Ron's Corner: 5 Lessons Learned from Being Laid Off
EXP Board Member and Alumni and Young Adult Committee Chair Ron Roberts, Jr. is a self-labeled “Career & College Planning Partner,” drawing on more than 16 years as a college career advisor, corporate recruiter, and youth nonprofit consultant. Learn more about Ron on his website, Career Intelligence for Young Leaders, and connect with him on LinkedIn.
As you are likely aware, there have been a tsunami of mass layoffs this year. The tech industry (e.g. Meta, Google, Amazon) has noticeably laid off thousands of employees. However, many non-tech companies (most notably Disney) have conducted their own mass layoffs. If you have ever had the misfortune of being laid off from a job, you know how shocking, paralyzing and humbling this experience can be. I am not proud to admit that I have experienced multiple layoffs in my career. However, no matter how painful these experiences were, there were valuable lessons that I gleaned from each one which I will now pass on to you.
Lesson #1: Prepare for Change
My first job layoff surprised me, but it really should not have. I should have expected it, based on the changes in our department leadership, previous layoffs on our team, and the fact that I was not really a strong performer. This experience was my first indicator that when there is a change at the top of a company (or department in this case), there is a good chance there will be changes at lower levels.
Lesson #2: A Layoff Can Be a Blessing in Disguise
As devastating as my first layoff was, I would soon learn that it was a good thing because my next job was a whole lot better. I went from a dysfunctional, toxic work environment to one where my work was appreciated. It was in this next job that I would discover my passion for career advising!
Lesson #3: Sometimes a Layoff Has Nothing to Do with Your Performance
My first layoff was surprising. The second was a real sucker punch. As you’ve read, my first layoff taught me to be a better employee in order to retain my job. I eventually became a top performer for the department I was now in. This false sense of security caused me to ignore Lesson #1, and I did not expect the change in top leadership to affect me. One day I was called in to meet with my boss and her boss, and I thought my obviously strong performance was leading me to a promotion. I could not believe my ears when I was told instead that I was being laid off. I lost my job not due to poor performance this time, but due to a multi-department reorganization.
The upside was that my strong performance prompted the leadership to help me land my next job which wound up being yet another blessing.
Lesson #4: Always Have Your Resume Prepared (And LinkedIn Up to Date)
Although my second layoff threw me for a loop, I did have my resume polished and ready to go based on lessons from the first layoff. Having an updated resume fueled my confidence for another job search.
Lesson #5: Don’t Ever Lose Sight of Your Professional Value
My third layoff led to a long-term career spiral, and ultimately the loss of my professional confidence. I was once a workplace superstar and then eventually dwindled to being professionally homeless. The loss of my confidence sabotaged my job search motivation and success. Fortunately, I got back on my feet and eventually landed a job where I was able to shine once again and gradually regain my professional confidence.
Job or no job, we always have the ability to contribute value to others – it is just a matter of maintaining this belief, finding ways to communicate your value and better identifying the employers that will recognize your value and pay you for it.