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- Wise Words -
Layoffs. The Afterlife.
by amber miller

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Layoffs.  Why the afterlife really is better
It took me some time to be able to say what I am about to say without feeling embarrassed or ashamed…. about 2 ½ years ago I lost my job.  One day, my small start-up of 40-ish people let seven of us go in one day.  It was the 2nd wave of layoffs that year and there would turn out to be another round later that year.
 
It was all very impersonal.  We were all gathered in a room and told that there were going to be layoffs “today”.  We were then told to return to our desks and wait.  Wait for an email.  If you got one that said report to a certain conference room it meant you were out. 
 
I received that email.   
 
I had to walk away from my desk along with the other “Walking Dead” to await our fate while the safe(r) coworkers looked on.  In the conference room we were told that selection for the “reduction in force” was not based on performance.  While that was likely true I was never told what the criteria was and it made a tough situation even more difficult.  I was left wondering "why, why me?"   
 
Being laid off was truly stressful, but I learnt a lot and want to share this with you in the event you join the “Walking Dead” at some point in your career - it really isn't the end of the road for you or your professional life!
 
Don’t Settle.  Any Early Stage Professional who graduated during the Great Recession (Class of ’09 here) can tell you that it was a scary time.  If you were ‘lucky’ enough to find something in your field, you took it.  I think this gave me the mindset that in my first job, where I was severely underpaid and overworked (and not particularly in love with the job itself) that I should be grateful.  I stuck around out of fear that I wouldn’t find anything better. That carried over into my next position too.  Around 2 years into my time at the new company I knew that business was on the decline.  In addition, I was not growing professionally.  My casual job hunting stayed casual because I was afraid and unprepared to move on.  Had I been more proactive about finding a job that I was going to be able to learn and grow in, rather than remain "satisfied", I may not have found myself in that unfortunate situation.

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Always Be Prepared.  I will admit that when I was laid off, I was COMPLETELY unprepared both financially and for my job search.  I was incredibly fortunate to have the support of my parents who live in the same city as me and were able to help me out for that 2-month stretch before I found my next job – I’m not sure what I would have done had they not.
 
My resume and portfolio (I am a digital designer) were not up to date and it was a scramble to hit the ground running.  I will credit myself with one thing I advise everyone to do – build your contact list, update it regularly, and SAVE every email from every recruiter, any job you’ve ever applied to in the past, any one at all that could be a connection in your field.  
 
I didn’t even check to see if my current company was hiring, I just reached straight out to them.  They had contacted me almost 2 years earlier to see if I was interested and I had politely declined.  The recruiter (Ron Luongo) was only too happy to help though and I ended up getting a new role at a very successful company and was also able to refer another member of my Walking Dead "class" to the team.  
 
My second note on the financial side of preparedness, is that as an Early Stage Professional it’s never too early to start saving and have an ‘emergency fund’.  It’s also never too early to learn the art of budgeting – apps like Mint and YNAB (You Need a Budget) are great places to start.

As the Cub Scouts say "Always Be Prepared"!

No Job Is Guaranteed.  When I started out I was naïve enough to think that as long as I was completing my daily duties, working sincerely and hard for my employer I was ‘safe’.  Well I was completely wrong.  I can honestly say I gave that job my everything regardless of how I felt about the business, management or leadership.
 
Again, that “I’m lucky to even have a job” feeling ruled.  Being laid off despite being in good standing with a great work ethic caused me to take it especially personally. I learned that you can’t take sometimes arbitrary decisions about who to keep and who to let go personally.  It’s not worth obsessing over what you could have done better when the decision has been made.  It might sound cruel, but the world doesn’t owe you anything.  Tomorrow everything could change, but having a positive mindset and being prepared for even the toughest scenarios can be a real head start if something like this happens to you.  Hopefully it won’t! ​

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Be Honest.  During my job hunt, I didn’t broadcast that I was laid off but I was open and honest when asked about my situation.  It did not hurt me in finding interviews, talking to recruiters, and eventually finding a great job.  It’s a personal decision for everyone but I felt comfortable and confident interviewing without feeling like I had anything to hide. 

Throughout the time I was looking for a new job, I had many seasoned professionals tell me that every time they’d been let go at a certain point (I was shocked that people could go through this MULTIPLE times in their career).  They said that it always led to something bigger and better.  
 
Thankfully that much was true for me! 

​I am very fortunate to have found a wonderful company to work for and a wonderful group of people to work with.  So if you’re going through a period of transition due to a layoff just know that it will not kill your career and it will not define you as a professional. It’s a battle wound but will only make you stronger for the long haul and the small scar it leaves will only make you that much more distinctive!

