I know a lot of people will jump straight into applying, but I plan to take a week or two to clear my head and just breathe. None of this has been easy, and I think taking a little time to calm down and reset is important. But I don’t have a partner or kids to support, so I know it’s easier for me to say that than for those who do.
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@as bro do you know where you are? this is a layoffs forum. wtf is wrong with you?
There is going to be a flood of newly unemployed skilled workers hitting the TC labor marketplace tomorrow. I don't feel I have the luxury of letting a week pass to let my thoughts settle. Some folks might have unique skill sets but I know I'd be competing with a lot of other folks who have that resume ready to go and are ready to start interviewing.
It’s going to be different for everyone. Target lifers will have different feelings to process vs those who have other work experience. People with kids are going to have different pressures than single people and DINKs. First stop is file for unemployment and talk to your financial planner if you have one. Figure out where you can cut expenses and put yourself on a budget.
Personally, I fired off a few f**k you resumes to some jobs I had been eyeballing on LinkedIn. My resume su-ked at that point so it didn’t get me any interviews but it helped me have a place to focus my panic mode energy. I applied for lots of internal positions and in retrospect I wish I would have just taken that time to rest because those applications went nowhere and the rejections messed me up more than the actual layoff.
After the 60 days, I did nothing for a month because I needed to figure out what I actually wanted to do with my life. Total midlife crisis level evaluation. It was August and the market was dead anyway. Once I figured out where I wanted to go, I started applying again after labor day when the September surge started up.
Whatever you do, give yourself time to grieve and time to shed your Target identity. It’s going to feel like getting kicked out of a cult and you’ll need some time to deprogram. Remember this isn’t personal and your value is not tied to Target. Practice saying “customer” instead of “guest” so you don’t sound like a tool in job interviews. Stuff like that.
The job market is going to be dead until after the holidays so try not to panic and focus on enjoying the holidays with friends and family, then jump into the job hunt grind again after the new year.
I was RIFd twice in 12 months, from Target and then from one other org, then decided to retire early. My last 8 years coaching in the Ryse team were my best career years because of you - the amazing TMs I coached and coached alongside on my team. First, acknowledge that this was never about you or your performance. If it had been, you would’ve been eliminated months before. 1) Do nothing for as long as possible. This is especially hard for Target overachievers, but necessary for clearing yourself out. 2) you will likely experience a wide range of emotions. This is normal. Let those emotions flow through you. Give yourself that grace. 3) rarely do we get an opportunity to pivot or completely reinvent ourselves in our careers. This is one of those opportunities. Take advantage of it. Best wishes, and remember the words of that great innovator Walt Disney: “if you can dream it, you can do it.”
@am bet you circumcised your sons. Ge----l mutilation doesn’t discriminate.
@am well here’s to hoping!!!!!!! 🥴
A good reset… deep clean of my home, establish a good daily workout routine, and doing some work to understand what I want in my next role
I've been rif'd twice before in past companies. what helped me get through it & quickly is to time in the morning on small house projects - scrub the bathroom floor, hang a picture, etc, and then spend the afternoon on job search. It split the days up nicely and got some things done around the house.
Take a break, go on a trip somewhere, then jump back in
Cancel my Target CC
You should be ok through xmas with the payouts, wouldnt worry too much until after xmas. Not too many companies are looking for people this time of year.
Not my first round of layoffs, and speaking from experience you can’t jump straight into applying. The emotions are high, the stress is high. You need to take a break to process. Also, take that vacation. New jobs typically have restrictions on vacation time/accrual so take that break.
While I didn’t work at Target I was laid off a couple of years ago from Thomson Reuters. For the first few weeks I went to the gym but then would come home and eat ice cream and binge watched LA SWAT. Then I got to work on what is next. I was fortunate to have a very flexible (however very low-paying) PT job and worked about 25 hours a week to stay busy and be around people.
As someone who’s been apart of a layoff in the past, taking a day or two to throw yourself a pity party is super valid. Then get right back into it. Update your resume, get looking at jobs, and use all your connections you made at Target. If it’s you or if it’s me, we will be okay.