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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: 
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  • 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: 
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  • 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:
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  • 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:
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  • 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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Managing Your Money: Layoff Survival Budget Goals and Managing Expenses

4/22/2025

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Post-Layoff Changes

When your “day job ends,” many things in your financial life change. For one, what is for many people their primary source of income, ends. This often prompts a quick shift to a short-term "survival" mindset that will last from the layoff event until the first paycheck from that new job arrives. 

Let's talk about your new financial goals and how to manage expenses.   

Disclaimer: (You know there has to be one of these now that we're talking about topics like personal finances and health insurance.)

While I know quite a bit based on my previous work experience supporting financial coaches, my own research, and my personal life experiences, I do not currently hold a license or certification to give financial advice. Therefore, the information provided here is educational information provided as guidance.

I hope you can glean value from my lessons learned. Feel free to take my recommendations or not—but whatever you do, double-check my facts (and everyone's facts, for that matter). This is your life, and you will care more about your finances and health care than anyone else. With that, read on. 

Employed Financial Goals

When gainfully employed, your household financial goals may look like this: 
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  • Pay monthly bills on time and in full.
  • Spend money on things that you need and enjoy.
  • Save in a Health Savings Account (HSA).
  • Save for retirement.
  • Pay down debt.
  • Give to causes you care about.
  • Save for short and long-term goals. 

Typically, goals include living within your means and spending/saving/giving money in line with your values and financial priorities. When things are going "as normal," you probably have the capacity to think about current activities and consider what is possible in the future.

Layoff Financial Goals

During a career transition, financial priorities shift from being proactive to focusing on the here and now. The goal is to get through the next one to six months with as few adverse effects as possible. Here are my recommendations for crucial goals to keep in mind during a period of reduced income and job transition: 
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  • Pay monthly bills on time and in full (or make other arrangements).
  • Prioritize money on things that you need in the short term.
  • Find ways to enjoy your life that have a smaller price tag.
  • Minimize and delay expenses.
  • Preserve your credit score.
  • Tap savings as needed. 
  • Minimize the amount of debt incurred.

​While navigating post-layoff unemployment, the goal is to make it through with as few bumps and bruises as possible. Instead of trying to pay off a previous purchase or save for a goal, you will probably leave any “extra” money in your checking account just in case. 

Paring Down Expenses

This is also a good time to see what expenses you can pare down in the short term to ensure that the money you do have lasts a little longer. Here are a few ideas:
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  • Review monthly bills and see what you can minimize, stop for a while, find a better deal, or delay.  
  • Plan meals and buy groceries more mindfully to minimize waste.
  • Make fewer restaurant trips and do more cooking at home.
  • Meet people more often for coffee or a drink than dinner.
  • Cut back on subscriptions (tv, music, audiobooks).
  • Do more outdoor activities and YouTube exercise videos, and fewer gyms and in-person classes.
  • Take fewer flying vacations and more day drives to local destinations or overnight trips to stay with friends and family. 

Prioritizing Expenses

Here is a recommendation for prioritizing which bills you pay when money is tight:
  • Rent or mortgage payments
  • Transportation
  • Phone
  • Utilities: electricity, gas, heat
  • Food (which is lower on the list because food help is more readily available)
  • Minimum payments on debt

What To Do If You Can't Pay

If you can’t pay your bills, call the company and discuss how to make arrangements. Instead of just plain NOT paying a bill, make a phone call. I know this can be hard and humbling, but it is important to figure out a plan. Remember, you're not the first person to be in a position where they had an unexpected job loss and needed to figure out alternatives. It is also to the company's advantage to work with you. It's in the company's interest to help you stay on track as a customer than for them to spend the time and staffing on repossessing items or turning off and on utilities. Help them help you.

Making this call also helps minimize damage to your credit score (which could even impact your ability to find work sometimes). Be sure to call right away when you start to have issues instead of waiting until you have a lot of issues. I encourage you to call when you worry abouat having a hard time making one mortgage payment instead of waiting until you are months behind. Remember, though, even if you have waited, MAKE THAT CALL! 

When working with a company on making payment arrangements, you may be able to defer payments, figure out a payment plan, take advantage of a company-sponsored program, or find a government-sponsored program to help you during a hard time. County, faith-based organizations, and non-profits may be able to help you, too. Whether you need help paying for gas, food, transportation, or utilities, make sure to use the available resources.

Learn More

  • myFico.com: What’s in my FICO score? 
  • ​ConsumerFinance.gov: What To Do If You Can’t Pay Your Bills 
  • The Layoff Lady: Managing Your Money - Layoff Survival Budget Sources of Income
  • 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: 
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  • 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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Three Questions Your Resume Should Answer

4/8/2025

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​By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Resume Observations

Recently, I have talked with several colleagues who are proactively updating their resumes just in case. After we chat about what kind of a position interests them, I often share a few additional tips about how to customize a resume to apply for a specific job. 

