Navigating an Unexpected Job Loss

I just lost my job as a psychic. I did not see that coming.

—Anonymous

 

Over the past few years, we’ve seen lots of big workforce changes in various industries. You’ve probably heard about the massive layoffs that rocked the tech sector in early 2023 and 2024, for example. (Last year alone, for example, “at least 95,000 workers at U.S.-based tech companies were laid off in mass job cuts”!) More layoffs are expected in 2025—not just in tech but in many other sectors.  If you find yourself navigating an unexpected job loss, remind yourself that this is not a one-way trip but merely a detour. Then start doing the work that will get you back on track.

 

Take a Moment

 

Every exit is an entry somewhere else.

—Tom Stoppard

 

First, don’t panic. You’ve just been dealt a pretty big blow, so give yourself a moment to take it all in. Breathe. If you find yourself stressing out, take a walk, go out with some friends, eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s—engage in whatever self-care works for you.

 

Take a few days to process everything. Use this time to take a trip you’ve been putting off, or to clean out your closet, or to binge that new series everyone’s been talking about—just do something that isn’t work-related. A brief “buffer” period of purely personal time is a great way to close the door on your old job and prepare yourself for the next opportunity.

 

Above all, remind yourself that your talent and drive have gotten you this far—and they’ll help you get your career journey moving forward again. 

 

Recalibrate

 

Getting laid off was one of the worst things that ever happened to me. But it led to the best results.

—Tom Smallwood

 

Job loss can be a terrific opportunity to reassess your personal goals and your career aspirations. Of course, you can and should always be thinking about your goals, even when you have a stable job. But when we’re content with our employment, we’re often too busy with the tasks at hand to spend a lot of time on “what if…” questions. Think of navigating an unexpected job loss—and no longer having your plate full of project deadlines, team meetings, and other work-related responsibilities—as a new chance to spend some time figuring out what you want.

 

Maybe this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for to go after a higher-level position in your field. Or maybe it’s the nudge you’ve needed to try something completely different. 

 

Answering the following questions will help you define the parameters of your next job search ahead:

• Would you be happy to stay in the type of role/organization/industry you’ve been working in up to now?
• How do you feel about where you are now, geographically? Do you want to stay there? Are you open to moving elsewhere? Is there another place where you’d prefer to live?
• What kind of income do you want? Do you need to match—or better—what you’ve been earning to date? Or can you take a hit on the salary if a new job has other features you want?
• How critical is it that paychecks start rolling in ASAP? Obviously you want and need to have an income. But how much “exploring time” will your financial situation allow? (For example, if you have significant savings or have family support, that gives you a bit more breathing room on the job hunt. But if you’re the primary breadwinner in your household, you’re likely under a bit more pressure to find a job quickly.)
• What are your long-term career goals?
• What are your personal priorities?

 

Get Your Ducks in a Row

 

Success is where preparation and opportunity meet. 

—Bobby Unser

 

Before you can apply for any jobs, you need to get your job-hunter documents in order. 

 

First, update your resume. For a long time, the rule of thumb was “keep it to one page.” It’s still a good idea to keep your resume as short as possible, but if you need more than one page to convey all of the highlights, that’s okay.Remember, you are using this document to market yourself, so you don’t want to leave out anything important. Also keep in mind that these days, humans don’t read resumes (well, at least not at the start of the application process): some sort of bot or AI does the first pass on resumes and will quickly eliminate any that don’t have the keywords they want to see. So yes, that means you need to do what is basically SEO on your resume. If a job posting lists “experience with XYZ” in the requirements, then your resume needs to mention “XYZ” somewhere.

 

Next, update your LinkedIn page. Your personal LinkedIn page functions like an online resume, so you’ll have the same SEO/keyword considerations here. Unlike a resume, though, it’s okay for a LinkedIn page to be pretty long. No one balks at seeing an extensive LinkedIn profile, so take this opportunity to include any and all information that will make you an attractive candidate to an employer.

