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Managing Your Professional References

7/15/2025

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

About References

When you’re getting ready to apply for jobs, at some point, those companies will ask for professional references. Some organizations will ask for references during the initial application. Other employers will ask as they approach the final stages of their interview process.  Let's look at how you can select and communicate well with these people who you want to vouch for you and your skills.

About Professional References

Your professional references will speak well of you and help potential employers see your value. While personal references are generally people who can vouch for your character, professional references can share their experience with you in a work-related capacity.  Typically, you'll need the names and contact information for three people who can share their experiences with you.

Selecting Your References

When selecting your professional references, here are a few ideas on who you may want to use:
  • Previous managers
  • Coworkers
  • Direct reports
  • Contacts from professional organizations
  • People with whom you've volunteered
  • Someone who is referring you for a role

Overall, it's helpful to find people who have worked for you doing relevant work (paid or volunteer) and who can attest to your skills. Here are a few of the people I have used a reference in the past:
  • A recent manager when I was in an individual contributor role.
  • A director who was not my immediate manager but who I collaborate with on projects
  • A colleague who I worked alongside when we each led different teams
  • A project manager who managed a team I was on
  • One of my direct reports
  • Someone who I interacted with while I volunteered for a professional development organization
  • Someone who was also a contractor for the same company I worked for
  • A parent who also volunteered to chaperone a school event  

Which References To Use

When I apply for jobs, I have two references I use consistently.
  • One is a colleague I've worked with at three different companies. I have worked with him for over ten years. I first had him as a trainee in a class, then we both worked at another company in different departments, then he was my direct report at another company.  He is one of my go-to references because he has seen me work in several roles, can comment on me as a leader, and has first-hand experience with my instructional design skills. 
  • One is a recent manager of mine.  I worked with her on a small team in a large organization. She can also attest to my skills as a learning consultant and in a technical role while commenting on how I work on project teams and meet deadlines. Having at least one former manager as a reference is essential. 

Depending on the role for which I am applying, I will choose which other reference might be the most helpful: 
  • For a role focused on finance, I might include a former colleague of mine who was a  retirement coach.  He and I have collaborated on projects, created financial education materials, and fine-tuned a process for coaching individuals on retirement planning concepts. 
  • For a role with a healthcare company with an opening for a technical trainer, I might include a former colleague of mine who used to work on the same team as me. Since she and I had worked together to co-facilitate classes, she could speak to the specific skills I would bring to the role. She could also refer me for that role as well. 
  • For a role focusing on career coaching and resume development, I might include a board member for a professional organization where I put together and regularly deliver content on career development. 

Overall, make sure that your references can speak to your skills as they might pertain to the specific job. 

Information To Include

Make sure to collect the following details on your potential references so you are ready to share it with possible employers:
  • First and last name
  • Current company and job title
  • LinkedIn profile (if available)
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Background information on your relationship

Asking People To Be Your Reference

Before you start giving out people's contact information, be sure to confirm they are okay with being your reference. I suggest doing this before a specific job asks for references. I usually send them a message via email, LinkedIn, or text that reads something like this:
---------------
Hi, [first name].  I'm launching my job search, and I'm wondering if you'd be willing to be one of my professional references. If so, please share the following contact information details with me:
  • Current company and job title
  • Preferred phone number
  • Preferred email address

Thanks for your help!
​​--------------

The Heads Up Message

After you have their initial permission to give out their name as a reference, be sure to also inform them if they should expect someone to reach out to them. In addition to letting them know who may contact them and the type of position, it's also good to share a reminder of your previous work relationship so they aren't scrambling. Here is an example of that type of message.
​---------------
Hi, [first name]. Thanks for being willing to be my reference!

I recently applied for a [job title] position with [company name]. I am in the final stages of their interview process, and they may contact you via phone or email.

As a reminder, you and I worked together at [company] from [date range] when I was a [my job title] and you were the [their job title].  

Thanks again!
​​---------------

Learn More

  • The Layoff Lady: Customizing Your Resume for Each Job Application 
  • The Layoff Lady: Prioritizing Job Applications​​
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Job Search Skills You Didn't Know You Needed: Remote, Hybrid, Onsite, and Hiring Eligibility

6/24/2025

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Onsite, Remote, and Hybrid Work Implications

When searching for a job, one challenge is figuring out what work arrangements a given employer has in mind. Since 2020, companies in the United States often label their open positions as onsite, hybrid, or remote. Even with those labels, job seekers and individual employers are still not always aligned on what exactly that means. 

​Let's look at some of the factors in play. 

Remote Job Clarifications

For a job labeled as "remote," their expectations could be any of the following:
​
  • The candidate lives in the United States and can work from anywhere.
  • The candidate lives in the United States and must work from their home.
  • The candidate lives within a specific list of states where the potential employer is set up to conduct business.
  • The candidate lives within a specific time zone.
  • The candidate is willing to work hours in a specified time zone.
  • The candidate lives within a specified distance from one of the company's physical office locations.
  • The candidate lives in the metropolitan area of the company's headquarters.
  • The company is "remote first" with no physical office location.
  • The company is "remote-friendly," meaning there may be the option to work in an office location, a designated shared space, or fully remote.
  • The company is "open to remote" and may consider a candidate who does not work in their office location.

Onsite, Remote, and Hybrid Roles in Practice

Regardless of the label, each role may work differently in practice. Here are a few of the many possible scenarios:

  • A company may label a job as remote, then later in the job description mention preferences for being onsite.
  • A company may label a job as hybrid when it could more accurately be described as remote with some travel to the corporate office.
  • A company may label a job as onsite or hybrid, and in the body of the job description, explain that they are also open to remote.
  • A company may label a job hybrid, expecting people to be onsite (in the office) anywhere from never to 4 days per week. 
  • A company may have an unstated preference for the location of employees.
  • A company may not be clear about their ongoing thoughts on having workers return to the office or the timeline for that change.
  • Many companies label roles as remote but do not clarify additional details about arrangements (which states, preferences for specific geographical locations).
  • Companies may decide on a case by case basis where they prefer employees to be located or if they will be remote, hybrid, or onsite.
  • Any of these designations may also include travel. 

