I was laid off. There, I said it. Being laid off is a taboo topic that no one wants to talk about and it can really take a hit on your self-confidence. However, exactly one month since my position ended, I have accepted a new job offer. So if you are stumped on what to do after being laid off, these are the 6 things I did to get back on my feet and land a new job.

 

1.  Get yourself together

I started a contract position about 6 months ago which came to an abrupt end two months earlier than expected. My entire department had been let go. So it was quite a shock and didn’t allow me to get my bearings together.

I can now say I should have seen it coming but hindsight is 20/20. I am sure I am not the only one that has been in this position.

So what can we do now? All we can really do is move forward. While it may be tempting to just go straight into the job search when you have been laid off, it is hard to do so when you don’t have a clear mind.

I remember lying in bed after being laid off, ready to work only to realize there was no work to go to. I tried to get answers and ran through so many scenarios in my head.

Was it a mistake? Would they take me back? What did I do wrong?

I am sure that if you have been laid off, these exact thoughts probably ran through your mind as well. It is simply human nature. We find ourselves in disbelief. We want to assess our error. We start questioning our self-worth.

While it may be easier to wallow in self-pity, sometimes tough love is just what you need. The one thought that snapped me out of this dark hole was telling myself:

You are not the first nor the last person to be laid off, so get yourself out of bed and move on.

Clear your mind. Set new goals. This is the perfect time to re-evaluate where you want your career to be headed into.

 

2.   Apply for deferment on your student loans

I mentioned in my post on Private Loan vs Federal Loan that I was an advocate of Federal loans. I really do believe that as eager as you are to pay off your loans after you graduate, you should probably stay with Federal loans for at least your first year until you are able to obtain stable employment.

My situation is the exact reason why I say this. As a new graduate, entering the professional field for the first time, you are likely not going to land that dream job that requires years of experience right off the bat.

You may not even be able to land a stable job yet. I cannot emphasize enough how being able to put my student loans on a hold really gave me a peace of mind during a time when I felt everything had come crashing down.

I am on an income-driven repayment plan, which allowed me to make $0 monthly payment based on my financial situation.

However, even with term-based repayment plan such as the Standard 10-year plan, you can apply for a deferment which allows you to put your monthly payments on hold for 6 months.

 

3.  Collect unemployment benefits

Every state has its own unemployment program that allows you to collect unemployment benefit. This amount is usually very low and it is calculated based on a percentage of what your income was so make sure to look into your state unemployment program and find out how you can apply for benefits.

This does not mean you can stop actively looking for jobs, but it will definitely help hold you over with your monthly expenses until you can land your next job.

4.  Don’t get overwhelmed in the job search

Job search is never fun and it can get quite overwhelming sifting through listings to find one that meets your criteria and that you are qualified for. What really worked for me was to focus only on just one job search site.

I focused my job search only with Indeed and it has done me well. It was how I landed my contract job and how I got my new job. I found that postings are often repeated on different job search sites so don’t waste too much time looking at different sites when you can focus your time on applying instead.

Make sure you check on a daily basis and apply ASAP. Research has shown that you are more likely to land an interview if you apply for the job within 3 days of posting. I don’t bother applying to job postings that are over a month old and you shouldn’t waste your time doing it either.

If you have companies that you are particularly interested in working for, try looking at the actual company website.

Bigger companies usually have a career section for you to check the job openings within the company. These may not be advertised on job boards so I highly recommend doing a manual search of the company site.

 

5.  Update resume and personalize cover letter

The last time you updated your resume was probably when you applied for the job that you have since been laid off from. Now it is time to update it with new information.

Fill in any new information and read the entire resume over again to make sure it is free of typos.

Make sure to re-evaluate your work and professional experiences. As you move forward with your professional career, you can start taking those volunteer and internship positions off your resume that you previously used as an alternative to work experience.

When you are ready to apply for the position, make sure you create a customized cover letter for each company. Be sure that the cover letter you send over is tweaked exactly for the position that you are applying for. This will greatly enhance your chance of getting an interview.

You don’t need to waste time creating a new cover letter for each job application. Make a general cover letter template and highlight different experiences as necessary to match the job descriptions for the position you are applying for.

Just don’t forget to change the position title and company name for each cover letter!

6.  Be patient

You need to be patient in your job search. Timing is everything. I was able to land a job that I liked more than my old one but is it my dream job? No.

Sometimes you just need more experience. Especially if you are a new graduate, realize that you are not going to land that dream job right out of college. 

Keep searching every day. Network with your acquaintances. You never know when that position will open up.

If need be, take a break! There’s no better time. When you do find your next job, you are definitely not going to have vacation days right from the start. So take this time and if money sufficient, go on that much-needed vacation you have been longing for.

Last but not least, just breathe. And know that everything happens for a reason. Know that things have a way of working themselves out as long as you don’t lose hope.

You will get back on your feet and find yourself a new job that you will be happy with.