A layoff can be a shocking blow, leaving you in a tailspin of emotions and worry. The way you handle being laid off can affect your career in the long term, so it's important to act thoughtfully. By taking calm, rational steps, you can emerge from a layoff successfully, without burning bridges or sabotaging useful relationships.
Take Necessary Information
Immediately after you are laid off, use the time you have in the office to gather crucial information. Request written documentation of the layoff to use as proof when seeking unemployment benefits or explaining the situation to future employers. Stop in to HR to pick up your last paycheck and ask about your insurance — specifically, when coverage stops. Review your contracts to understand what your options are going forward. You might find a noncompete clause or another stipulation that limits your upcoming job search. In doing so, you can avoid hassle in the future and ensure that you have all bases covered in case the company folds unexpectedly.
Guard Your Emotions
Whether or not a layoff is a surprise, the situation can bring up a wide range of emotions. In the first hours and days after you are laid off, you might want to give your boss a piece of your mind or vent over cocktails with a colleague. The safest option, however, is to guard your emotions around professional contacts. Express anger and frustration to your family or close friends, but wait until you cool down to speak with anyone in industry. When your emotions are high, it's too easy to lose your filter and badmouth your company to a potential employer or reveal insider information during a rant. By giving yourself time to regain perspective, you can avoid saying anything that might harm your career down the road.
Be Realistic
After you are laid off, it can be tempting to hold on to hope. After all, the company might turn its situation around and bring you back on board. Many modern layoffs are permanent, however, so it is usually safest to treat the layoff as permanent. Minimize unemployment time by starting a job search as soon as possible. Start attending networking events, and put out feelers to your professional contacts. If you're dreading spreading the word, try changing your employment status on LinkedIn to break the ice. Don't be ashamed to inform employers and contacts that you were laid off — most professionals understand that layoffs are not the fault of the employee. If you maintain a strong relationship with your former boss, reinforce your status as a great employee by asking for a reference.
Being laid off is a tough but survivable experience. By approaching the situation with a clear head and maintaining a professional demeanor throughout, you can overcome the layoff successfully.
Photo courtesy of Frame Angel at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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