Navigating Job Listings for Remote Roles

As a job seeker who understand the different stated options and possible meanings, here are a few strategies for navigating job listings:

  • Review posted job openings for additional details on work arrangements. For remote roles, read the main job description and skim the listing for additional location restrictions (time zones, states, and proximity to a physical office).
  • If you're on a job search site, find the job listing on the company's website. Sometimes they will include additional details on the specific states where they are able to hire and/or want to hire for a given position. 
  • If you’re not sure if a company can do business in your state, use LinkedIn to search for employees at that company who currently live in your state. This would indicate that the company is legally able to hire someone in your state.
  • Connect with and speak with someone at the organization and ask for additional clarification on work arrangements and remote work policies.
  • If it’s unclear, reach out to a company recruiter to clarify details (or, if time is of the essence, apply first, then ask questions later).

Remote Work Implications: Locations and Pay

There are also a few other implications of remote work to keep in mind:
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  • Salary ranges will be all over the board for the same role. For example, a title like "Training Manager" could have a salary of anywhere from $50,000 - $225,000 per year, depending on the location of the company's corporate office. 
  • Some companies adjust their salary ranges based on the candidate's geographic area, while others do not. 
  • Even with pay transparency laws in some states, not all jobs list the salary range--even when they are now required to do so. 

Strategies for Remote Work Salary Conversations

Given these variations on how salaries work for remote roles, be sure to think through your financial requirements and how you will address questions about your desired salary:

  • Identify your desired salary range overall. Use this range as a starting point for all conversations.
  • Review posted salary ranges for the role. Make sure they at least meet your minimum salary.
  • During the interview process, when a recruiter or hiring manager asks you for your desired salary range, answer that question with the question, “what is the salary range for this position?” This assures that you’re not selling yourself short.

Learn More

  • The Layoff Lady: Interview Preparation: The Initial Phone Screen
  • The Layoff Lady's Ultimate Guide To Answering The Question, "I Just Got Laid Off--Now What Do I Do?"​
  • The Layoff Lady Book: Seven Lessons From Seven Layoffs: A Guide​
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Two Unfortunate Job Searching Truths and An Okay One (And How To Manage Each)

5/27/2025

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

The Adventure of Finding a New Job

Whether you're gainfully employed but looking for the next right opportunity for you, or you're in career transition, job searching is hard. Here are three unfortunate job searching truths that can help you manage your mindset and emotions as you work through the ups and downs of this process. 

​Truth 1: Job Seeker Time Goes Slower Than Hiring Organization Time

When you're a hiring manager, you have a ton going on, and only one of those things is hiring a new person. You're still trying to manage your team, meet deadlines, troubleshoot customer problems, and juggle all the people you're considering for your open position. In an interview, when one candidate asks about the hiring process, you tell them you should know who will move on to the next steps in the process "by the end of this week"--and at the time, you believe that is a reasonable deadline. Then there is a software release with a bug that causes three meetings to be scheduled with big clients, or someone ends up out on sick leave unexpectedly, or your child has to be picked up from daycare with the flu. Friday comes and goes, and getting in touch with a candidate falls off your radar until the next week. 

Meanwhile, as a job seeker, you put a note on your calendar that you'll know one way or another by Friday. Then you analyze every syllable you uttered in the interview, hoping you didn't say anything awful. You rethink a facial expression you interpreted as approving and wonder if it really was that at all. You suffer through Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, secretly worrying that you will never find another job. Ever. 

Instead of spiraling, take action to get you closer to your goals.
​
After the interview, email the hiring manager a thank you message and consider sending them a LinkedIn connection request. Put a note on your calendar for a few days after the hiring manager said they would contact you. Reach out to them at that time, including a few pleasantries, reiterating your interest in the role, and asking for an update.

Will you get the job? It's hard to tell. Either way, you did your part. Remind yourself that you won't get every job you apply for, and reflect to see what you can learn from it. At the very least, pat yourself on the back that you didn't over-follow up (which is often worse than not following up at all), and be sure to focus on more than one job opportunity at a time.

In addition, network with three more people and apply for three more jobs.

Truth 2: It's Not "Your Job" Until You Receive A Paycheck

Inevitably as a job searcher, you run across it. THE job. It's the one you know is meant to be yours. It's perfect--easy commute, a great title, the go-to company, exactly what you are qualified (and want) to do. In your head, you think--this is MY job. You picture your new business cards, where you'll park, and how you'll introduce yourself as the "Director of Awesomeness" for this perfect company. If you're still working, you may be dreaming about the day you hand in your notice--or get excited knowing you won't have to finish a dreaded project because you'll be elsewhere. You think--why should I even bother applying for anything else because this one is SO my job!

Except, well, it's not actually your job yet. You're looking at it and seeing yourself in it, but it's not real. You don't work there. No one is sending you a paycheck for it. They don't even know your name yet. You may very well still work at your company in a few months when the project you're not excited about is due. While this MAY be the job you eventually get, it's not a done deal yet.

You know what else? It may not end up being your job. Apply for that job--even work hard to get it. Know, though, that you may end up not even getting called in for an interview. This doesn't mean you're not still an amazing professional with valuable qualifications. Remember, there are always many things going on when companies hire. There may be an internal candidate, a previous coworker of the hiring manager, someone who has a referral from a college friend, or someone who has even slightly more of a qualification that didn't make that job posting. 

Instead of spiraling, take action to get you closer to your goals.

Whenever you fall in love with a job or think of something as "your job,” make an extra effort to apply for additional jobs--or at least game out what happens if you do not get the job. If the job you see yourself in works out, great. If not, you're still working towards your ultimate goal of finding a new role (complete with a paycheck), whichever job that might be. 

