Layoffs: A Career Plot Twist
Getting laid off throws you off balance, no matter how many years of experience you have or how prepared you think you are. The weeks that follow are a whirlwind of emotions: uncertainty, frustration, and a lot of anxiety about what’s next. But if I’ve learned anything through this process, it’s that a layoff isn’t the end; it’s a plot twist. How you respond can change the course of your story.
Step One: Cry It Out
The first thing I had to do was sit with the reality of it. Layoffs aren’t personal, but they feel that way. It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole of “What could I have done differently?” or “Why me?” But dwelling on that doesn’t change the outcome. What helped me most was giving myself space to process the disappointment without judgment.
Step Two: Reflect
Once the initial shock wore off, I realized this was an opportunity to pause and ask myself some tough but necessary questions. What kind of work do I want to do next? What environments allow me to thrive? Where do I want to invest my energy? When you’re caught up in the hustle of a demanding role, it’s easy to lose sight of those things. A layoff, as painful as it is, can be a forced reset.
Step Three: Own Your Narrative
One of the biggest challenges after a layoff is figuring out how to talk about it. Telling your story with authenticity and clarity changes how others perceive it. Instead of framing it as something that happened to me, I reframed it as a chance to reassess and refocus. You can’t hide the fact that you were laid off. So use the experience to demonstrate how you’re thoughtful, adaptable, and ready for what’s next.
Step Four: Refuel
The next step was reaching out to my network, not just to ask for job leads but to reconnect with people who could offer perspective and a little encouragement. I’ve always believed that genuine relationships are the key to a healthy, happy career, and that truth became clearer during this transition. Conversations I’ve had over coffee helped me rebuild my confidence and refine my focus in ways I hadn’t considered.
Step Five: Follow Your Gut
During this transition, you’ll be inundated with well-meaning advice from former colleagues, friends, and advisors. And an unfortunate amount coming from strangers on social media (thanks LinkedIn algorithm). It can get overwhelming. There will be contradictory advice and “game-changing tips” that sound like a lot of fluff. Yes, I realize this step is somewhat paradoxical in a blog post like this, but you need to follow your instincts. No single person has all the answers. Trust the people whose values align the most with yours and whose truths ring true for you.
Step Six: Say No
If you’re going to find the right opportunity that truly aligns with your goals, you will need to get comfortable with saying no. It’s going to be hard. You’ll get plenty of bites for roles that feel like more of the same or ones that won’t give your career the boost you're seeking. Saying no will test your resolve, and there will be times when you wonder if you should just take the next offer. Of course, if you need to take something for financial reasons, do so. We all have bills to pay. But if you have the means and a bit of time, saying no to the wrong opportunities means you can say yes to the right one.
Step Seven: Find Purpose
If you’re following step six, job hunting can be a slow process. To keep myself sane (and to break up the monotony of scrolling through job listings), I threw myself into volunteering at West Place Animal Sanctuary, a nonprofit that rescues farm animals from abuse and neglect situations. It’s a welcome distraction and has given me something meaningful to focus on while navigating uncertainty. Volunteering, mentoring, or pro-bono consulting can help keep momentum going and remind you that your worth isn’t tied to your job title.
Step Eight: Say Yes (Details TBD)
I’m saving this section for when I land my next opportunity. I want to take time to reflect on what truly made the difference: Was it being open to entirely new possibilities? Getting super focused on the roles I wanted to pursue? This part of the story is still unfolding. I’ll update you once the ink dries.
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