Losing a job can be a challenging and disheartening experience. Knowing how to navigate this process like a pro will make all the difference in moving forward. At Sable Consulting Group, we believe that doors close for a reason - read below to learn how to set yourself up for a new success!

Gather personal belongings, files, and more

No matter how much notice you've been given, you should take immediate action to retrieve any personal belongings at your workplace (especially at your desk!) and get any personal files off of your devices. Of course, we don't recommend opening or saving anything on your work devices not related to your work but things happen!                         

 Additionally, make sure you get copies of any employment contracts, any document or email referring to the job termination, benefits information, and your job description(s) for any roles you've held.

        Why is this important? 

You do not know when your employer will ask you to leave. Even if they've promised a week or two from the time of notice, they are not required to keep that timeline. I've worked with clients who were let go on a Friday afternoon and told to leave immediately or not come in on the following Monday - don't let yourself be in this position!

Reflect on your work

Once you've retrieved your belongings, files, contracts, etc - it's time to seriously reflect on everything you've accomplished while working for this company. One of the biggest patterns I see when working with clients, no matter their level, is a reticence to acknowledge accomplishments that might be useful for their next role. That's why its crucial to write down a comprehensive list of anything you did in your job - it might seem tedious, and you might not need to use or reference some of the things, but its better to see it all in one place to be able to recall during an interview.

Some examples (besides the job duties in your job description, of course):

• Did you take part in serving on any committees, internally or externally?
• Were you responsible for onboarding new employees, or any kind of training?
• Did you give talks or presentations internally or externally?
• Did you suggest a change to a process?
• Have you introduced new philantropy?
• Advocated for something or someone?
• Implemented a new process, software, or way of doing things?
• Win any awards, no matter how minor?

Identify Professional References

Losing a job can trigger a range of emotions, from shock and anger to sadness and fear. When this happens unexpectedly, you probably have a lot of things on your mind and securing references may not one of them - but it needs to be.

• If you're on good terms with your supervisor, approach them to ask if they would consider acting as a professional reference in the future. Most companies require at least 1 supervisory reference, if not 3 depending on your level. Also make sure you get their personal email address and phone number if they are willing. Some references will prefer you use their work emails but these can change if they move on to a new company.
• If you're not sure how your supervisor feels about you, or know that they probably wouldn't give a great reference, I recommend not approaching them at all.
• Identify 1-2 co-workers at any level that you know will speak highly of you and your work. Don't be afraid to ask people that you trained or reported to you directly - potential employers can glean much insight from your work and management style this way.

Optimize your LinkedIn Profile

Every employer uses LinkedIn in some capacity, so if you don't have a strong LinkedIn presence, you probably won't stand out.

Did you know that on average, 8 People Get Employed Per Minute on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn Optimization can be tricky to navigate, so you should consider working with an experienced career coach. But, an easy thing you can do after losing your job is reach out to connections and asking for a recommendation using this platform. Recommendations are highly visible and can give potential employers insight into how you are as an employee, boss, etc.

Create a Job Search Roadmap

• Create a pros/cons list for each job you've held - don't leave anything out, even if you think it's insignificant
• Find common themes
• Decide what factors are non-negotiable for you in your next role - and stick to them!

For example, do you want to work remotely? work only 4 days a week? Be an individual contributor but not a manager?

Job searches can be a lot like dating, and knowing your needs up front will save you time and headaches.

(by the way, if you're a stationary nerd like me, check out this awesome, inexpensive lined leather journal)

About Amanda:

Amanda held a lucrative career in Staffing, working with hundreds of companies to hire thousands of people. Now, she offers personalized one-on-one career coaching sessions to individuals and consults with companies on talent acquisition projects. Interested in working with Amanda? Visit our scheduling page or email info@sableconsultinggroup.com !