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Related Content: "Laid Off? Take a Breath" and "Preparing Your Finances Ahead of Layoffs"


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​​Like this section? Why not send your own "Early Stage Professional:" advice and experience in? Just email it to: fergus@whattheferg.com

More Wise Words...

Achieve: Focus on Results
​
Achieve: Leading from the Start
Achieve: Small is BIG
Achieve: Take Action
Career Management: Annual Review. A "How To"
Career Management: Annual Review. As Career Plan
Career Management: Choosing a Mentor
Career Management: Careers Happen
Career Management: Career Journey
Career Management: Mentorship Explained
​
Career Management: Post Graduate Degrees
Career Management: Promotion Frustration 
Career Management: Moving up by moving out
Career Management: Selecting Your Company
Career Management: Understand Yourself
Finances: Retirement Saving (1)
Finances: Retirement Saving (2)
Hindsight: Balance the short- with the long-term
​Hindsight: Embrace learning and your manager
Hindsight: Focus at Work
Hindsight: Millennial Reflections
Hindsight: Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
​Hindsight: Take Advice Sparingly
Hindsight: Take a Career Mulligan
​
Hindsight: Transition from College
Hindsight: Winning Nicely
Hindsight: Work hard, network, be honest. Have fun too!
Managing Up: Manage Up to Move Up
Managing Up: Manager As Partner
Managing Up: New Manager
Managing Up: Questions for your manager
Managing Up: Secret Skills for Managing Up
​
People & Teamwork: Be A Giver
​
People & Teamwork: LinkedIn As Networking
People & Teamwork: Networking Hacks
People & Teamwork: Networking as a Relationship
People & Teamwork: Networking Simplified
People & Teamwork: Teamwork As Leadership
Speedbumps: Chutes & Ladders
​
Speedbumps: Laid Off? Take A Breath
Speedbumps: Layoffs. The Afterlife
Speedbumps: Owning Mistakes
Work Life: Work Culture. America vs. UK
Work Life: Ask Why
Work Life: Be Yourself. Be Genuine
​
Work Life: Browned Out?
Work Life: Business Travel Guide
Work Life: Calendar Management
Work Life: Difficult Situations
Work Life: Focus on Fiyah!
​Work Life: Ghosting
​
Work Life: Help the Early Stage Professionals
Work Life: International Remote Working
Work Life: Pre-Vacation Checklist
Work Life: Smartphones & The Office
​Work Life: Start-Up Glamor
Work Life: Stress Management
Work Life: Take a Walk
​
Work Life: They Quit
Work Life: Unlimited Vacation
Work Life: Welcome the Newbies
Work Life: "Work" from Home

Crushing It @ Work

What Time Should I Start? 
What If I am Running Late? 
Taking Vacation
Sick Days 
Working Outside Office Hours
​
How to prepare for One/Ones
Making Meetings on Time 
Business Presentations 
Social Media, Personal Email and Hanging Out on the Web
Give it Six to Nine Months to Feel @Home
Be Your-professional-self
Staying Positive

Job Search Must Do's

Resume
The Application Letter 
​
The Free Conundrum: Should You Take an Unpaid Internship?
Informational Interviews 
Taking a Shortcut: Using Your Network 
Dealing with a Low GPA
​Responding to Recruiters
The Job Interview
Interview Questions
Questions You Should Ask
Simulations 
Interviews with Other Applicants
Dealing with References
Negotiating Your Salary
How to Resign (if you already have a job)
​
The First Week
You Don't Get the Job: Getting Feedback
​Keeping Motivated Through the Search

USA Today Columns by Fergus Mellon

How to get started on LinkedIn: Do this, not that
Warning: Avoid smartphone shame at work.  Keep them out of sight
To succeed, be a Giver in the workplace, not a Taker
4 ghoulish personality pitfalls to steer clear of at the office
​
How to coach today's not so entitled Millennials as they join the rat race

