature, or even just viewing nature scenes can help reduce stress. When you exercise your body releases endorphins which also reduce stress. However you spin it in this department you can’t go wrong. Healthy activities will help you feel better. It’s science!
4 | Get organized
Clean the house, and create a clutter free workspace. Whether you will be looking for a new job, or starting your own business you’ll need some space to work. Eliminating clutter and starting with a clean environment is a great way to get focused. Remember that the task of cleaning is clutter for your mind. Get it out of the way so you can move on to other things.
This is also a great time to continue journaling. It could even be just bullet points. Start thinking about what you’d like to do. What kinds of jobs you’re going to apply for, for what types of companies, or what kind of business you’d like to start for yourself. Maybe you’ve already thought about it. Write it down.
5 | Reevaluate your career goals
Think back on that reflection you did earlier. Were you happy, or fulfilled in your last role? Or maybe you were just comfortable? Did the company you worked for help you toward your goals? Do you know what your goals are? What did you like about your job? What did you hate about it? Start crafting your new ideal work scenario, and write down your goals. Write it ALL down.
6 | Decide what’s next in your career
Decide where you want to go with your career and start taking steps to get there. Do some research. Look for companies that will help you reach your goals. If you weren’t fulfilled in your last role, now is the time to find a path which fills that void. Whether you are going to start applying for new jobs or you’ve decided to become your own boss, the first step is to take one.
7 | Break it down into manageable steps
What do you need to do to get where you want to be? Start making lists. You’ll quickly discover that there are a lot of to do’s on that list. For even the most energetic go getters out there it can be overwhelming. So break it down. Whether you are looking for a new job, or starting your own business, you’ll need to update your resume, and your portfolio if your line of work requires it. Even updating your resume can seem daunting. Go ahead, break that down too. We get a lot of satisfaction from ticking off items on a to do list (also science, we are so weird), so go ahead write down each step and check it off as you go. Stop dreaming of your perfect career and take action!