I left last year and knew I'd be walked out (went to a vendor). Update your resume, ask people to be references if you can, network outside of Target. Take everything home in advance that you can, stock up on stuff with your employee discount, save/send yourself contact lists or any work examples you want, use the printers for free, have a goodbye email written ready to send. It made me feel slightly more in control of the situation. Still very hard, but I felt better that I didn't have to carry a bunch of stuff home on my last day or worry that I forgot something. Stay strong my friends - thinking of all of you.
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If you haven't been through a lay off before it can be scary and frustrating. Take heart, all is not lost. In addition to the comments above, here are a few more:
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Identify those people you want to stay in touch with and get their personal contact information.
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Identify those people who will act as your support group while looking for a new job. These should be people with connections outside of Target who will share and provide advice/support.
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Create a VERY DETAILED resume. You will never give this to anyone. It is your catalog of work detail.
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Create the 1 - 2 page resume from the detail. Have your support team review and comment.
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Use the 1 - 2 pager as the basis for your LinkedIn updates. Avoid too much detail in LinkedIn.
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Brush up on corporate etiquette. For example, when you have an interview, ALWAYS ask for the email of the person so you can send them a thank you note directly, etc.
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Start identifying companies of interest and research them: performance, opportunities, culture.
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Sign up for unemployment right away.
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Pending your financial scenario, consider establishing an LLC or Corporation for yourself. Check with a CPA to determine the right structure for you.
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Sign up with a temp agency, job shop, or consulting group and keep busy. You'll see a lot of companies from a different venue this way. Run this work through your own company (see above), but realize you won't see cash flow for an average of 60 days once you start (net 30 to the prime, net 30 to the sub).
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Use your time to volunteer and keep busy. It's very important to maintain hope.
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TRUST in yourself! You'll get through this!
I hope this helps.
Thank you, this was useful. I noticed a few large stacks of copier paper piled up near copiers, the boxes swiped for desk-emptying. Your advice has been noted.
The original post on this thread I wrote in response to another topic - someone else took it and reposted as its own. A little weird, but thanks for thinking it was good I guess.
I agree with converting your paystubs to paper, or at least print out your last one. Look up and print out the employment verification process, so you can give that during your job search. Also, do any medical appointments you can too. And use any personal days; you don't get paid for those after you leave.
It took me about a month to find a new job. A different situation than a layoff - I left voluntarily - but I found a job through a vendor I worked with, so network, network, network. Other jobs I applied to cold through LinkedIn, I didn't even get a phone call.
For those wondering, I was paid for the two weeks I gave as notice, plus three weeks of unused vacation.
Good advice. When I heard rumors of layoffs last year I came in the weekend before and took almost everything home - just left a few staged items "in case". Well, I didn't get laid off but what I found was I like having a workspace where everything I care about would fit into my backpack. Good advice about the goodbye note. I'd also add to change your paystub from electronic to paper - - you won't have access to the paycheck viewer once you're gone. If you think you might get a payout in one check then change your tax with holding to a high number - 6, 8, even 10. you can always change it back if you don't get laid off.
Thank you for the advice. Very thoughtful and well written. It will really help me.
How long did it take you to find a job?