Laid Off? 10 Actions to Shorten Your Job Search by Months & Reduce Stress (What to Do if You Get Laid Off)

Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Spotify
I Heart Radio
Overcast
Castbox

Listen

on this episode

“Wait, what just happened?”

That’s the thought that runs through most people’s minds when they’re laid off. That surreal mix of shock, fear, and disorientation that comes with unexpectedly losing your job. If you’re feeling that way right now, you’re not alone.

But here’s the thing – almost everything people are telling you to do right now is wrong.

You’ve probably already started hearing the standard advice:

  • Update your resume immediately
  • Apply to as many jobs as possible
  • Start networking frantically
  • Take anything you can get

This advice isn’t just incomplete – it could actually extend your job search by months and lead you to accept a role that’s no better (or even worse) than the one you just left.

What if this layoff could be the catalyst for something better? What if this unexpected change could lead you to work that truly fits your life, values, and strengths?

10 Actions That Make All the Difference

In our latest podcast episode, we break down ten powerful strategies that can transform your layoff experience:

  1. Reframe: This happened “for me,” not “to me” – a psychological shift that activates problem-solving
  2. Hyper-Focus Your Targeting: Quality over quantity in your applications
  3. Choose a Strategy That Fits: Tailoring your approach to your unique situation
  4. Never Just Apply and Wait: How to get your resume pulled from the stack
  5. Own the Process: Taking control of each step instead of waiting passively
  6. Use Effective Resume Strategies: Without wasting money
  7. Stack Strategies: Combining approaches for exponential results
  8. Get Expert Help: The surprising ROI of career coaching during a layoff
  9. Capture Daily Progress: The science of momentum in your job search
  10. Get Support: How social connection changes your brain chemistry during stressful transitions

The path from layoff to meaningful work isn’t about applying to hundreds of jobs or taking the first thing that comes along. It’s about using this unexpected change as an opportunity to find work that truly fits you – your values, your strengths, and your life.

Your layoff doesn’t have to be just a painful chapter in your career story. It can be the plot twist that leads to something much better!

Check out the video or audio above to hear each of these tips fleshed out!

Success Stories

They went from a total comp package of $165K to $359K. Wow! Wow! Wow! I’m over the moon right now and really in shock! They reiterated how I was worth every penny and said “You can find anyone with technical expertise, but someone with your disposition and DNA is hard to come by! We can’t wait for you to join the team and are so glad we could make this work for us.” I can’t thank you all enough for your coaching, encouraging support during these last few months! I’ve landed the role of my dreams along with the comp I wanted and knew that I deserved.

Jessica , Chief Learning Officer, United States/Canada

I wanted to thank you because you have helped me land a job that is more fulfilling in every way than a job I thought I could have had before I met you. The work you did and the techniques you taught me literally changed my life.

Eric Murphy, Science Teacher, United States/Canada

Get the Full Backstory
Load more
Download New Tab
Scroll back to top

Ready for Career Happiness?

What Career Fits You?

Finally figure out what you should be doing for work

Join our 8-day “Mini-Course” to figure it out. It’s free!