​As a many-time hiring manager, I have seen lots of bad and lots of sort-of-okay, and just a few resumes that were really, really good. For me, a resume needs to answer three fundamental questions in order to position the candidate for success. Having a resume that addresses each of these will help get you out of the no pile and into the “I am excited to talk with them” pile.

Question 1: Does This Person Want This Job?

In a previous job working at a software company, I was working on filling an instructional designer position on my team. I received one resume where the person’s career objective stated that they wanted to be a curator at a museum. The good news: this person knew what they wanted and made it clear in their resume. The bad news: I was not searching for a museum curator.

Most (like maybe a good half) of resumes that end up in the “no” pile are so nondescript that they could be applying for any number of office positions. Once, when I was hiring for a technical trainer position, I received a resume for someone with a lot of experience working as a corrections officer. The good news: this person had many potentially transferable skills. The bad news: I didn’t know if this person was interested in this particular role or was mass applying for anything that wasn’t their current job.

​Overall, make sure you customize your resume just enough so the hiring manager can see that you are interested in the role they have available. Given how costly a bad hire can be, help the hiring manager (and your chances at getting an interview) by reassuring them you applied for their opening on purpose. 

Question 2: Can This Person Do The Job?

Once I know a given candidate wants the job, I look for indicators that the person has the skills to do the job. Some candidates’ work experience is neat and tidy and points logically toward the open role. For example, they were a call center representative, then a senior call center representative, then a call center supervisor, then a call center manager. If they were applying for a call center manager position, from their job titles alone, I could be reasonably sure they could do the job. 

If the candidate did not have obvious work experience in a similar role, I need them to help me connect the dots. I’d expect them to explain to me how their previous education and jobs prepared them for this role. For example, if I’m hiring for an instructional designer position, the job description might include “collaborate with subject matter experts to create learning materials for client-facing courses.”

If someone with a background as a teacher applies, I need them to help me understand how their previous work experience relates to the available position. For example, they might include “collaborated with subject matter experts in the media center to create learning materials for a course for parents on encouraging their children to read more.” Without emphasizing those transferable skills, I might not realize they could perform the required tasks. Help the hiring manager by making the tie between your skills and the role for which you are applying clear.

Question 3: If I Hire Them, Will They Stick Around?

Filling an open position can take a long time and is a huge gamble. The goal is to find someone who wants the job, can do it, and will want to be in that position (or a part of your organization) for a good long time.

This part of resume assessment is teeing up the phone screen and helping me determine the questions I need to ask. For example, will this salary be in line with their desired salary range? Will they be happy working from the office or working from home for the amount required? Will they work well with this organization's structure and formality level? Will they want to travel as much (or as little) as is needed with this job? Are they going to be happy managing or not managing people? As a hiring manager, details in the resume are helpful as a starting point for those questions. 

Sharing information on what you want in a role, and drawing comparisons between the role you're applying for and what you want, will help make this process easier for all involved. 

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 Book: Seven Lessons From Seven Layoffs: A Guide​​
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Time Saving Tips for Customizing Your Resume For Each Job Application

4/1/2025

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

A Resume for Each Job? Won't That Take Forever?

When applying for jobs, customizing each resume is one way to help you stand out. Unfortunately, it’s easy to spend a lot of time and effort updating your resume. Check out these shortcuts for customizing your resume that can save you time and improve your impact.

Identifying Your Target Role

When applying for jobs, an important first step is to know what specifically you are looking for in your next job--your target role. This includes details like your desired job title(s), industries, core work responsibilities, geographic location, day-to-day responsibilities, pay rate, and work arrangements (onsite, remote, hybrid).

​If you don't have a clear idea of what your target job looks like, it makes everything else harder. I encourage you to dedicate time to figuring out what you want. This action alone will help you be more efficient as you search for open positions, determine what to apply for, create your target job resume, and apply for specific jobs.

During a previous job search, these were key components of my target role:
​
  • Full-time Learning Consultant role at a company in the fields of software/healthcare/finance
  • 100% remote or hybrid in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area
  • Managing learning projects, completing needs assessments, designing comprehensive training programs for customers and employees 

Create a Target Job Resume

Start by creating a resume aligned with your target job. To be clear, this IS NOT the resume you submit each time you apply for a job. Instead, this target job resume is the one you start with and customize just a bit for each job application. You could also share your target job resume with those people who say, "Can you send me your resume?" who may not have a specific job description to share.
​
Overall, this resume should be a solid representation of your skills, the type of work you do, and the unique value you would bring to a new role. Your target job resume should also include keywords commonly appearing in job descriptions for the type of work you do.

