What's next after Layoffs?

The chaos of the Labour market

Jan 30, 2023

Hi Superstar,

It is no news that there have been mass layoffs from the last quarter of 2022 to the beginning of the year, 2023. More than 1,000 companies laid off nearly 160,000 workers last year. And this January, another 185 companies laid off 57,000 workers. I recently saw a TikTok video of an ex-google employee sharing her experience of the layoff and how she woke up in the morning to discover that she had been abruptly logged out of the company’s communication system and devastating it was for her and her colleagues …..I was heartbroken.

Looking for a job can be a stressful mental experience, causing feelings of self-doubt, frustration, and sadness. However, being laid off from work evokes many emotions, including shock, disbelief, anger, sadness, and anxiety. Sometimes, the feeling is incomprehensible especially when you thought you would be working on a new task the next month or you were looking forward to celebrating a project you had completed…It can literally break someone.

A person spends almost all his life fostering a career, in another sense, a significant amount of his lifetime at an organization. Let’s do the math- 8 hours + extra 3 hours to complete tasks at home + 5 days +4 weeks +12 months = 3,751 hours in a year. To some people, their jobs are their “safe happy corner” and when they lose it, they become empty for some time.

It's normal to feel a sense of loss, both in terms of the job and the stability and security it provided. But, it's important to take care of yourself, reach out to support systems, and focus on finding new employment opportunities.

What to do after a layoff:

First and foremost, take care of yourself. Allow time for grieving and processing your emotions, then focus on self-care activities.
Secondly, don’t go straight back into Job searching, this might sound vague and upsetting considering you might have financial commitment. However, take some time (two weeks or a month) to relax mentally and emotionally. You can spend this time with loved ones and family.

After doing the above, now you can;

Re-enter the job market and show the world how much of a superstar you are. make sure you update your resume to reflect your skills and experiences and focus on achievements, not just duties.
Network and reach out to your professional network, attend industry events, and join professional organizations.
Start actively looking for job opportunities, utilizing job search engines, and customizing cover letters for each job application.
Consider upskilling, and look for ways to improve your skillset, such as taking courses or earning certifications to make yourself more marketable.
Be financially prepared. You can evaluate your finances and make a budget, look for ways to reduce expenses, and apply for unemployment benefits if eligible.
Lastly, be hopeful and optimistic, and remember that job loss is a common experience, and many people have successfully bounced back.

Here are some companies with layoffs in 2023:

IBM layoffs: 1.5% of workforce laid off (January, 2023)
Spotify layoffs: 6% of workforce laid off (January, 2023)
Google layoffs: 6% of workforce laid off (January, 2023)
Microsoft layoffs: 4-5% of workforce laid off (January, 2023)
Amazon layoffs: 1-2% of workforce laid off (January, 2023)
Coinbase layoffs: 20% of workforce laid off (January 2023)
Salesforce layoffs: 10% of workforce laid off (January, 2023)
Vimeo layoffs: 11% of workforce laid off (January, 2023)
Goldman Sachs layoffs: 8% of workforce laid off (January, 2023)

The Good News

Inclusivelyremote promotes daily remote opportunities for everyone anywhere. You can check out the site here Inclusivelyremote Job Board. Also, feel free to always reach out for any advice, resources, or tips. I’m always happy to help!

Always rooting for you.

InclusivelyRemoteNewsletter

Discussion about this post