Here's how you can successfully maneuver a layoff in your career.

Layoff is not meant to be a fight between an employer and employee but should be a happy process. To successfully navigate a layoff, I believe you should : - Stay calm and professional - Review severance package and ask questions - Update LinkedIn and online profiles - Reach out to network and connections - Explore new job opportunities - Consider career coaching or counseling - Take care of physical and mental health - Stay positive and focus on next steps Remember, a layoff is a transition, not a definition of your worth or career.

1. Reflect and Strategize. Evaluate your skills, experiences, and achievements. Identify what you want in your next job. 2. Update Your Contact Information 3. If you’re changing careers, an objective statement can clarify your new career direction. 4. Highlight Recent Experience to include duration of employment and include all possible achievements in the workplace 5. Address the Layoff if relevant, e.g. include a brief note about the layoff in your experience section (e.g., “Company-wide reduction in workforce”). Emphasize what you accomplished and learned during your tenure. 6. Add New Skills and Certifications 7. Include Volunteer Work or Freelance Projects 8. Proofread and Get Feedback from friends or colleagues

Don't limit your network to just your current industry. Think broadly! Sarah (not her real name), a marketing manager laid off from a Financial Services company, found her next role in the non-profit sector. She had always volunteered with animal shelters, building a network of contacts in that world. When she lost her job, she reached out to these connections, sharing her skills and passion. This led to an unexpected opportunity, proving that networking beyond your immediate field can open doors you never imagined. Sometimes, right place right time can be the recipe for a favourable outcome!

It is also the responsibility of peers to support when the networking approach is made. Important to seek out for each other.

Take the time to upskill yourself, and develop an appetite for continuous professional development. This will help in avoiding a layoff situation and will keep you relevant to the industry needs.

Volunteering is also a very powerful medium of networking, use your volunteering time to network, also to upskill. Articulating your learnings and adding them in your resume / CV is highly recommended.