In addition, network with three more people and apply for three more jobs

Truth 3: You Only Need One Job.

Applying for jobs is a process. Looking back at my records, I have typically applied for between 40 and 100 jobs when I've been in career transition. It's easy to get discouraged. If you're working and looking for something else, you might be more selective in your applications and feel especially attached to an opening you see. Remember, not every personal referral, application, or interview will lead to an offer.

Again--sometimes you apply and hear back a fat lot of nothing. Sometimes, you might get a quick rejection from a job only to see it reposted a week later. In those cases, it can be hard to see that they don't even have a good candidate, but they know it's not going to be me. That one smarts.

It's also hard when you interview for a role multiple times only to hear that you didn't get the job. Even though they genuinely liked you, you didn't get it. Maybe you were a close second, perhaps they went with an internal candidate, or they ended up not filling the position. There is so much rejection in the job search process that you’ll inevitably feel sad and like maybe there is no hope for you finding the right next job for you.

Instead of spiraling, take action to get you closer to your goals. 

At the end of the day, though, you only need one job, and one organization to tell you “Yes.” You only need one place where you and the employer agree to work together. Sometimes, it's helpful to remind yourself that all those no answers get you to the one yes you need. The trick is that you don't know which one will be that yes. You have to keep on keeping on until you find it.

In addition, network with three more people and apply for three more jobs.

Learn More

  • The Layoff Lady's Ultimate Guide To Answering The Question, "I Just Got Laid Off--Now What Do I Do?" ​
  • The Layoff Lady: Managing Job Search Rejection
  • The Layoff Lady Book: Seven Lessons From Seven Layoffs: A Guide​
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Self Care: Your Basic Daily Task List

5/20/2025

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Job Searching: The Good Days​

Some days will be amazing. Within a half hour of waking up, you receive an invitation to do a phone screen, notice another hiring manager accepted your LinkedIn connection request, and receive a message from a recruiter for a role that looks promising. Everything is going great for you. Hearing that good news fills you with hope about the future. You feel appreciated, valued, and worthwhile.

​Soon, you’re updating your budget, making that overdue phone call, and cleaning your whole kitchen. You use that extra burst of energy to start preparing for tomorrow’s phone screen. Today, you are productivity personified.

Job Searching: The Not-So-Good Days

Then there are the other days. You check your email and read, “We will not be moving forward with your application,” then move on to “We regret to inform you,” then finish up with, “This position is no longer available.” You’re not even out of bed, and you already heard you weren’t good enough for three jobs you really wanted.

Now, all that good news from the previous day seems irrelevant. Your email has become a scary place where everyone is mean. You hop onto LinkedIn to look for new jobs. While looking at job listings, you fixate on the one or two preferred qualifications you don’t have. You start to customize a resume for one job, then stare at your screen, trying to figure out why anyone would bother hiring you. Now, you're not going to have it in you to be a high achiever. 

Struggling to Succeed

After a three-rejection morning, you may feel like a failure, and everything is hopeless. Despite how it feels right then, you are not lazy, a loser, or a failure. Instead, you have probably been going too hard for too long and have little to show for it yet. 

In addition, you have probably been relying on the overly simplistic getting-things-done strategies people often bluster about. If your only plan for success involves hammering away, powering through, or pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, you will have problems. It’s an excellent time to remind yourself that bucking/soldiering/cowboying up is not a long-term sustainable strategy. It is a short-term fix you can use occasionally when you have no other options. Making that once-in-a-while solution your go-to move will leave you irritable, burned out, and feeling like the failure you most certainly are not.

Sustainability and Your Career Transition

Yes, you are trying to find a job. Yes, you are trying to keep your finances in check. You also need to be able to continue to keep going sustainably so you can persevere as long as your career transition requires. You won’t be able to push yourself beyond your limits consistently for very long. Given that many job searches last between a few weeks and several months, you will need to find a way to sustain the effort you’ll need to achieve your job search goals. 

Your Basic Self Care Daily Task List

There is an art to writing a helpful task list. This basic self-care list includes items that are valuable, easy to achieve, and can be checked off definitely. You can also update these lists to reflect what makes the most sense to you in your life. This is not your "I have accomplished miracles" list. Instead, this is your "I did the basic things I need to stay well so I can prioritize to keep going" list. 

Morning
  • Brush teeth.
  • Take vitamins/medication.
  • Shower.
  • Drink a glass of water.

Afternoon
  • Eat lunch, including a fruit or vegetable.
  • Drink a glass of water.
  • Move for 30 minutes.
  • Go outside for 10 minutes.

Evening
  • Eat dinner, including a fruit or vegetable. 
  • Drink a glass of water.
  • Stretch for 10 minutes.
  • Brush your teeth.

Modifying The List

This is a good starting point for a basic self-care list. If moving for 30 minutes is too much for you right now, make it 10. If making your bed helps you feel better, consider adding that to your morning list. If you do a load of laundry daily and put it away, fit that in where it makes sense. If you take your vitamins before bed, do that.

​Do what you need to to do make it yours. This basic self-care list will help you feel better on your hardest days. On an easier day, you'll breeze through these items with no problem and move on to conquering the world.

Learn More

  • The Layoff Lady: Five Reasons Why Career Transition is Hard
  • The Layoff Lady: Creating Your Career Transition Support Team
  • ​The Layoff Lady's Ultimate Guide To Answering The Question, "I Just Got Laid Off--Now What Do I Do?"​
  • The Layoff Lady Book: Seven Lessons From Seven Layoffs: A Guide​​​​
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Company Research During Your Job Search

5/13/2025

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Interviewing Goes Both Ways

Whether you are actively searching for a new role, or just have an eye out for a new position, it's important to do your homework. It's important to remember that the company is not just interviewing you for a position. You are also interviewing the company to make sure they meet your requirements for what you want and need in an employer.