Target Job Resume: Professional Summary Section

Start your target job resume with a professional summary. The goal of this section is to give the reader a quick overview of the value you bring to the position. This summary includes a few sentences that summarize who you are, what drives you, and how those factors align with an available role. This is also an opportunity to highlight important keywords that will resonate with employers.

During a previous job search, this was my Professional Summary:

Proactive learning consultant driven to help organizations succeed. Thrives when partnering with leaders and stakeholders to improve performance. Able to think strategically and execute tactically while managing multiple projects. Committed to constant learning, continuous improvement, and delivering training that drives results.​

Target Job Resume: Relevant Skills Section

Think about the skills employers typically ask for in your area of expertise. Make a list of those commonly used skills that keep popping up in job descriptions that interest you. Prioritize the ones that you really want the hiring team to know about. Include those in your Relevant Skills section near the top of your target job resume. 

During a previous job search, I listed these keywords as my Relevant Skills: 
​
​Blended Learning, Coaching, Collaboration, Communications, Consulting, Facilitation, Instructional Design, Needs Analysis, Onboarding, Project Management, Relationship Building, Strategy, Video Production

Target Job Resume: Work Experience Details

For each of your previous roles, be sure to outline specific projects on which you worked and the results of your efforts. In those bullet points on your target job resume, use the words you’ve seen in job descriptions. Be sure to include a wide variety of keywords to help even the least experienced recruiter see the tie between what you describe and the skills the employer wants.

During a previous job search, I included these keywords in my description of core responsibilities for my previous roles:
​
  • Implemented a knowledge management strategy for a fast-paced B2B company. Drove platform adoption, standardized training materials, leveraged best practices, and managed a remote team of 5-8.
​
  • Developed a blended learning solution to onboard new SaaS customers. Incorporated virtual instructor-led training (VILT), eLearning, hands-on practice, and post-class assessments. Decreased instructor classroom time, customer wait time, and implementation project length.
​​
  • Managed enterprise-wide training initiatives: producing a library of best-in-class microlearning videos, implementing a Digital Adaption Platform (DAP) for in-tool software support, and creating online user communities based on personas. 

The words in bold are keywords pulled from relevant job descriptions. 

Throughout my resume, I use as many variations of industry-standard words as I can. For example, the terms learning experience design, instructional design, and curriculum design are often used to describe the same set of skills. Instead of using the same term all the time, I alternate between these three to include a company's preferred term. ​

When You Might Share Your Target Job Resume

Once you have your target job resume completed, save a copy of it as a .pdf with a file name that includes your first and last name and the word "resume." For example, I would save mine as Brenda L. Peterson Resume. Now, if someone asks you for "your resume" with no specific job title in mind, you have a resume that is a good representation of you. In most cases, though, you will share a slightly different version of your resume for each job that interests you.

Creating an Application Resume: Save As 

Now that you have a target job resume in good shape, make sure the editable copy of your target job resume with a file name that includes your first and last name and the words "target job resume." For example, I would save mine as Brenda L. Peterson Target Job Resume.

Now, when you apply for a new role, you’ll start by opening your editable job target resume document and then saving it under a new file name that specifies the role for which you are applying. For example, I would save my application resume as Brenda L. Peterson, Lead Learning Consultant at Super Cool Company. This way, I still have my target job resume and a specific application resume to use for this job application. 

From Target Job Resume to Application Resume

Now you have a solid target job resume with the right sections and a wide variety of relevant keywords. When you are ready to apply for a specific job, start with the editable version of your resume. Remember, your resume is 80-90% ready. Now, you will focus on customizing two key sections before submitting an application: Professional Summary and Relevant Skills.

Application Resume: Professional Summary Section

From here, use the language in the job description to tailor your resume for this role. Since you already have a framework in place for how you write this section, now you can modify the exact wording to make it even more applicable to the job. In this example, I will customize my Professional Summary Section to align with the language used in the job description for a Lead Learning Consultant role. 

Here is the Professional Summary section from my target job resume:

Proactive learning consultant driven to help organizations succeed. Thrives when partnering with leaders and stakeholders to improve performance. Able to think strategically and execute tactically while managing multiple projects. Committed to constant learning, continuous improvement, and delivering training that drives results.​

Here is the updated Professional Summary section for my application resume for the Lead Learning Consultant role:

High-performing lead learning consultant who thrives when delivering engaging employee performance solutions. Excels when partnering with internal and external stakeholders to design innovative talent management programs. Able to think strategically and execute tactically while managing multiple projects. Committed to constant learning, continuous improvement, and delivering talent initiatives that drive engagement.

The sentiment is similar, but now I'm conveying my value add using the employer’s words to describe this position. Note the bolded words were pulled directly from the job description. 

