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How To Recover From A Job Layoff

Forbes Coaches Council
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Forbes Coaches Council

If you work in the corporate world, chances are, at some point, you'll get laid off. But how do you bounce back quickly and explain the situation during a new job search?

Many worry that a layoff, or multiple layoffs, could play poorly for future job prospects. According to several members of Forbes Coaches Council, however, there are some simple fixes. To start with, you need to reformat your resume, be transparent about your situation, and align your talents with the job you want. Only then can you strategically position yourself to get back in the game. 

Clockwise from top left: Ariel Lopez, Geoff Coon, Scot Herrick, Jessica Miller-Merrell, Jen Kelchner, Carmen Bolanos, Barbara Safani, Wendi Weiner. All photos courtesy of the members.

1. Be Transparent and Highlight What You Want Them to See

Don't think of your resume as a synopsis of your work experience but more as a marketing and branding piece. In order to control how you articulate and share your story, make sure you include a strong personal or objective statement explaining who you are professionally and personally. Also, make your direct skills prominent (move them to the top of the page) to highlight areas of expertise. — Ariel Lopez2020Shift

2. Align Yourself With This Opportunity

If you've been separated multiple times due to no fault of your own, the most important thing to remind yourself is that you aren't the only one! Layoffs happen. It is a fact of employment. The key part is getting companies to see so much value in you as the overall candidate, that they have to bring you in for an interview. Align yourself closely to the target role and address head on in the interview. — Geoff CoonResume Platform, LLC

3. Document Business Results

What hiring managers want are people who can help the manager achieve their business goals and fit into the team. The key, then, is to ensure your business results from your work are on your resume, visible to a hiring manager. Produce the results, put them on your resume, and then focus on the results during your interviews — not the layoffs. — Scot HerrickCube Rules, LLC

Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?

4. Showcase Your Talents; Minimize Your Faults

Think about your career like a product. Focus on features and benefits that will sell you best. Use features in the form of a bulleted list at the beginning of your resume. Focus on specific accomplishments using numbers and results-based data that demonstrate your expertise. Get referrals and introductions directly to the hiring manager before they view your cover letter and resume. — Jessica Miller-MerrellBlogging4Jobs

5. Know What You Bring to the Table

Take the time to do a personal inventory list including personal experiences you've overcome in life, any unpaid or volunteer work, and finally your natural gifts and talents. You will see what makes you a great asset for an employer. It also boosts your confidence. Remember you are not a resume and your history is rich — draw from it! — Jen KelchnerKelchner Advisory

6. Consider a Skills-Based Resume

Consider creating a skills-based resume.  Group your resume according to various skills you have acquired during your career. You can list the places and situations where you acquired them without having to list the time periods during which you worked in each place. Of course, be sure to highlight skills that are most relevant to the job for which you are applying. — Carmen BolanosCarmen Bolanos Coaching

7. Be Transparent

Explain the reasons for the short-term employment right on the resume. Include a brief explanation following the employment dates such as, "position downsized" or "company closed." When you don't explain the reason for the transition, your reader draws their own conclusion, and it is usually not favorable towards the candidate. — Barbara SafaniCareer Solvers

8. Opt for a Functional Format Resume

A functional format resume is most often the right strategy for candidates who have gaps in employment, short work histories, or are making a career change. A functional format resume frontloads key and core skills ahead of the chronological work history. This strategy enables the reader to be more focused on the abilities of the candidate rather than on the short dates of employment. — Wendi Weiner, JD, NCRW, CPRW, CCMThe Writing Guru