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For Job Seekers

1. Getting in the right mental space

Before you start your search for your next role, make sure to take time for yourself first.

Why it matters

The job hunt can be anxiety inducing enough, without the added complexity and stress of a layoff. To be in tiptop shape when you do start your hunt, take the time you need to process and invest in your self-care.

This is especially important if you’re feeling the stress of added financial burden with lost income, impostor syndrome rearing its head, or negotiating the balance of taking time for yourself and household / caretaking duties.

What to remember

Take care of yourself

⁠

Be kind to yourself⁠

and

practice self-love⁠

. Do what you need to: physically, emotionally, and mentally. If it helps, use

BACE⁠

as a handy acronym to ground yourself.

If you’re BIPOC, this is even more critical because self-care often isn’t necessarily the standard in our communities. As a

friend⁠

reminded me, we’re

taught that being resilient, gritting our teeth, and bearing it⁠

, is how we cope and move forward in our times of distress. But we need self-care now more than ever to fuel our next steps.

Check out our More Resources section below for more on self-care.

You are worthy

Remember how incredible you are, how much you’ve accomplished, the lives you’ve changed, and that this has nothing to do with you.

Don’t rush the process

Give yourself space and time that works for you and your financials to work through the layoff and grieve.

You’ve got this

This is tough, but remember all the other times you’ve persevered - and that so many of us are here to help when you’re ready.

What to do

Invest in

self-care⁠

and

processing⁠

⁠

Remember that self-care and timelines look differently for everyone. Do what works for you and your situation.

Take care of the fundamentals

This includes

asking HR your key questions⁠

and

taking care of your finances⁠

Identify your core support network to lean on

This might be ~5 folks to bounce ideas off of as you work through things.

Establish a

routine⁠

To bring structure to your days,

minimize worry burnout⁠

, and keep yourself going. Set small goals for each day so you’ll be able to measure and see your progress.

What to leverage

Online Counseling: some companies’ severance packages include extended mental health support. Reach out to your HR contacts to confirm and ask for details on how to enroll.

⁠

Headspace Plus⁠

: Headspace is offering a free year of Headspace Plus for those who are unemployed. Check out the site for more details and to sign-up.

⁠