When researching, remind yourself of the value of seeking information from multiple viewpoints. You'll gather different, yet often equally valuable, information from the company website, news sources, online review sites, and speaking with individuals who have direct experience working for the organization. 

Let's examine why, when, and how to conduct your vetting process.

What The Company Has To Say

When researching a company, start with the online sites that the company runs. This includes their company website, their LinkedIn company page, and their other social media presences. Your main goals include finding out more about the company and the logistics of working there to help you decide if the company seems like a good fit for you and is aligned with your career goals. 

Here are a few ideas on what to look for: 

  • Is their online presence complete and professional? Is the information current?
  • What details do they have online about their value proposition for employees? Do they mention employee perks, benefits, or their company culture?
  • What industry are they in? How many people work there?
  • ​What are their working arrangements?
  • Have they won any awards?
  • How are they active in the community?
  • On LinkedIn,  are you connected with any of their employees?
  • What is their address? If applicable, do they have office locations near you? For a possible remote position, is anyone else in the state in which you live employed there?​ 
  • Is there recent company report on the website? How have their financials been recently?

The News

Once you have looked at company-run sites, it's helpful to do an online search to see how and when they are showing up in the news. You're looking for good and not-so-good information on the organization, as reported in the news. To do this, you could type in the company's full name and the word news, all in quotes, in your favorite search engine. Alternatively, you could type in the company's name in quotes, then click the news link on your favorite search engine. 

Here are a few ideas on what to look for: 
​
  • Company accomplishments and recent awards.
  • Leadership and key staffing changes.
  • Good works in the community.
  • Activities or events they sponsored.
  • Any legal news or actions.
  • Previous or planned layoffs.
  • Announcements about changes in company structure or ownership.

Online Reviews

After looking at the news, it's helpful to look at online reviews for the company. Remember, often, when people write reviews, they are either ecstatic or disgruntled--sometimes without much in between. For comparison, think about how you would rate a recent employer based on the best day you ever had at work there as compared to your worst day at work--and that both were valid in those moments.

Here are a few places to look that are focused on gathering and sharing opinions about organizations:
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  • For general impressions of the company, visit The Better Business Bureau.
  • To see history or plans for layoffs, search for WARN notices and your state.
  • To hear what current or past employees have to say, visit Glassdoor.com.
  • To hear what current or past employees have to say, visit Indeed.com.
  • Search for review sites of the company's products and services.

People With Direct Experience

In addition to the news, reports on websites, and anonymous feedback, reaching out to people with experience at a given company for additional insights is also valuable. This is where you can leverage your professional network to connect with people who have firsthand experience. 

Here are a few ideas for how to find out more: 
​
  • On LinkedIn, look at the company's current employees. Search those employees for someone who is one of your current connections. Reach out to that person to ask about their experience working with the company. 
  • On LinkedIn, look at the company's current employees. See if you have a second-degree connection with any of the company's current employees. Reach out to that person to ask if they are willing to introduce you to someone at that organization.
  • Contact key members of professional organizations where you are a member. Ask if anyone there has insight on the company or knows someone who does. As for either an introduction or any insights they have to share. 

What Do You Think? 

What else do you do to research a company? Include your ideas in the comments. 

Learn More

  • The Layoff Lady: Asking for Help Using LinkedIn Messaging
  • The Layoff Lady: Using 1:1 Networking Meetings for Job Searching
  • The Layoff Lady's Ultimate Guide To Answering The Question, "I Just Got Laid Off--Now What Do I Do?"​
  • The Layoff Lady Book: Seven Lessons From Seven Layoffs: A Guide
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Creating Your Career Transition Support Team

5/6/2025

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Don't Go It Alone

Life is challenging when nothing in particular is happening. When you're going through a job change (especially one you didn't plan), it's even harder. While I'm a fan of self-reliance, I also know the value of finding people who want to support you and letting them do it. You're not weak for needing people. You are smart for planning ahead for what you will need.

You Need Help Because This is Hard

I have been through a post-layoff job transition 7 times, and it is difficult each and every time. There is the fear that it will just never end, and you'll be drifting for eternity trying to find paid work where you can pay your bills--much less in a job you want. You worry that you'll have to settle for something that may be even worse than the worst job you've ever had. You also worry that you'll run out of money and not be able to pay your bills and lose everything you own and everyone you've ever loved. While your rational mind knows this is all pretty unlikely, there will be moments when everything seems hopeless. That's where your support network comes in. 

No matter how resilient and downright badass you are, doing this alone makes it way harder. 

People Want to Help You: Make Sure to Let Them

As an extra added bonus, people want to help you! I'm always inspired by all the people who came out of the woodwork to check on me, told me about an open position, thanked me for helping them once upon a time, or offered to refer me for a role. Everyone has struggled with something at one time or another, and someone has helped them. Let other people help you. 

Building Your Team

It also takes a village to get you through a career transition. Relying on one person for everything is all kinds of stressful. Know that people want to help, and it's a matter of figuring out what you need, letting people know, and reaching out to people as needed. Going through a job search is challenging, even in the best of circumstances.

