Getting laid off/fired can be the best thing that happens to you. I was fired from my last job in May 2022 and felt like a failure but after a week, I realized it was not a great role for me and I wanted to take my time to get something else that I wanted to be with long term. I got a new role by November with my dream role and company and love every day that I work. I work less hours, it is way less stressful and I got a 12,000 raise with much better benefits and equipment and get to work from home. Just a couple days a month for meetings I need to be in person. I also learned that my old company laid off a bunch of people so they have been planning to let me go anyway.
My mentality changed after losing my job in April 2023. I will treat my future jobs as one-year contracts that could or could not be extended. Right now I finished a certificate course on AI and did a part-time ticket sales project, which could come in handy when I get my next interviews. The interview part is where I keep falling short though.
During a layoff about a decade ago, I was called into my boss's office and there was HR. I work in a volatile industry (oilfield) and layoffs were happening frequently at that time due to a downturn. I think the HR person was so tired of having to do this so often recently, and of course my boss didn't want to lose me. I told them that I understood it was a business decision and understood how hard it was for them to do this. It looked like both were almost ready to cry after I said that... I saw the writing on the wall even before this and so had a potential job in queue which happened within 30 days. Good to bounce back from layoff but even better to anticipate and prepare for it.
Laid off in November of 2023, just started a new job this past week. Did take time to reflect on my experience and’s skills, and because of that know I’m in a better place.
I earned two promotions within 7 years. I encountered a severe safety hazard situation. I had two face to face meetings with upper management. I suggested a solution, upper management said that they would implement my suggestion. About 7 too 10 days later, management ended my employment saying that they were not satisfied with my performance. Yeah right, can you say retaliation and bullshit? I definitely can and have.
Building networks is crucial. When competing against hundreds of other applicants for every (real) opening, your odds of becoming the 'chosen one' are very slim, even if your skills match the position. It can be frustrating, especially when you know you can easily do the job. Network, network, network is the key.
Great post. I've been following this page for a few months now. And after being affected by a layoff only a week ago, your page has been a great source of info and encouragement . Thank you.
I've taken a job out of panic and your correct the day I started I knew I was going to leave. It was more stressful because now I'm working and I had to come home a look for a better job. It was a 12 hour day.
It can be even worse than that. It is very possible in the beginning weeks you will get further interest from your recent search, and now it is difficult or impossible to get a day off to go to the new interview.
You described the exact scenario that happened to me, only I was WFH that day. I was a really good employee, and it hurt. What if you do not know what you want to do? I am running into a lot of good jobs but very very low pay, even with me taking a nice cut from what I was making.
Not a layoff, but we were interviewing a guy which we rejected. And we were not talking niceties to put it mildly. Normal way real men do interviews. So he goes, applies and gets a job at a company we are working under (subcontracting)... When I heard the news I was basically ROFL. As he is tasked to handle our project, he gave us really hard time. So, everything is possible and God is the best script writer.
"Show that company?", they don't give a sh!t, in their mind they are saving money. To hell with them, find something better, improve yourself and move on. 👍
You're absolutely right! Sabotage that company and make sure they go bankrupt and make sure they know EXACTLY how you feel mwahahahahah it only makes sense and it's only fair afterall 🔥 Thank you for giving me some amazing insight. I will be sure to consider your words mwahahahahah
Thanks for the video. It’s hard to be anywhere near positive after the lay off 7 months ago, it really was my dream job and I was doing so great according to my bosses and peers. Bills need to be paid, so I’m working at a deli down the street now, making less than half the income I was making. No resentment towards them, but goddam I need some help. Will check out your resume builder tool, because that sounds like my problem. ❤
I agree about the strategy, getting the skills upgraded, etc. But in some cases, it's not about being "below the numbers." I've seen people who don't fit a personality test; people who, despite HR claiming it isn't because of age, it's because of age, and not just dinosaurs; and simply because somebody upstairs doesn't like you.
I dont trust companies much anymore, shitty managers, and treating people like bots. Some companies are even replacing their workers with bots. Multiple sources of income is a very smart idea, sadly you're mostly seeing it with the younger gens, most people don't seem to be aware enough that they need to adapt and overcome to changes in reality.
I was laid off from a defense company in 2010. Then 13 years later, I was hired back. I was hesitant to go back, but the compensation was almost double. Moreover, my wife told me to go back.
For web developers, a daily portfolio habit of fun passion code projects / exploration (perhaps a github or codepen - or both) and vocally guided videos of your most professional deep mental flow state to really shine. The passion is key, only grind and micromanaging will burn out eventually.
Can you make a video on how to properly apply if you are on a disability system ? how to communicate your disability and everything related to the topic ?
My career got derailed years ago. Sigh. Nothing I was able to counter in a good way. I resigned and take whatever job I can get. That's life. (But I still love your videos.)
It used to be lower performers are let go. I have worked with folks who work in groups that are doing well they consisted fly get top review scores but they get let go.
