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Relax, breathe in, get mentally ready, it may happen and that’s OK, we’ll be fine no matter what... You will need to be calm and collected over next few months – you need that inner stability to get through what’s ahead. Yes, you will be fine.
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Avoid negativity on any level, there will be a ton of venom floating around, try to avoid it at all cost
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There will be more layoffs, accept this – you may survive this wave but do not get too relaxed – evaluate your position and if you think that you may be affected in the future, look around and start looking for a job – I suggest that you budget one month of job searching time for every 30,000 you make in total comp – so, if your total comp is $180K, allocate about 6 months for that job search.
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Be kind of others, leave on good terms – our folks have very good reputation industry, you need to preserve your personal brand and keep it intact. Be nice to people, this includes management – rocking the boat will not help you with anything – be pragmatic
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No matter what: Don’t panic, you have skills and the market is good. You will be fine. Focus on ‘moving on’ – if in a relationship work with spouse/partner on agreeing on what the plan is – what works best for the family or the two of you. If you are solo, talk to a friend – sharing this sh-- is liberating. Post here, it’s OK to speak up, venting is good…
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Take any job that comes your way to bridge the gap – if you do not like it, jet after some time – a job on a resume is better than a gap – talk to a recruiter, see how they look at gaps.
3 replies (most recent on top)
Really outstanding advice. I went through this late 2016, and all the points made so far (and the first comment) are spot on.
I'll stress a few things mentioned already:
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stay positive, don't burn bridges
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revamp your Linkedin profile, it's important
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use the resources given to you in your severance package: Rightmove. They will help with Linkedin, resume, job search strategy
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network. Got get coffee or drinks with former colleagues, those who didn't get cut and those who did. Keep doing this, at least once a week. It will help keep you sane too. It could take, as the original poster mentioned, up to 6 months or more (his calculation is spot on too......be prepared) -- it's a long time, can be depressing. It's good to stay engaged with others.
Good luck!
Good thread
Here are some more pragmatic points:
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A) update your LinkedIn profile, from today until the day you get that new job update this profile every day – the update does not have to be substantial, you can just add a period or a dash – LinkedIn will recognize that your profile is active and this indicates to them that you are getting ready to jump the ship (or you are actively seeking a job).
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B) Reach out to a couple of recruiters, schedule meetings, work with them on the resume.
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C) Network like crazy. I think I've said this already, does not matter, I am repeating it - it's critical.
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D) Go defensive on your personal budget – cut everything that can be cut – be aggressive here – you want to preserve cash, things may drag on – no matter how financially stable you are, be careful.
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E) Solicit tips on openings (use your network), you want to find out about openings before they are published – your friend at that ABC Co may know what will be open soon – you have no competition for those spots.