Types of Help You Need

Here's a starter list of the types of help you may need during your job transition. More specifically, here is some of what I needed. Use this as a starting point and add details as it helps you:
​
  • ​Emotional Support: You'll have all the feelings. Figure out who you can talk to about what. Sometimes you'll laugh, sometimes you'll cry, sometimes you'll vent, and on the most trying days, maybe all of the above. 
  • Communication: Just telling people what is up can be draining--because people. Realize, too, that your telling them about your situation may result in them inadvertently trying to allay their fears that the same thing will happen to them. Find a friend who can help you spread whatever news there is to convey. Telephone. Telegraph. Tell a Karla. Find those people who love to connect with others (and even share some of the same social circles) and enlist their help.  
  • Sounding Board: When you're making big decisions--or doing something you don't do very often, having someone to talk things through will is mission critical. Personally, I don't even always need my sounding board people to say much--just to sit there and listen (or at least just not talk over me) as I talk myself into or out of the idea I'm considering. There is so much value to writing or talking through ideas as you choose your next steps.
  • Logistical Support: Sometimes, you'll need a hand figuring things out. Maybe it's having someone to watch your kids for a bit so you can have a phone interview. Perhaps it's help with a ride if you're having car trouble. Whatever it is, it may seem small to them, but it'll solve a problem for you. 
  • Fun: There will be many, many times when you just need a distraction. Watching a movie. Having coffee. Talking about non-job search related things. Having a conversation where you don't have to be "on" and can just chat with someone. It doesn't have to be elaborate. It just has to be a welcome break from all those "shoulds" to be something other than a job-searching human.
  • Cheerleader: You also need someone to give you a pep talk. Whether it's someone who'll send you a quick "You've got this!" text or someone to remind you to take a deep breath and tell them your remarkable story, remember that encouragement is essential. They can also help you celebrate successes and remind you of your innate value when you're struggling.
  • Accountability: You'll also need someone to help you keep on track. It may be as easy as them asking if you applied for that job you talked about. Or asking you if you updated your resume like you said you would do.­­­ Create the positive peer pressure to help you follow through on what you need to do.
  • New Ideas: There is a certain amount of trial and error when looking for a new job. Whether it's optimizing LinkedIn, figuring out how to network with new people, finding the best way to position your work experience, or where to find jobs, there's a lot to learn. Whether you tap into someone who works in that industry, or a hiring manager, or a resume writer, figuring out how to be a more effective job searcher is useful. 
  • Connectors: Each of us has people in our lives who seem to know all the things and/or all the people. Let them help you connect with the right person, opportunity, or idea at the right time.

Who Can Help

When it comes to help, I start with my inner circle--close friends and family. I'm also sure to widen my support team beyond them, too.

I also move beyond that immediate group. I interact with my LinkedIn connections. I tap into online groups including job search groups, The White Box Club, and even LinkedIn groups focusing on networking or a content area (like sales enablement).

I interact with in-person membership groups like ATD or the Omaha OD Network. Or I seek out non-work connections through social Meetup groups or activities. Sometimes, I just spend time in coffee shops to indirectly interact with other people. It's a matter of figuring out what you need and finding a person to help.

Asking for Help

Know, too, that there will be times when you need to straight up reach out to someone because you need help. Each person will have their areas of interest and expertise, so be sure to keep that in mind when asking for help.

It's helpful to consider who you might contact for different needs. Here are a few cases when I was job searching and I reached out to people to ask for help:
​
  • Before a job interview, I would text my daughter to let her know I had an interview. She woudl then text back encouraging words and follow up afterwards to see how it all went. 
  • If I need non-job search social interaction, I'd reach out to my former "lunch ladies" coworkers with a link to my Calendly and ask if they're up for a catch-up conversation (then they would pick a time for us to chat.)
  • If was having a rough day, I'll reach out to my best friend to talk a bit. 
  • If was unsure if my resume was clear, I'll contact a former coworker to give it a look and make suggestions on what I could do better.
  • If I wanted to talk shop but not directly job searching, I'd contact a LinkedIn connection I hadn't chatted with in a while and see if they were up for a virtual coffee meeting. I got to have a fulfilling interaction with another person and glean a few professional insights, too. 

Learn More

  • ​The White Box Club​ on Meetup
  • The Layoff Lady's Ultimate Guide To Answering The Question, "I Just Got Laid Off--Now What Do I Do?"​
  • The Layoff Lady Book: Seven Lessons From Seven Layoffs: A Guide​
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Career Planning: Figuring Out What You Want To Be Next

4/29/2025

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

What Do You Want To Be Next?

We often ask children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” As an adult thinking about your future, it’s time to ask yourself, “What do I want to be next?” Whether you are lookinh got your first professional role, in a post-layoff career transition, or you're employed and contemplating your future, it's always a good time to think about what you want from your professional life going forward.

Shouldn't I Just Take What I Can Get?

As a job seeker who is unhappy with their current situation, I understand the tendency to feel like you are in no position to be picky. However, when I talk with job searchers having difficulty landing a new role, not having a focus for their job search actually slows their progress considerably.

​Most of the time, employers are less likely to hire someone who wants what I would call “any old job.” Most companies would rather hire a person who genuinely wants to do a specific type of work, has the necessary skills, and is targeting an identified role. One of the best things you can do for the success of your job search is to figure out what you really want to do, then use your resume and LinkedIn profile to promote yourself as a match for your desired role. 

Take a Beat

When you're not currently employed and nervous about your future, it's natural to think, “I need a job as quickly as possible.”  or to skip thinking altogether and seek out exactly the same job you had before. It’s not that you can’t seek the same type of work—because you can. Just make sure to reconfirm with yourself that you are going toward a role you want. Here are ideas for how to go about that process. ​

Reflect on Your Values

A good starting point is thinking about what really matters to you in life and how you express those values. 

Personally, I also find that it's challenging to think of the right words to articulate those high-level ideas that matter to you.  I discovered the think2perform Online Values Exercise at a previous job when I was designing a retirement planning seminar. Since thinking about your money (or your work, for that matter) starts with what you care about on a larger scale, this is a great starting point. Personally, I take this assessment on at least an annual basis because the process helps me revisit my values in general and helps me more thoughtfully talk about what I do and why I do it.

The assessment itself includes 51 named value cards and 4 rounds of reviewing the cards. The total time to complete this activity is about 15 minutes, and perhaps more, depending on how much contemplation you do during the process. You also have the option to add your own values as needed. In the end, you'll have 5 value cards with descriptions that name and describe key areas that matter to you. 

After you identify your top 5 values, think about how you live those values in your life and how you would like to express those values in your work. Use these as your guideposts as you move on to the next steps. ​

Identify Your Work Strengths

The CliftonStrengths Assessment (previously known as Clifton StrengthsFinder) is a wonderful tool for identifying what you are good at, how that manifests, and how your version of each strength shows up. It not only helps you identify your top strengths but also gives you language to talk about skills you didn't even realize everyone else didn't have.