Crushing IT

Money

Library

WISE WORDS

Bureaucracy

Copyright © 2016 - 2020
  • Home
  • Getting a job
    • Must Do's - Resume
    • Must Do's - Application Letter
    • Must Do's - Internships
    • Groundwork - Informational Interviews
    • Groundwork - Your Network
    • Groundwork - GPA Issues
    • Groundwork - Recruiters
    • Dealing with Rejection - Feedback
    • Dealing with Rejection - Keeping Motivated
    • Closing the Deal - The Interview
    • Closing the Deal - Interview Q's
    • Closing the Deal - Your Questions
    • Closing the Deal - Simulations
    • Closing the Deal - Group Interviews
    • Closing the Deal - References
    • Signing On - Salary Negotiation
    • Signing On - How to Resign
    • Signing On - First Week
  • Crushing It
    • The Hours - What Time Should I Start
    • The Hours - What If I Am Running Late?
    • The Hours - Taking Vacation
    • The Hours - Sick Days
    • The Hours - Working Outside Office Hours
    • Professional Skills - One/Ones
    • Professional Skills- Making Meetings on Time
    • Professional Skills - Business Presentations
    • Professional Skills - Social Media, Personal Email
    • A Level Head - Feeling @ Home
    • A Level Head - Be YourProfessionalSelf
    • A Level Head- Staying Positive
  • Wise Words
    • Achieve - Focus on the Results
    • Achieve - Leading from the Start
    • Achieve - Showcase Your Work
    • Achieve - Small is BIG
    • Achieve - Take Action
    • Achieve - Your New Job. A Plan
    • Career Management - Annual Review
    • Career Management - Annual Review Feedback Meeting
    • Career Management - Annual Review: How to Guide
    • Career Management - Career Contentment
    • Career Management - Careers Happen
    • Career Management - Career Journey
    • Career Management - Choosing a Mentor
    • Career Management - Discomfort Is Good
    • Career Management - Freelancing and Employment Gaps
    • Career Management - Mentally Healthy Choices
    • Career Management - Mentorship Explained
    • Career Management - Post Graduate Degrees
    • Career Management - Promotion Frustration
    • Career Management - Promotions. Move out to move up
    • Career Management - Selecting Your Company
    • Career Management - Understand Yourself
    • Finances - Preparing for a Downturn
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (1)
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (2)
    • Hindsight - Balance the Short- with Long -term
    • Hindsight - Embrace Learning & Your Manager
    • Hindsight - Focus at Work
    • Hindsight - Millennial Reflections
    • Hindsight - Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
    • Hindsight - Take a Career Mulligan
    • Hindsight - Take Advice Sparingly
    • Hindsight - Transition from College
    • Hindsight - Winning Nicely
    • Hindsight - Work Hard. Be Honest. Have Fun
    • Managing Up - Manager as Partner
    • Managing Up - Manage Up to Move Up
    • Managing Up - Mastering Your Manager
    • Managing Up - New Manager
    • Managing Up - Questions For Your Manager
    • Managing Up - Secret Skills of Managing Up
    • Managing Up - Yes Power
    • People & Teamwork - Be a Giver
    • People & Teamwork - First Time Manager
    • People & Teamwork - LinkedIn as Networking
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Hacks
    • People & Teamwork - Networking as Relationship
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Simplified
    • People & Teamwork - Reputations Travel
    • People & Teamwork - Teamwork as Leadership
    • Sliding Doors - Decision Paths
    • Sliding Doors - Success Requires Luck
    • Speed Bumps - Chutes & Ladders
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs & Survivors Guilt
    • Speed Bumps - Laid Off? Take a Breath
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs. The After Life
    • Speed Bumps - Owning Mistakes
    • Work Life - American Work Culture
    • Work Life - Ask Why
    • Work Life - Be Yourself. Be Genuine
    • Work Life - Browned Out?
    • Work Life - Business Travel Guide
    • Work Life - Calendar Management
    • Work Life - Change is Certain
    • Work Life - Difficult Situations
    • Worklife - Focus on Fiyah
    • Work Life - Ghosting
    • Work Life - Help the Early Stage Professionals
    • Work Life- International Remote Working
    • Work Life - In the Zoom
    • Work Life - Mom Skills
    • Work Life - Office As A Stage
    • Work Life - Office Ghouls
    • Work Life - Pre Vacation Checklist
    • Work Life - Returning to Work
    • Work Life - Smartphones & The Office
    • Work Life - Speak Up
    • Work Life - Stage Fright
    • Work Life - Startup Glamour
    • Work Life - Stress Management
    • Work Life - Take A Walk
    • Work Life - Tasks We Hate
    • Work Life - They Quit
    • Work Life - Unlimited Vacation
    • Worklife - Vacation Overview
    • Work Life - Welcome the Newbies
    • Work Life - "Work" From Home
  • Money
    • Money - The Basics
    • Money - Saving for Retirement
    • Money - Retirement Saving
  • Library
    • Book Reviews
    • Webinar Hub
    • USA Today Columns
    • Buy Early Stage Professional
    • Bureaucracy
  • Help Center
    • Annual Reviews
    • Career Speed Bumps
    • Managing Up
    • Promotions & Career Planning
    • Stress Management