When you find out you are going to be laid off, there are several things you can do to get prepared.
Earlier this week, one of my best friends just found out that he is going to be laid off from the tech job he has had for over a decade. Although it was certainly bad news for him, it also gives him the chance to explore new job options and start a new chapter in his life.
The hardest part is knowing that the job will be ending on a certain day, and wondering what to do in the meantime to make your new job search easier. It's understandable to feel a little shell-shocked and lost after receiving this type of news, but you have to seize the time you have left to make sure that you leave with all of the resources you need to start on the next stage of your career.
If you are getting laid off, here are 10 things you should do before your last day:
- Back up all of your data – Once you get laid off, the company may suspend your access to the computer system. Before that happens, be sure that you have a copy of all of your personal files on your work computer. You may even want to do some research to find out how to import your work email address into a client like Thunderbird or Outlook. This way, you'll have a backup copy of all of your contact books and emails relating to your job performance. It might seem excessive, but you never know when that information will be important.
- Stay calm and be professional – It's only natural to feel hurt and angry. Still, there is nothing you can do to make it not happen and trying to get petty revenge will just burn bridges. Trust me, when you start your job search, you're going to need a good reference. So, as hard as it might be, stay professional.
- Don't sign anything – When you are given a severance package and are asked to sign it, don't do anything in haste. Instead, ask to take the information home for a night to look over everything and make sure you understand it. Then, consider talking with an attorney or even just your spouse. Look over everything and make sure that you understand it. You might find places where you can negotiate for other things you need. For example, you may accept less severance pay in exchange for a few extra months of health insurance.
- Don't take company property – No matter how angry you are, stealing from the company is never appropriate. It just makes you look bad.
- File for unemployment – If you were laid off, you should be able to receive unemployment benefits. This isn't something to be ashamed of. Find out what you need to do to qualify in your state and don't waste any time in filing the paperwork.
- Take a hard look at your finances – It's good to have a few months of expenses in savings, but that might not be the case for many people. Take stock of all of your income sources and all of your expenses. Look for places where you can cut back expenses. Try not to use your 401K to live off if you can help it, consider living off of your credit cards as a worst-case senario.
- Get active on social networking sites – If you aren't already on LinkedIn, this is a good time to get started. Connect with others in your industry and get information about new job opportunities. Building a strong professional network is going to be lifesaver when you start your job search.
- Write out your layoff story – This is going to be the brief story that you share with friends, colleagues, professional contacts and even to new companies when you apply for a job. Even if you are angry, hurt or feel ripped off by the company, don't include this in your story. Instead, look for ways to sound positive and accepting about the situation. Practice this story so that you won't be tempted to dwell on the negative side of things. Over the next month or two, you will be repeating this story over and over, so keep it upbeat.
- Look for ways to save money – When looking at your financial situation, look for things that you can cut out of your budget. It might be difficult, but in order to weather an extended period of unemployment, you'll need to tighten your belt until it hurts.
- Look on the bright side – For many people, getting laid off can be a blessing in disguise. Once the hurt and pain have passed, you might find yourself working at a job that you enjoy more or changing professions to something that is more rewarding. While looking for a new job, you will have some time to reconnect with your friends and family and remember what the important things in life are. Even though it may seem like the end of the world at first, it could turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to you. As for my friend, he is looking forward to exploring new opportunities and getting laid off was a great motivator for him to try chasing dreams he had been considering for a long time.
Are you concerned that you are going to be laid off? Have you gone through this already? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for TechCareersBlog. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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