To access this assessment, you can purchase the StrengthsFinder 2.0 Book (which includes a code for the new CliftonStrengths Online Assessment) or you can directly pay for and access the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment on Gallup.com. Either option should cost around $25 for the basic assessment and results, with the option to purchase additional assessments or training based on your level of interest. 
​
The 30-minute online assessment includes 177 questions including paired statements. On a scale you select which of the statements is more like you. From there, you'll receive a report identifying your top five strengths along with a more detailed description of how those strengths are exhibited in how you interact with the world. Reading a report about yourself (one that is freakishly accurate, by the way) is downright life changing.

After taking the assessment, you'll be able to see your unique talents and have language to explain how what you do sets you apart from others. Having a way to put your abilities into words can translate directly into your resume, and how you talk about who you are and what you bring to the table.

Reflect on Roles and Identify What You Want

Think about your previous jobs and life experiences and reflect on what you liked and didn't like. As yourself the following questions and write down your answers:
​
  • What field or fields would you like to work in?
  • What job titles might be a good fit for you?
  • Are you interested in a full time, part time, contract, or freelance job?
  • How many hours do you want to work a week?
  • What size of company or industry would you like to work for?
  • Would you like a manager role, individual contributor role, or player/coach role (doing both)?
  • What work hours and schedule would you prefer?
  • What salary would you like?
  • How much time off would you like?
  • Would you like to work in-person, part in-person and part remotely (hybrid), or all remote?
  • How many miles/lengths of time would you be comfortable commuting? How often would you want to commute?
  • Would you like to travel for work? If so, how often over what period of time? Driving or flying travel? What travel percentage is ideal for you?
  • What benefits are important to you? What would be nice to have?
  • What focus area(s) would you like to have?
  • What skills would you like to be able to use on a regular basis?
  • What day-to-day activities would you like to do?
  • What do you want the role of your work to be in your life?
  • What is on your “oh hell no” list?

Talk To People In Roles of Interest

One helpful way to find out more about possible career options is to talk to people who are currently in those roles.  By reaching out to individuals in your professional network and asking them to put you in touch with people they know who could help, you can make new connections and find out more. This will help you start to bridge the distance between your skills, and possible job titles and companies that might be a good fit for you. 

Learn More

  • The Layoff Lady: Learning About Yourself to Talk About Your Strengths
  • The Layoff Lady: Learning About Yourself to Tell Your Story: Values
  • ​The Layoff Lady's Ultimate Guide To Answering The Question, "I Just Got Laid Off--Now What Do I Do?"​
  • The Layoff Lady Book: Seven Lessons From Seven Layoffs: A Guide
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Prioritizing Job Applications

4/15/2025

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

So Many Openings!

​Depending on your chosen field, and your preferred work arrangements, there are a lot of jobs for which you could apply. While remote work availability gives each job applicant many more work options, figuring out how to prioritize open positions can be overwhelming.

Here is my recommendation for evaluating open roles and prioritizing which job applications you submit.  

Searching for Available Jobs

In this scenario, we'll look at how someone in a role as a Training Specialist can sort through a the sea of job listings and prioritize which openings should recive applications. 
​
To begin, I searched on Indeed.com for the job title Training Specialist. This search generated these results: 
​
  • 43 jobs listed within 25 miles of Omaha, NE.
  • 588 jobs categorized as remote. 
​
Without superpowers, it is not feasible to apply for 631 jobs in one week. 

Time to Apply and Available Time

Personally, when I decide to apply for a given role, I take about 30 minutes to research the company, customize my resume, and complete my formal application. In a given week, there are 7 days, which is 168 hours. There are not enough hours in a week for me to apply for that many jobs.

Even if I somehow managed not to eat, sleep, or do even the most basic self-care, I could only apply for 336 jobs. 

Closer to the realm of feasibility, if I decided to dedicate a full 40 hours per week solely to applying for jobs, I could apply for 80 jobs—but definitely not well. In addition, working this long and this hard solely on submitting applications can put you on the fast track to burnout. Even half that, dedicating 20 hours solely to applying for jobs, and applying for 40 jobs in a given week, is most likely overkill.

If you're currently in career transition and not working full time, you cuould probably dedicate 20 hours a week to job searching. I would argue, though, that even 20 hours solely focused on applying for jobs is probably more than anyone can do well. If you're currently working full time, I'm guessing that even if you did dedicate 20 hours, your results would not be stellar after working full time and any other non-job searching life activities you decide to take on.

More Is Not Necessarily Better

​The more jobs I try to apply for in rapid succession, the less effective I am. While applying for jobs is in some respects, a numbers game, it’s not as easy as applying to all the jobs and knowing that one will work out. This strategy often causes people to waste time applying for roles that aren't a close enough fit.

A better strategy is to prioritize jobs that are the best match for your skills and what you want and focus on applying for those well. 

When I'm in career transition, my goal is usually to apply for three jobs per week. However, if I see several great opportunities or have not searched for a job in a while, I may apply for as many as six. Beyond that, though, my application quality suffers. ​

Prioritizing Applications

​To apply for jobs well, you need to determine the best way to prioritize your applications. Instead of the “spray and pray” approach, think through what you want and apply with more purpose. This approach favors quality over quantity and will help you focus your efforts on where you can get better overall results for your time investment.

Step 1:  Know Key Characteristics of What You Want

Early in your job search, it’s essential to do at least a little soul-searching and be able to articulate what you want. This may include revisiting your values, identifying your strengths, and thinking about the work you enjoy.
 
