Level Up After Layoff: 4 Career Clarity Tactics for a Targeted Path to Employment
You lost your job. Now what? Well, first, let’s get honest. It’s a good cry and fists to a punching bag to let it all hang out. Then, address the nuts and bolts of your new reality including the ever-looming question: “What’s Next?”
With the holidays looming, and nosy Aunt Betty at Thanksgiving, arm yourself with confidence using these four career clarity exercises for a targeted path to employment.
GET PRACTICAL
Once you recover from the news, get your financial house in order. Take a look at your budget and make temporary lifestyle adjustments for your new reality, especially if you are already living paycheck-to-paycheck.
File for Unemployment
Check and see if your state offers an unemployment benefits calculator. (Google it!) There are two types of unemployment calculators — one that tells you how much money you are entitled to collect, and another which tells you how many weeks you are eligible to collect unemployment.
You must meet eligibility requirements, but you can determine these from your state’s unemployment office. You may even be eligible for benefits (even partial ones) if you work part-time.
Special Programs
Note that you may meet requirements for special programs like:
Home Affordable Unemployment Program. Check the qualifications to reduce your mortgage payments or suspend them for up to 12 months.
If paying other bills (credit cards, auto loans, student loans) will be an issue, contact your lender. Many forbearance programs allow you to make reduced payments or skip payments (adding the missed payments to the end of the loan period).
Reduced Interest Rate - Credit Card. Your credit card company may reduce your interest rate or lower your required minimum payment due to a job loss.
Insurance. If your company is not paying your health care premiums while you are unemployed and your company has more than 20 employees, you can continue your existing health care coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) law.
However, you will need to pay this premium yourself. The cost of the COBRA premium may be higher than short-term insurance you can obtain for yourself.
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START WITH THE BASICS
Once the unemployment adulting is in order, the next question on your mind (and from others’ mouths) is always: “What’s next?”
The question is multi-layered, isn’t it? And it can be overwhelming in a time of crisis. Take small bites of the big elephant in the room by answering the most basic questions: What, where, how and why.
What: Determine 1-3 complementary roles you want to pursue that utilize the skills and strengths that bring you energy and fulfillment.
Where: Think industry, location, flexible work arrangements (hybrid or remote) and types of companies.
How: Get clear on the cultural context and work environment that allows you to flourish.
Why: Enter Simon Sinek and get to the heart of what you need out of work for career fulfillment.
Remember what was doesn’t have to dictate what is to come. Career clarity is essential before embarking on a full-out job search. No matter how much time you have for this process, a clear direction is essential for targeted career branding and a successful search.
If speed from application to offer is a top priority, go for a similar role in the same industry. However, if you have more time to play (ahem a financial cushion or severance), pivoting to a different role and/or industry can be a realistic aim now.
GO DEEPER
Getting clear on the what and where of your career is sometimes easier said than done. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all professional prescription. Below are four exercises to help you take control of your next steps with clarity and confidence.
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Journal
Journaling not only heals trauma faster but helps organize your brain around events and topics. Plus it touts added benefits like a proper mood boost, better sleep and a stronger immune system.
A journaling practice can also help with career assessment and visioning. Taking your thoughts, feelings and values from your head to paper not only makes you feel lighter but creates a career decision framework to sequence your next steps.
Try these prompts to foster career coherence:
Describe a time when you felt happiest in your career. How did it feel? Who was there? What skills were you using? What were you wearing and doing? What workplace characteristics stand out to you? What about that time made it meaningful?
Recall a pinnacle work or learning experience where you felt most alive, most involved, and/or most excited about your work. Explore what factors were at play (relationships, leadership, resources, etc.) that made it the most meaningful.
Wave your magic wand and name three wishes for your career (limitations aside). What are they? Which is the most important and why?
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Brainstorm
I’m talking about the skills you want to use. Yep, grab that journal again! Jot down 6-8 of the top skills that you want to exercise going forward. Then, without going to the internet, brainstorm roles where you can use these skills. Remember there are no wrong answers in brainstorming! List everything that comes to mind.
Next, link your skills list to roles (or job titles) that come to mind. Start brainstorming first (do you sense a theme here?) and then, if needed, go to resources like O*NET or LinkedIn.
Feedback
Garner feedback about well, you! Reach out to peers, past colleagues, mentors, leaders and friends from all spheres of your life. Survey them about your top strengths, skills, problems you solve and ways you win at work (and in life).
You can do this in a variety of ways. Think Google survey, phone calls or a friendly email campaign. People want to help you. Don’t shy away from getting a full 360 view of how you show up to better understand how people see you. Note patterns and themes from the feedback and distill how it matters going forward. Do you still want to be known in this way or are there elements you want to elevate or demote?
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Market analysis
Once you land on options for “what,” consider where you want to use these skills - Industry, type of company and environment. Taking your career ideas to the market can look like online research - Job boards, professional associations, business directories - but it can also be having conversations, called informational interviews.
Engage in conversation with people who are doing the work where you want to do it. Come prepared with questions for these types of networking meetings. Consider inquiries like:
What part of this job do you personally find most satisfying? Most challenging?
What advice would you give to someone trying to enter this occupation/industry?
What particular skills or talents are most essential to be effective in your job? How did you learn these skills?
What abilities or personal qualities do you believe contribute most to success in this field/job?
What interests you least about the job or creates the most stress?
Who do you respect in the field that you would suggest I speak with? May I use your name when I contact him or her?
Now that you are laser-focused on one (to a few) roles, you are ready to go to market. Next up? Focused career documents and a strategic job search plan to win your role. This layoff won’t get you down - You got this!