Tag: Job Search

Job

Into the Thick of It: Starting Over After Getting Laid Off

Featuredby Abby Phillips3 Comments on Into the Thick of It: Starting Over After Getting Laid Off
Into the Thick of It: Starting Over After Getting Laid Off

Apparently, it’s lay-off season, and I’m the latest victim of this brutal storm. 

The world of business has always been cut-throat, but I had no idea it would happen so soon in my career. But you know what they say, there’s a first time for everything! 

Ha — can you tell humor is my coping mechanism? 

I’m sure you’re familiar with lay-offs, but has anyone ever told you getting laid off sends you down a grief spiral? 

Sadness, disbelief, anger, despair. Yes, you feel them all, and sometimes all at once. 

It’s a weird thing really. You always hear about companies facing financial distress, but never think it’ll be you getting the boot. You work so hard, you go above and beyond personally and professionally, and you have such loyalty to your company. You never think it’ll be you until it is. 

Not until you get the phone call at 9:30 am on a Tuesday and your world stops for a second. 

How can a 60-second call end so much? 

“Your position is being cut.” Disbelief.

Your team of rockstar professionals-turned-friends will never work together again. Sadness. 

Oh, and you’ll no longer get paid either. Panic.

All of this gone in a 60-second call. Anger. 

How am I already back to this point again? 50 job applications sent. Exhaustion. 

Another rejection email? Despair. 

And suddenly I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place; Unsure what my next move is or where to go. Young enough to start over, but waiting for a sign to lead me.

Clearly, I’m still in the thick of it — grieving the loss of a job I loved, oh so much. 

It’s a process I wouldn’t wish on anyone. But, in a way, I’m grateful for it. 

Here are 3 tips on how to stay successful after getting laid off:

1. Keep a routine.

Do your best to not fall out of your routine. Instead, replace it with new, beneficial, and productive activities. Use this time to make yourself better than when you started.

2. Network like no tomorrow. 

Find connections through your connections. Someone can introduce you or vouch for you. Give them the chance and nurture those relationships. Don’t stop once you find a new job, either. Always continue to build your network.

3. Set goals for yourself.

Create daily, weekly, and monthly goals for yourself. Get them done. Make new goals. Do it again.

I’m holding out for the hope that something much better is just ahead. Sometimes God pushes us when he knows we wouldn’t take the steps ourselves. 

Though it hasn’t been long, this “vacation” has given me time to reevaluate and appreciate what’s around me. 

  • My supportive and loving husband. In a scary time like this, I’ve never felt so safe and supported. 
  • My family and friends. I truly have the best support system around me. Whether helping me find jobs, looking over my resume, or grabbing coffee because it’s been too long. 
  • The little things: putting some extra love into my garden, daily workouts — sometimes even 2, treating myself to Starbucks (everyday), and having time to write again. 

Who knows, maybe that’s what I needed. 

This story isn’t finished yet. It never will be, but my next chapter is coming soon! 💗

Job

THE COLD, HARD TRUTH: I DON’T LOOK GOOD ON PAPER

by Abby PhillipsLeave a Comment on THE COLD, HARD TRUTH: I DON’T LOOK GOOD ON PAPER
THE COLD, HARD TRUTH: I DON’T LOOK GOOD ON PAPER

The months leading up to graduation are an awkward time. There are those select few go-getters who somehow secured a job post-grad and then there are those like me: successfully received 20 rejection emails in a single day. Can I put that on my resume? 

However, I have figured it out for myself and here it is…

I don’t look good on paper.

There, I said it. It is harsh, it is true, and it is not what a recent or almost college graduate wants to hear (especially when applying for jobs!)

Now, don’t get me wrong. I did not spend college maxing out my credit cards and skipping class; although let’s be honest, there was some of that. I spent my time working 30+ hours a week while going to school full-time, being active in greek life, writing for the school magazine, and oh— having a life, too.

Somehow in the past four years I missed the lesson on how to get a job. Here is where I went wrong:

I worked to make money, not to gain experience. 

What I did not realize was that I needed relevant work experience throughout college. While I may have no debt or student loans, I have three years of experience in a field that will not help me get a job in Marketing or Communications. 

And there it is— I don’t look good on paper. 

Now, in the meantime, here are some helpful tips I have found while figuring out the job market:

  1. Design a good resume. Post it everywhere. Send it to everyone. The more people who see it, the more likely you are to get a job. 
  2. Invest time in building your professional social media, aka LinkedIn. Don’t be afraid to connect with strangers— that’s the whole idea of networking! 
  3. Apply, apply, apply! Try to not be discouraged by the few (or dozens) of rejection emails. The more applications you submit, the more job opportunities available!
  4. Apply for jobs where you are under-qualified. While you may not get the position, you can build a connection or have your resume on file for the future. 
  5. Create opportunities for yourself. While I may not meet the “5+ years of work experience” requirement, I can offer experience of my own; hence, starting a blog. 

Thank you for stopping by and reading my blog! Have any tips for me? Let me know below!