For example, earlier career Brenda would have a list something like this on what she wanted from a role:

  • Training specialist or related position.
  • Within 25 miles of home or 100% remote with up to 25% travel.
  • Full-time role with benefits and within my established salary range.
  • Opportunities for promotion and advancement.
  • Working in the software, finance, healthcare, or insurance industry.
  • I would rather focus on training design and delivery than only delivering training that other people have designed.
  • I would prefer not to have my main focus be compliance training, developing eLearning, LMS administration, resolving help desk tickets, writing technical documentation, dealing with customer complaints, or recordkeeping.

Having a stated list of preferences, and continuing to hone it as you learn more, is your first step in determining which jobs to target. 

Step 2: Narrowing Your Search

Let's go back to those 631 search results from my Training Specialist searches. By adding additional search parameters, we can narrow our results to jobs that  more specifically meet our criteria:

Starting with those 43 roles in Omaha: 
  • Specifying a full-time role takes me down to 37 jobs
  • Putting quotes around "Training Specialist" (to specify those actual words need to be in my results) takes me down to 19 jobs
  • Showing only jobs posted within the last two weeks takes me down to 12 jobs

Starting with those 588 remote jobs:
​
  • Specifying a full-time role takes me down to 391 jobs
  • Putting quotes around "Training Specialist" (to specify those actual words need to be in my results) takes me down to 102 jobs
  • Showing only jobs posted within the last two weeks takes me down to 45 jobs

Step 3: Quick Job Listing Review

Now that I have a more reasonable number of jobs to go through (12 and 45--57 total), I start to do a cursory review of the short descriptions of each role. 

No
  • I rule out these jobs because the job titles show the roles are outside of my area of focus: Cement Manufacturing Safety Training Coordinator, Auto Glass Repair Specialist (Paid Training), and Clinical Training Specialist (for a registered nurse).
  • I rule out one because it is a longer commute than I want, one requires a license I do not have (or want to pursue) and one in a field that doesn't interest me. 
  • I rule out a few because the stated salary is significantly outside of my target salary range. 

Yes
  • Those that appeal to me at a glance, I add to TealHQ. Teal is a free service to track jobs, note progress on applications, and make notes on interactions. One feature I especially like with Teal is that when you add a job, it notes keywords included in the job descriptions and any listed salary range.
  • I add jobs including Technical Training Specialist I-III (remote/Hybrid), Commercial Lines Training Specialist, and a few Training Specialist roles.
  • ​For now, I add jobs that interest me into TealHQ. However, I err on the side of adding something for further consideration.

I have now reduced the number of jobs that interest me to 31 roles.

Step 4: More Detailed Job Listing Review

Now that I have those 31 jobs in Teal, I look more closely at the following:
​
  • Identifying the work arrangements (onsite, hybrid, remote) and comments about these within the job description.
  • Ensuring I have the required and many top skills listed.
  • Assessing if the roles look like a good overall fit.
  • Noting any information about salary range.

I remove jobs where I am not eligible. This includes the following:

  • A required credential I don't currently possess or want to pursue.
  • A hybrid role in a state where I do not live. 
  • An organization who can not hire someone who lives in my current state of residence.

I remove jobs with anything that might be a dealbreaker for me. This includes the following:

  • A focus area that doesn't appeal to me.
  • A commute that I won't be happy with longer term. 
  • A job description that asks for a wide variety of skills with a low salary.

For the remaining jobs, I give them an initial rating of 1-5 stars and make notes on any areas I might want to explore further.

I now have 18 jobs in Teal. 

Step 5: A Little More Research

Next, I investigate a few things outside of the immediate job descriptions. 

  • I visit LinkedIn and see if I know anyone with the company who could give me additional information, put in a good word for me, or refer me for a role.
  • For a remote role that doesn't include a list of eligible states, I search LinkedIn to see if the company has employees who are currently living in my state of residence. This may indicate if they can hire people in my state.
  • I follow the company on LinkedIn and anyone involved in the hiring process.
  • I click the apply link to ensure it works, the position is still open, and they are still accepting applications.
  • I do a quick Google News search on the organization to see if and how they show up in the news. 
​
Now, I have 13 jobs In Teal.

Step 6: Customize a Resume and Prepare to Apply

​From the 13 jobs I have listed, I will apply for the jobs I'm most excited about and continue to reassess other openings listed. I will also add, remove, reprioritize, and take notes on specific roles as needed. 

Learn More

  • The Layoff Lady: Career Planning - Figuring Out What You Want To Be Next 
  • TealHQ.com
  • The Layoff Lady's Ultimate Guide To Answering The Question, "I Just Got Laid Off--Now What Do I Do?"​
  • The Layoff Lady Book: Seven Lessons From Seven Layoffs: A Guide​​
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Job Search Challenges: Not Getting Phone Screens

3/18/2025

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Interview Progression Issues

After you apply for a job, your goal is to be selected for an interview. That process usually includes an initial phone screen, one or more face-to-face interviews, then a job offer.

As you progress in your job search, it's important to take time on a regular basis to evaluate what you are doing and see if you need to modify your approach. Let's look at possible ways to proceed if you are not receiving callbacks from employers for initial phone screens.

No Initial Interview Invitations

I’ve seen variations on the following LinkedIn post way too many times: “I’ve applied for 300 jobs over the last six months, and I have only gotten a couple of interviews.” Realize you won’t get a phone screen for every job application you submit, but you should be getting some. If you apply for even 20 jobs and don’t hear anything back from any of them, it’s time to reassess and figure out what you need to change to have more success. 

The first huge step in job searching is getting out of the virtual pile of job applications and into the much more selective “we gotta talk to this one” pile. Taking these steps can help.

Step 1: Identify Your Target Job

Often, people who struggle with getting job interviews need to revisit what they want in a job and target their job search toward that goal. Unfortunately, while applying for as many jobs as possible seems logical, it often backfires. ​Instead, job seekers who identify what they really want, then apply for those roles more closely matching their interests and qualifications get hired sooner. 

Step 2: Realign Goals and Messaging

Another problem shared by people who struggle with job searching is not talking about what they want, their work experience, and their most relevant qualifications. Ensure your resume has a strong Professional Summary highlighting the type of role desired and your value to your target role. 