Makes me wonder if private companies what the same result but from a single person for lower pay? Worked jobs where at a couple of meetings that would explain that a single person could do the same amount of work 5 people.
I learned that Private companies can and will let you go for any reason, but always stay positive and look back at key areas that could have painted a target on your back. It's okay to be a nice person "Friendly coworker" but at work they're not your friends. Look for additional sources of income, not a second job but something you can do during your free time, like doordash or making and selling things. Times are different, adapt and overcome do just stick to old ways.
Everything is so subjective, I've taken numerous resume building classes, and there is no constancy between them, it's just how biased or unbiased the recruiter is feeling that day when they are reading your resume. I've had recruiters make comments during those meetings, where I would look at the HR consultant hosting the meeting shake their head and probably think to themselves "you shouldn't have said that out loud". Do you have any solid advice how to get the gig if your name is not Brain Johnson on the resume, and they already think less of you because you have a foreign name? I have to jump to a lot more hoops to impress the same recruiters no matter what my qualifications are. Everyone is subjective and biased, and the best way to get hired is to put down a name of a person that works there, that referred you. Otherwise all this is nonessential.
Love IT but I saw the SLA metrics on average and I thought "Lol" fug this." Been doing my own automation and repairs for the past 4 years. Im not ducking for 19/hr as a Customer service help desk position.
My boss fired. I was collateral damage. 7 years in position. A) they can’t figure out how to remove my cell phone contact. I’m not playing nice on calls 2 months later. B) other managers calling me I’m done with this as well ( even the ones I liked) I was out of work 2 weeks competitor snapped me up. Old company and sr mgmt I wish them well. And my replacement ( which they lied creating a pool from remaining staff -had no clue what I handled )linked in ad 3 weeks 0 applications awe! But blow your horn just head down doing your job well nope tell people what you do often
I just got laid off after my first year out of college, and now im struggling to find anything, I've tried everything and have talked to multiple HR professionals that I know and theyre puzzled by why I'm not being picked up yet.
Don’t aim high for ur first job. Linked in profile has to be open to work so recruiters can find u. You have to be lenient on jobs, even if it’s not in your endgoal, do it and after that u got a better chance and can start building up. Gotta be flexible especially when it’s your first year out of college. There are also companies that basically hire you and then have another company you will work for idk how it’s called in English. This way u get a half year in working there then they put u elsewhere. I’ve been through this b s and am sad I didn’t know this was the best way for me to get in.
My current company is going into cost cutting and offering separation packages. I am one of the top performers but applied for the separation. Waiting for the approval. The separation is Ovet$100k if approved the last day will be mid Aug. Did a quick interview with a competitor and they are putting an offer together. I am not allowed to take offers or new job until I live. Can they find out if I take an offer? I wanted to wait and not sign a new offer until I live so I don’t violate the trade secret law . Any suggestions I can tell new boss or recruiter so I don’t loose the opportunity.
3:20 yeah of course, i have been laid off because i was working in something experimental that didnt pan out. yes, lets go with that. not cause the world is based in social skill and i absolutely suck at them, no, that other thing it was. honestly, you made me feel even shittier after giving a ton of good reasons to be laid off.
I really wish you didn't have that intro, Bryan. It probably serves some purpose but it smells Corporate so much with staged scenes and faces, always puts me off. So impersonal, unlike the rest of your content that we all love so much.
Thank-you for your video. QUESTION: I was wanting to do a job search but not go through recruiters. What are your thoughts on physically going out to businesses and handing in a resume to companies? I feel really constrained by recruiters. I have run into situations where I have applied for a job at a company through a recruiter only to have another recruiter contact me and say that I had given them my resume, 5 months earlier and if I had been employed by the company that advertised the job, then they (rather than the initial recruiter) would have got the commission regardless of them not getting me the job. Have you heard of this? Also, when I hand over my resume to a recruiter, I run into an issue where, If I get a job through word of mouth, That recruiter then claims that I had given them my resume 7 months previously and the company that is employing me has to pay them a fee. Just because I had given this recruiter my resume 7 months earlier. I feel burnt by recruiters and just want to approach businesses on my own and hand over my resume to them. If they are interested they can contact me directly and not have some recruiter contacting them demanding a fee.
I don’t feel that’s the best use of your time, unless you live in a small town and are applying to small employers (500 people or less). If you’re white collar, I’d rather leverage targeted networking using LinkedIn.
@@ALifeAfterLayoff Thank-you for your reply. Yes, I live regionally. Small towns, communities. Regional Australia. I am a Structural Drafter trying to break into Surveying Drafting. I did hand out my resume to some companies. Some were small 20 to 50 people others were big companies. I did get to chat to a couple of directors. I followed up afterwards with an Thank-you email and a electronic copy of my resume. Interestingly it was the T1 company that got back and told me that would keep my resume on file. It is a lot of work. And I have only been able to contact 8 companies through this method. Thank-you so much for all of your videos.
