The ONE thing you need to do if you have been laid off. And why it’s so important.

Here’s an uncomfortable truth about my career.

I’ve been fired twice - that is, I’ve twice been taken into a room and told ‘we no longer want you to work here’.

I’ve also been made redundant twice - where they take you into a room and say ‘we no longer have a job for you’.

The latter is only mildly more comfortable because typically you are not the only one effected. 

Neither is a nice experience.

I’ve learnt a lot through those 4 experiences. About myself. About job hunting. About the realities of being an employee in a world where job security is no longer a thing.

One of the biggest things I learnt is exactly what to do in the days and weeks after losing your job. And I want to share it with you here.

Don’t panic.

The natural instinct is to panic - panic and start job hunting right away.

‘I need to pay rent’

‘I have people to support’

‘I can’t afford to lose my job’

Panic. Panic. Panic.

Followed by other emotions such as shame, embarrassment, anger and after a few weeks or months, acceptance. 

It’s hard not to panic. When you have the rug of life pulled out from under you, there are very few people who can stay calm.

But, like all big life-changing experiences, you need to take time to process.

Processing is the key to moving forward

Taking the time to process the experience is the ONE big thing you need to do, that so many people fail to do. You can’t gloss over the loss of a job with a ‘keep calm and carry on’ mentality. You need time to process all the emotions I mention above.

Taking the time to experience, feel and let go of each of these emotions is important. So much of our identity is wrapped up in our careers and so when we lose a job, it feels like a piece of our identity is lost too.

It’s not, of course. But letting yourself process what has happened will allow you to move forward with the right mindset.

Because moving forward into a job hunt in the wrong headspace will only harm you.

Job hunting in a state of panic often results in a job you don’t really love and potentially, more heartache as you are forced to quit and pursue new things. 

Job hunting from a state of panic can also result in a form of PTSD as you move into your next role - something I see time and time again.

Work out what you really want

Once you have processed the emotions, take the time to work out exactly what it is you want and need from your next role. Reflect on:

✅ What drives you

✅ Where you get you your energy from

✅ How your stage of life affects your career

✅ What environments you thrive in

✅ What meaningful work looks like for you

✅ Who inspires you

And get super clear on what comes next for you.

Your future self will thank you.