 

Then, line up your references. Reach out to people who know you and your work well—and who you are confident will say good things about you! Let them know that you’re embarking on a new job search and ask them to write references for you on your LinkedIn page. Of this group, identify four or five people who are your “best” references and ask them for permission to list them on job applications as people a potential employer can contact directly. 

 

Network! Network! Network!

 

Networking is not about just connecting people. It’s about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities.

—Michele Jennae

 

LinkedIn is hands-down your best asset for job hunting. If you’re not on LinkedIn, you are starting your job hunt at a huge disadvantage. LinkedIn is where you can see job postings, where companies and recruiters can see your resume, and where you can network with people who can help you land your next role.

 

Although LinkedIn is a social network, it stands out from all the others not just in its job-focused content but in its “vibe.” Unlike other social networks, LinkedIn feeds generally aren’t full of game updates, memes, cat photos, posts about hobbies, vacation pictures, or reshared news articles. With very few exceptions, people use LinkedIn to share news about their jobs, their companies, and their industries. Overwhelmingly, the tone on LinkedIn is professional. Whenever you share anything there, you should always assume that your past, present, and future coworkers and bosses will see it.

 

The other important thing to remember about LinkedIn is that you don’t “friend” people there—you “connect” with them. On other social media platforms, you usually add only people you know directly to your network. On LinkedIn, however, your goal is to build professional connections. That means you don’t actually have to know someone personally to add them to your network. (In fact, many LinkedIn connections are usually made with people you’ve never actually met in person but who are a couple degrees of separation from you—e.g., a connection of a connection.) With that in mind, build out your network as much as possible (you should actually be doing this all the time—not just when you’re job hunting!), and when you send a connection request to someone you don’t know, be sure to include a personal note explaining who you are and why you want to connect with them. They’ll almost certainly accept your request—after all, they want to build out their LinkedIn networks, too!

 

When you find a job posting that interests you, check your network to see if you know someone (or know anyone who knows someone) at that company. If so, try to use that connection to gain more information about the position and the organization—and maybe a referral, too!

 

Think Outside the Box

 

In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.

—Albert Einstein

 

LinkedIn is by far the 800-pound gorilla on the recruitment stage. It’s where you should definitely start your job hunt—but not necessarily where you should end it. You’ll also want to explore other avenues for getting your resume out there and for finding job postings and other opportunities.

 

For example, consider posting an “I’m looking for a job” announcement on your other social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Mastodon, etc.). You never know: you might get a juicy lead from that college friend you haven’t seen in fifteen years or from Aunt Marge! Reach out to recruitment and headhunter firms; connecting with someone who will look for jobs for you can dramatically increase your odds of finding a new role. 

 

Be as open as possible in your search. Don’t just limit yourself to promotions or lateral moves. Maybe a “step back” on the career ladder is the right option for you. (For example, it might be a great idea for you to take a pay cut in return for something you value highly, such as the opportunity to live in your preferred geographic region or a change to do work that aligns more closely with your personal values. ) 

 

Ultimately, you need to figure out what works for your specific goals and circumstances. Don’t rule out any avenues or possibilities before giving them a fair look. 

 

Keep Your Chin Up

 

Believe in yourself, take on your challenges, dig deep within yourself to conquer fears. Never let anyone bring you down. You got this.

—Chantal Sutherland

 

Finding a job can be challenging under the best of circumstances. If you don’t land a new gig right away, keep plugging away at looking for new openings, leveraging your networks, and being as open as you can to unexpected opportunities that come your way. Above all, don’t beat yourself up. I know many amazingly talented and experienced folks who were out of work for a long time before they found their next roles. As you work through this process, give yourself some grace. If you stay optimistic—and relentless—in your job search, I know you will succeed!

 

If you have any other job-hunting suggestions that have worked for you, please share them in the comments below!