Staying Busy When Laid Off
Recently laid off, what are you doing to stay busy during the day? I know people say treat recruiting as your full time job, but what if you've already reached out to people, applied to every job out there and are waiting for traction?
What else are people doing during the day - reading news, getting outside, exercise, anything else?
Spent 9 months unemployed, recently secured a good job. I know how you feel. As per me, i suggest
Good luck man, hope i was of any help
Thanks, appreciate the comment have been doing most of the list here but discouraging after multiple rejections or they put up a role and never hire anyone.
Mostly network with multiple people and listen to the same "you are doing all the right things and it's a bad market" until I bang my head against a wall.
Yeah it's crazy, appreciate them taking the time but does nothing lol.
Nothing against them because they were gracious enough to take the time, but there's not much else to do when no one is hiring.
Don’t think I have “rice farmer board meetings in Sacramento” on my bingo card.. kudos
As someone who has been laid off three times and each time has found a better opportunity, here is the following advice I can give you which I wish someone gave me:
1. Apply for unemployment - Its easy money. Just take it
2. DO NOT and I REPEAT DO NOT spend your entire day applying. It will spiral you into a bigger depression. Spend 2 hours a day focusing on applying and connecting with others.
3. Go for a walk, workout, or do some exercise. It will make you feel better.
4. As others stated, if you can afford to, take a small vacation. If money is tight given the situation, just go hiking or to the beach, whatever is nearby.
5. Mentally be prepared that every application is a rejection. It sounds silly, but just smile and laugh each time you apply. Trust me on this one.
6. You single? Then just hit up the town and try to find that significant other. You married? Spend time with your wife. Got kids like me? Even better, they're a ton of fun.
The first time I got laid off, I fell into depression. The second time, I managed better, but still disappointed. The third time, I was happy. Each time I got a better opportunity with more money.
Now I expect a layoff around the corner anytime and doesn't faze me one bit. If it were to happen, I wouldn't care. For what its worth, I am glad I got laid off, because if I hadn't, it would have just made me lazy and complacent.
Boy would I love to get a beer with you. I've been laid off three times too. I thought I held the record. It's a special kind of hell
Ha. So I didn't realize I was set to anonymous. But yea crazy journey I have been on. Funny enough, my last firm let go of the majority of our team as their equity capital dried up. I was one of the last people remaining and thought to myself this is not normal, I should have been let go to given my luck. 5 months later I was the last employee to be laid off as they winded down operations.
Apparently I have reached my monthly banana gifting limit (stop taxing me, WallStreetOasis.com I’ve earned this!) but I cannot +1 this comment enough.
Appreciate it. Wish someone gave me this advice when I was younger. Hoping others can learn to not take the world so seriously and stop trying to build their "real estate empire".
This should be pinned somewhere. I will add as another poster above did, to volunteer.
There are so many causes and organizations. Try a bunch and see what you like. It’s an opportunity to build or better a skill, become more aware of the world and meet new people. This can benefit you in so many ways…
You never know where the next opportunity will pop up. FWIW I got into final rounds at a place and the introduction was made through someone I volunteered with. We were just working and chatting and my fellow volunteer was like “I know someone in that field,” and boom!
go get em
Got into really great shape during my first stint of unemployment after college. Agree with this post completely, great tips.
Great post. I have been laid off before and likely getting let go soon, so I feel your pain.
It is super difficult not to spend your entire day applying, browsing LinkedIn and Indeed for any and every job possible. If you're a driven individual being unemployed just starts to feel like unforgivable failure, especially when you start getting rejected for jobs you're overqualified for.
I would echo the other poster that recommended volunteering. I especially found Habitat for Humanity gratifying; it's somewhat real estate adjacent, and working with your hands and swinging a hammer is a good way to get out some frustration. Visualize the person from HR who gave you your packet on every nail and you'll feel better, at least temporarily.
One suggestions I have is to find a therapist if you can afford it, or still have benefits coverage / coverage through a significant other. Layoffs / firings / job changes are super stressful and it is nice to have a professional to talk to instead of a wife / friend / bartender.
Try and put together your own deals.
Actually though
Who threw monkey shit at this comment? 😂 get after it bois
3 of the last 4 jobs I've had were basically created for me through the long-term networking process. i.e. I get to know people over a few months or even a few years, they get an idea of my abilities and interests, and conversations eventually lead to a point where they are like "so we have a need, it's only a 50% overlap with your skillset but you're the type of person we want here, how do we create something that works for everyone." And a couple meetings later there's a job created where I'm the only candidate.
I'm not saying you need to copy that blueprint exactly but the point is, maybe consider some more creative long-term networking or career building types of things rather than just applying to open roles and waiting for traction. If it doesn't pay off soon, it will certainly pay off later.
To be completely honest, "nobody's hiring so you can't do much" doesn't sound like the right mindset to me. I think the right mindset is, there's always someone hiring and you want to work toward becoming the sort of person who is the top candidate for the few jobs available in lean times. Good luck.
Yeah that seems to be how to land a job in today's market. Connecting with people, seems even random roles are posted and taken down but may be something there if you reach out. But also seems super disorganized, why are you posting something if there's not an immediate need or one you can hire for in a month or two. Waste of candidates time then it get's closed and notified they aren't a fit when it was never a real role lol.
Start a fucking business
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