Step 3: Focus on Fewer Applications

How many applications should you do in a given week? Applying for 300 jobs over six months (26 weeks) is an average of 11.5 applications per week. That is A LOT. When I’m job searching, my weekly goal is three applications per week, and I could submit as many as six per week if I’m driven to apply for a few more roles that look promising. By focusing on fewer job applications, I increase my quality instead of relying too heavily on quantity. 

Step 4: Customize your Resume for Each Application

When I decide to apply for a role, I take 15-30 minutes per application to customize my resume. Taking this extra time to update my language helps potential employers understand how my skill set aligns directly with what they are looking for in a candidate. Ensuring the right keywords are present for an Automated Tracking System (ATS) and for the recruiter who initially reviews each resume will give you a better chance of being selected for a phone screen.

To make these updates efficiently and effectively, I focus on two sections: Professional Summary and Skills & Competencies. Check out the Learn More section for additional information on strategies for customizing your resume. 

Learn More

  • The Layoff Lady: Prioritizing Job Applications
  • The Layoff Lady: Career Planning - Figuring Out What You Want To Be Next ​
  • The LayoffLady: Customizing Your Resume for Each Job Application
  • ​​The Layoff Lady's Ultimate Guide To Answering The Question, "I Just Got Laid Off--Now What Do I Do?"​
  • The Layoff Lady Book: Seven Lessons From Seven Layoffs: A Guide​​​
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Managing Job Search Rejection

2/18/2025

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Rejection and Negative Emotions

Searching for a new role is a rough process riddled with rejection, which is never pleasant.

If you're in a post-layoff career transition, It starts with your former employer kicking you out of the whole company and, in essence, saying, “You are no longer one of us.” At every step of the way, you’ll experience people telling you no in a variety of ways--and it hits hard since you're navigating so much uncertainty and so many life changes. 

Even if you are currently employed, job searching and the associated rejection is still no picnic. You're also dealing with the uncertainty of knowing how long it will take to find something new and the challenge of doing passable work at your current job while not knowing how long you'll be in limbo. 

Here is how that rejection may look.

 Applying for a job and:

  • Hearing the booming emptiness of no reply at all.
  • Receiving a rejection email in what feels like moments after hitting submit. 
  • Seeing that role repeatedly reposted as if to say, “We can’t find anyone—but certainly not you.” 

Having what felt like a great interview for a job and:

  • Hearing a fat lot of nothing back. Ever.
  • Finding out the job is on hold, they made an internal hire, or they went with another candidate.
  • Receiving a canned “thanks, but no thanks” email months after your last conversation.

Receiving a job offer and:

  • Seeing that the pay rate is significantly below the salary range you had discussed.
  • After a long delay, receiving an offer with the demand that you accept immediately and start right away. 
  • Wishing it was from another company for a different role.

Accepting a job offer and:

  • Hearing nothing from your new employer about the details of your first week. 
  • Getting a last-minute call from the recruiter that your start date has been postponed. 
  • Having the offer rescinded due to company changes.

​The Necessity of Experiencing Your Emotions

Because of all of the uncertainty and rejection, this whole process can be a lot to bear. It’s hard to keep going when there are obstacles at every turn. Sometimes, even well-intentioned people who are genuinely trying to be supportive ask just the wrong question and make you feel even worse. 

It is paramount that you experience your emotions, then manage your mindset so you don’t let your feelings make the already complicated process of finding a new job even harder.

Coping Strategies

Here are a few ideas to help you work through the unpleasant emotions that will pop up during your quest for a new role. 

Acknowledge Each Emotion

Befriend your feelings. Don’t pretend that you don’t feel how you do. Name them, acknowledge them, and then move on. Pretending those unpleasant feelings don’t exist will not make them disappear. Instead, it may silence them for a bit, but they will pop up later, usually at the worst possible time. Acknowledging each one will help them run their course–and also help you to increase your ability to manage the ups and downs of this process.

Wallow a Little

It’s impossible to will yourself into feeling better. Sometimes, you need to just sit with an uncomfortable feeling for a while and let it run its course. Cry a little. Rewatch your favorite movie for the bijillionth time. Have a little ice cream. Do a puzzle. Take a walk. Take the afternoon off from your to-do list. Some will run their course more quickly than others. 

Research The Problem 

​If you’re worried about something, researching answers and managing your expectations often helps. How many job applications does it typically take to get an interview? How long does it take most people to find a new role post-layoff? Which companies are hiring? You'll probably feel a little better by researching options, clarifying goals, and taking useful action.

​Even if you don’t find a complete solution, you at least know more. Having added knowledge will help you worry less or at least direct your worry toward taking productive action that will help you solve a problem.

Take a Social Media Break

Social media, specifically LinkedIn, can be a great job search tool. Unfortunately, it can also give you the illusion that everyone else is doing great and you are downright hopeless. Posts like “It only took me a week to find my dream job,” or "I just got an awesome job (aka the one you were interviewing for)," “I’m still employed but I feel SO BAD for my former coworkers who are jobless,” or “Every company ever is doing more layoffs (which means more competition for each job)” will only make you feel worse. Remind yourself that social media isn’t real life and disengage. 

Leverage Basic Self Care

When everything feels hard, taking care of yourself needs to be your top priority. Here are a few quick and easy ideas to make you feel almost instantly better: 
  • Breathe.
  • Drink water. 
  • Eat regularly.
  • Rest.
  • Shower.
  • Take a break.
  • Move your body.
  • Go outside.

Learn More

  • ​Podcast Appearance: Unfiltered Unspoken Connecting Through Life Experiences: Finding Hope After Layoffs, Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady
  • The Layoff Lady's Ultimate Guide To Answering The Question, "I Just Got Laid Off--Now What Do I Do?"​
  • The Layoff Lady Book: Seven Lessons From Seven Layoffs: A Guide​
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