Layoff Lesson Seven: Assess, Adapt, and Rise Above.

By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

​About The Seven Layoff Lessons

Through my seven layoffs and many conversations with others in post-layoff career transition, I have learned seven core lessons:
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• Lesson One: Experience your emotions and manage your mindset. 
• Lesson Two: Keep your mind on your money (and your money on your mind).
• Lesson Three: Ask yourself, “What do I want to be next?”
• Lesson Four: Shape and share your story.
• Lesson Five: Help people help you.
• Lesson Six: Examine your energy to take control of your time. 
• Lesson Seven: Assess, adapt, and rise above.

About Layoff Lesson Seven: Assess, Adapt, and Rise Above

When you’re searching for a new job, there are always challenges. Like with any system you put in place to solve a problem, it’s helpful to compare the actions you’ve been taking to your results. It's valuable to review where you are getting stuck during the hiring process and updating what you're doing so you can see more success. Let's look at some of the challenges you might face. 

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, and then a job offer. Let’s look at possible places you might get stuck and how to evolve your approach. 

• Not getting phone screens: It's time to revisit your target job and resume to make sure they are in alignment. 
• Not getting a face-to-face interviews:  It’s time to up your phone screen game and practice answers to common interview questions.
• Not getting offers: First, celebrate the progress you're making. Second, revisit your answers to interview questions and practice to hone your skills. 

Additional Job Search Challenges

Even when you have good results with your overall job search and hear back from companies on specific roles, you’ll still face challenges. Let’s look at a few:
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• Not being selected to interview for “The Perfect Job”: No matter how great the job seems, many factors impact who they interview.
• Falling in love with a job: Spoiler alert - it's not your job until you are actually getting a paycheck for your work.
• Assessments and project work: You have to decide how much "free work" you are willing to do for a job you don't yet have.
• The process is all over the place: You have to decide how much company disorganization you're okay with.
• Job offer rescinded: Sometimes job offers evaporate. Knowing it's possible and planning accordingly is important. 

You are the CEO of You

At the end of the day, remember your role as the CEO of You and make a decision that aligns with your overall career and life goals. That might mean adjusting your requirements as your search goes on or holding out for what you really want. You get to decide what matters most to you and change your mind as needed. 

For The Whole Story

For all the information on each of the seven lessons pick up a copy of my book  Seven Lessons From Seven Layoffs: A Guide. ​​​

​Learn More

• ​The Layoff Lady: About My Seven Lessons From Seven Layoffs
• ​​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​