It’s hard to imagine that you’ve been laid off. But if the news has finally sunk in, you’re probably feeling a mix of emotions. You may be angry, frustrated, or sad — but more than likely, you’re worried about your next steps.
Here are some tips for how to handle a layoff:
- Prepare yourself for the worst. It’s important to be realistic about your chances of being laid off, even if you’re in good health and have never missed work. If you’ve been with your company for 10 years, you may not be as secure as you think.
- Talk with HR as soon as possible. It’s important that you let your employer know as soon as possible if you’re being laid off. In many cases, you can negotiate terms of your departure and possibly receive severance pay or other benefits.
- Get organized. Make a list of all of your skills and accomplishments so that you can use them as selling points when applying for jobs. This will also help when writing cover letters or resumes for future positions.
- Start looking for another job early. Don’t wait until after your final day of work; start researching potential employers immediately so that when you do leave, you’ll have a good idea of where else to apply for employment.
- Don’t burn bridges at your current employer . Don’t bad mouth the company where you worked; leave on good terms by keeping in touch with former colleagues, even if they don’t have openings available at the moment. They may know of openings elsewhere or be able to recommend others who do have positions available within their network of contacts.
- Ask about company policies regarding outplacement services or other assistance during this difficult transition period. Some companies provide outplacement services so that employees can receive counseling on resume writing, interviewing skills, networking and more — all of which are important during this stressful time in their lives.
