Just got laid off? Good. It’s one of the worst things that can happen to you professionally. But it’s also a rare opportunity to do something new without regrets. I know how it feels because I’ve been there.
I got fired from my last job and had to find another one in less than four weeks because of the H1-B visa. It was a year and a half back but still feels like yesterday — longest four weeks of my life.
Here’s what worked for me:
- Try not to think about what happened till you find another job — you’ll have plenty of opportunities later to reminisce/grieve/complain. None of that will help you in this moment. Cut out all negative energy.
- Tell everyone in your network that you’re looking and don’t worry about what people will think. Everyone has or knows someone who has been fired or laid off. #NBD
- Imagine that your network is larger than you think. Reach out to friends and friends of friends in other sectors and you may be surprised. That’s how I went from being a development do-gooder to a supply chain data junkie.
- Be upfront with recruiters that you’re looking to “move very fast” so they take you more seriously than other candidates who may just be window-shopping. Don’t waste time on recruiters who slot you in for a screening call three weeks out.
- Don’t reject yourself from a job by not applying. If you have the time and it could make sense, do it. Worst case, you’ll learn something new.
- Play the numbers game. I reached out to 50 companies, spoke to 12, continued with 3, went on-site with 2, and closed 1. There’s no magic formula, just mechanics.
It’s hard and feels terrible but get cranking on those intros and you’ll soon have some wind under your wings. Reach out if you need help or just someone to talk to! We’re all here to support. š
Originally published on LinkedIn.