Application Resume: Relevant Skills Section

Now, it's time to customize the Relevant Skills Section to include keywords from a listing for a specific opening. In this example, I will update my language to align with the terms in the Lead Learning Consultant role job description. 

Here is the Relevant Skills section from my target job resume:
​
​Blended Learning, Coaching, Collaboration, Communications, Consulting, Facilitation, Instructional Design, Needs Analysis, Onboarding, Project Management, Relationship Building, Strategy, Video Production
​
Here is the updated Relevant Skills section for my application resume for the Lead Learning Consultant role:

​Blended Learning Solutions, Employee Coaching, Collaboration, Communication Skills, Consulting, Facilitation, Curriculum Design, New Hire Onboarding, Project Management, Relationship Building, Strategy, Talent Management Programs

To mirror language the company used, I added "solutions" to blended learning, changed "instructional" to "curriculum", and added a few terms emphasized in the original job posting to this list. Realize these skills are also included in bulleted points for each role. This is just another opportunity to help the recruiter align the skills needed with the words listed in the job description. 

Finalizing Your Application Resume: Save As .pdf

Once you have your application resume completed, save a copy of it as a .pdf with the same file name, in my example, Brenda L. Peterson, Lead Learning Consultant at Super Cool Company. Now, you can submit your application resume to the company along with other details they request. 

What Do You Think?

Do you customize a resume for each role? What are your tips, tricks, and strategies? Include your thoughts in the comments. 

Learn More

  • The Layoff Lady: Career Planning - Figuring Out What You Want To Be Next 
  • The Layoff Lady: Prioritizing Job Applications
  • 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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Examining Your Energy to Fight Burnout

3/25/2025

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By Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Energy Management Beats Time Management

Many people equate productivity with making progress on a task list. When you're going through a trying time, everything can feel harder. Whether you are navigating family drama, work burnout, or a post-layoff job search, there will be times when you can't just "buckle down" and get things done--no matter how efficient your to-do list is. Managing your energy levels, not just your ever-growing task list is the key to making progress. 

Reflect on Factors Influenging Your Energy Levels

As you think about how to spend your time, learn about yourself and when you will be the most productive and happiest with each activity. I interact with LinkedIn posts during my first cup of coffee, enjoy afternoon walks, and do yoga at night before bed. There are no absolute right or wrong times for many things, just ones that are a better fit for you. 

Your Most and Least Productive Times of Day

Take time to reflect on your most and least productive times. Use these questions as a starting point: 
​
  • Are you a morning person, a night person, or somewhere in between?
  • What time of day do you seem to get the most done?
  • Do you think about something for a while before doing it, or do you jump right in?
  • What tasks take you very little time? What tasks seem to take a long time?
  • Do you prefer to work on the same task for while? Or do you prefer switching between tasks regularly? 
  • How much structured time do you need? How much unstructured time do you need?

​Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, just what is true for you.

Factors Influencing Your Energy Levels

In addition, reflect on the following factors and their impact on your energy levels:
  • ​How do you feel when you have too much or too little social contact?
  • How do you feel when you have too much or too little time at home? 
  • How do you feel when you have too many or too few new experiences?
  • How do you feel when you have too much or too little routine?

​Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, just what is true for you.​

Patterns for Energy Builders and Energy Depleters

Based on your responses to those questions, you may have identified factors that energize you and those that deplete you. 

  • For me, I am energized by having enough alone time, having time to think about a task before doing it, and having a balance of unstructured and structured time. 
  • I also know that I am depleted when I have too much structured time, too little time at home, and too many new experiences all at once. 

Knowing these things about myself helps me know how to organize my time to maximize my energy.  Letting family and friends know what I need also helps them understand and support me as I work towards my goals. 

Self Care Builds Energy

After you identify your energy depleters, here are a few steps you can take to build your energy:

  • Basic self-care: eating, drinking water, showering, walking outside, breathing deeply, and stretching can help make you feel better almost immediately. 
  • Accomplishing something: sending an email, making a phone call, paying a bill, or wiping down your kitchen counters will help you feel like you made even the most minor contribution to the world today. There is something inherently satisfying about crossing one task off of your list.
  • Changing it up: taking breaks, going to a different grocery store, walking in a new place, driving a different route as you run errands, working from your kitchen table, or doing whatever you can to add newness to your daily routine.
  • Recovering: sleeping, walking in nature, watching a movie you’ve seen before, reflecting on your day, playing games, journaling, and meditating are all great ways to heal.

Leverage Your Energy To Achieve More

When I identify my energy patterns and take steps to recover when needed, I have more capacity. Having my energy in a good place helps me accomplish more in less time. Then, I can leverage my to-do lists and make real progress towards my goals.

Learn More

  • The Layoff Lady: The Secret To Time Management
  • ​​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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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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