So you’ve been laid off. This may have come as a result of cost-cutting measures, staff reduction, company relocation or downsizing, a buyout, or a merger. Getting laid off differs from being fired in that a layoff is the employer’s fault while getting fired is the employee’s fault. That’s small comfort when you need a new job though. So how do you go about finding one?
Update Your Resume
The first thing to do to find a job after being laid off is to update your resume. Chances are that you haven’t made changes to your resume since the last time you were looking for a job, so there’s at least your previous job’s worth of information to add.
Don’t just throw information on paper and call it a day though. If you want your resume to be effective, you should tailor it to the job you want. Only include information that will be relevant.
Start Networking
Networking is next on your list of things to do. Whether it’s fair or not can be debated, but the fact remains that who you know is more important in many cases than what you know. Having a solid network can be an invaluable resource for finding a new job after a layoff.
Not sure where to start? Consider social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and especially LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the biggest social networking site for professionals. It’s an excellent place for employers and would-be employees alike to connect.
Search Job Postings
Unless you can afford to wait around for a new job to land in your lap, take a proactive approach to finding a new job and look through job postings on different job search sites. Many of these sites make it simple to find job postings that you’ll be interested in. You can filter by location, industry, job title, experience, and more. Start applying once you’ve found jobs you want to fill. Depending on the post, you may be able to simply upload your resume or fill out an online application that will be sent to the employer.
Being laid off can be discouraging. It may have come as a surprise and there may not have been anything you could have done to prevent it from happening. The good news is that you can find a new job after being laid off. Use the resources at your disposal to find a new one as soon as possible.
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