Okay, so you got fired or laid off and you followed all the tips from last week. What now?
Depending on the general state of your finances, you have, essentially, three options:
- Find a job as soon as you can
- Be picky and strategic about your search
- Get a retirement job
Let’s go through these choices:
Find something quickly
If you’re like a lot of people these days, you don’t have much in your savings account, and even with any sort of severance you might get, the uncertainty of things is likely to be such a worry that you won’t be able to concentrate on much else.
If this is you, take a moment to take a nice deep breath.
Now let’s start looking at jobs. First of all, get very clear on what you’re willing to put up with for a shorter period of time. We’re going to approach this next thing as a stopgap, not a long-term job. (Though, of course, you might luck out and love your stopgap job!) So draw some boundaries for yourself, and write them down somewhere so you’re sure to keep them in mind. Things are moving slowly right now, and the temptation might be to take something you’re sure to hate—an almost certain path to feeling worse than you already do!
When you have your list and a few job postings that you could reasonably do, start applying. Even though these aren’t dream jobs, you’ll still want to customize your application materials, so use tools like Cultivated Culture, JobScan, or Resume Worded to make sure you’re getting the keywords in. I also recommend creating a dedicated email address for accounts like these so you don’t have to keep getting emails from the places once you’ve found something new.
Practice interviewing, especially if it’s been a while. You can find lists of common interview questions online. If possible, practice with someone else, ideally someone who will give you helpful feedback. If you can’t find anyone, practice anyway. Answer the questions out loud, as though you had an actual audience. Use AI tools like Free Mock Interviews or Grow with Google to get more comfortable with it.
And once you land something, be sure to give yourself reminders to keep looking. You can put a note on your cozy winter socks or add a task to your virtual calendar or give a trustworthy friend a self-written letter to send you at a designated time. It’s easy to get complacent and find yourself in the same dead-end job 3 years from now. (Ask me how I know.)
You can afford to be picky
This is the ideal situation, of course. Congratulations! Let’s explore what you want and need from your next role.
Be thoughtful. What did you enjoy about your last job? What frustrated you? What are some areas you want to develop skills in? What kinds of settings let you be at your best?
Once you’re clear on your wants and needs (as well as what to avoid), start strategically looking at job boards. It’s often helpful to focus on the boards specific to your industry or region. Be choosy about what you decide to apply for, and make a note of any questions or concerns you have about the roles so you can ask in an interview.
Really tailor your resume. This is the time to get into the weeds. You can use AI tools like Teal HQ as a starting point, but don’t rely on it too heavily or the documents you submit won’t sound like they’re coming from you. While these sites are helpful, AI-generated resumes and cover letters all wind up looking and sounding too similar, without any humanity to them, so keep your own voice in your work, and use the tools to make sure you’re reflecting what’s in the job posting.
When possible, reach out to contacts in the target organizations. This is especially helpful when you already know people and they can speak to the quality of work you’ve done, but you can also start building new contacts at places you’d really like to work.
Be thorough. Prepare for interviews, review the job description and company website. Show your enthusiasm the whole way through. Rest assured that the right fit will come along!
You’re planning to retire
Congrats! You’ve paid your dues and now you get to relax, even if things didn’t happen quite as you might have planned. Celebrate your professional contributions anyway.
But chances are good that you don’t just want to sit around all day, so what’s next for you? You can consider retirement jobs, volunteering, hobbies, or a combination of all of those. Think about how you’d like to balance your interests. What’s really important to you? Have you always wanted to learn Portuguese but you haven’t had the time? Did you enjoy fostering puppies before your workload got too heavy? Is the cool art gallery down the street from you hiring part-time staff? Explore and have fun! You don’t need to commit to anything, so try dipping your toes into a range of things that interest you.
Stay as active as you can, physically and mentally. Mental stimulation and time with friends and family will help ward off many of those problems of aging, including isolation and loneliness. And physical exercise, as they say, isn’t to add years to your life, but to add life to your years.
Whatever your situation, you deserve to find happiness in this next step, so plan accordingly and don’t be afraid to focus on yourself. It’s not selfish to prioritize your own needs because doing so will let you become a better contributor to your next role.
