There’s tons of scarcity being thrown into the business world now—words like recession, layoffs, cuts, inflation and more. Big tech companies like Meta, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, among many more, are laying off tens of thousands of employees.
Companies are preparing to tighten budgets, lower costs, and limit their bottom lines overall. Saving money and surviving are kicking in. So, what does this mean for you and everyone else?
Thousands and thousands of people have already lost their jobs, with many more to come. This could mean you have already lost your job, or maybe it’s starting to feel very insecure.
I know what it feels like to lose your job. Having lost a job more than 8 times myself, I can tell you first hand it feels terrible.
Sometimes you might know it’s coming, but other times it will catch you fully off guard and unprepared. Leaving you strapped for cash, struggling to pay your bills and stay afloat.
With all this uncertainty and chaos, I wanted to focus on 10 tips to get you back on track. And please leave the victim mentality out of it. I know it’s hard, I know it’s difficult, but such is life. Move on and move up, or your struggles will get much worse.
As I said, I know firsthand what it feels like to be laid off and fired. I’ve spent many years pivoting, adjusting, and solving constant job problems.
This post will help you to overcome some of these issues and get back to work!
The first and most important tip is not to be the victim. It’s easy to start blaming everyone and everything else. Why your company sucks, your boss is a terrible person and so on. If you want a job and get back on track, you must take responsibility for the situation.
While I don’t want you to be the victim, that doesn’t mean you can’t be human. Having some time to be upset, feel frustrated, angry, and mad are normal. But don’t let this go on for weeks and months. Take some time to process it and move forward.
After every job/career hardship I’ve encountered, 10 times out of 10, I’ve had a better opportunity following it. I don’t know if this is life testing, but you must be open to new opportunities and look for them immediately.
Figure out what the next most important step is. Is it applying to new jobs, fields, or industries? What action will propel you in the right direction?
I’m always shocked when I talk to people about applying for jobs. Most of them give me the same answer about how they apply for new jobs. They fire off tons and tons of random resumes online. It could even be in the hundreds to random companies and opportunities, hoping one will eventually bite. Guess what everyone else is doing? The same thing… Find a way to stand out, be different, and be memorable. Show up on-site, know who the boss is and be ready to interview on the spot. Tell him/her why you are best suited for this position and how it will benefit the company.
While this may sound a bit obvious, it needs to be said. No one wants to read multiple pages long and outdated resumes. Be different and professional, yet bold. How can you stand out amongst another 1000 applicants? Maybe you could change the colour of the paper, add a different font, or add photos. If everyone’s resume looks the same, how will you stand out?
After getting fired or laid off, there can be a lot of negative self-talk and internal battles going on. You may be doubting yourself and your abilities. Sometimes it’s out of your control, and others, maybe not so much. But either way, you need to be mentally strong. Trust yourself and believe in your previous experiences.
This tip goes hand in hand with tip # 7. Be positive and know that things will work out. Whenever I lost a job, I knew deep down that I’d figure it out. I still had a roof over my head and food in the fridge. Things could have always been a lot worse.
A lot of people looking for work miss this step entirely. They solely focus on sending out resumes to companies. Talk with your network, your friends or previous work colleagues in your industry. Reach out on social media or send someone a quick text. I find that most people will get help from these peers. You might get recommended to a friend of a friend before you know it is a job.
Let’s be honest change is hard for everyone. But now is the time to accept it. This could be changing to a new type of job, a new direction, or maybe starting something of your own. It’s never a bad time to try something new.
Being laid off is a terrible feeling. But it’s also something that most people will experience in their careers.
I’ve experienced these hardships firsthand.
It’s important to get back on track and figure out your next step immediately. Avoid being the victim and blaming others for the situation.
Accept what happened and move on as soon as you can. Implement a few of these tips and get going in the right direction.
Be different and stand out from the crowd. If the majority of people are applying in the same way, how can you be different? What makes you stand out?
Tens of thousands of people have already lost their jobs. Now is the time to act on something new, different, and exciting!
Today is the biggest opportunity you have to change your life.
So, it’s time to get to work.
Chris M Wilson
Chris Wilson is a keynote speaker, CTI coach, and entrepreneur. Through his Hover to Fly framework, he aims to impact the next generation in their careers and lives.
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