5 Ways To Deal With A Layoff

I've been MIA for some time now and its time for me to get back into the swing of things. If you all follow me on Snapchat (which you should by the way) you've probably noticed that my schedule has changed a bit. My morning snaps to work halted because... I was laid off... Can you believe they gave me the axe as soon as I got back from Georgia and 4 days after my birthday. I will say, it was a very bittersweet moment. Because I kinda had an inkling that something was coming down the pipeline, I'd already started taking necessary steps to look out for myself before the actual layoff. I got my resume professionally revamped and immediately started applying to several positions. Because I've been laid off in the past I knew that I had to do things a little different than the last time to ensure that a position was in sight earlier, rather than later. Here are a few of my tips:

1. Network

The first thing I did after I had a mini-breakdown was text/call my friends and family. Not only did I want them to keep me in their prayers, I also wanted to be connected with their network. You never know if you have a friend/family member whos' company is hiring. I also spoke with past co-workers and asked about any previous recruiters they've worked with. I Remember, an in is a in!

2. Change Your Scenery

In order to not have a daily pity party, I decided that I'd venture out and try new coffee shops while applying for jobs. Although my life consisted of application after application, I knew I wanted to tap into more of my fitness goals. I tried my best to make going to the gym or having walks in the park as part of my weekly duties. It felt pretty good to de-stress and clear my mind of all of the applications.

3. Get A Part Time Gig

Some money is ALWAYS better than no money! Luckily for me I was able to go back to a part time job that I had in the past. Actually, I was able to get this position because of my networking. Another really easy way to pick up part time work is searching Craigslist. I even found a market research position which included tasting pizza. Yes you all read that correctly, I got paid to eat pizza! With at-home opportunities as well as Uber/Lyft, the possibilities to earn income is endless.

4. Step Up Your Interview Techniques

Reading is fundamental! I have a professional board on Pinterest that I've pinned several articles on. I've actually used the techniques I learned from my pins on actual interviews. Ask your friends/family to do mock interviews, so that you can become comfortable with answering questions. 

5. Confidence Is Key

This is the time that you need to channel your inner Kanye West. Whenever you're feeling down give yourself a minute to actually feel; and by minute, no more than 5. Afterwards, start thinking positively about the job you want, what your office will look like and that fat paycheck. Do not get discouraged by a rejection, that just means something better is on the way. Trust me, it doesn't rain forever, sunshine will come. 

Notice I didn't mention applying to jobs/attending career fairs because that should be a given. In case you're wondering the sites I used during my search, I got you:

-Glassdoor

-CareerBuilder

-Monster

-Startwire

-Ziprecruiters

-Indeed

Let me know in the comments a few things you've done to survive a layoff.

*I started a new position on Sept. 6th #LookAtGod