Member-only story
When I was laid off in 2017, I worried about how I would deal with the transition of not working and how it would impact my self-confidence. In looking back, I realized that there were several things that I had either consciously or subconsciously done for years that not only helped me prepare for this unexpected life change but also helped me thrive afterwards.
First tip, network.
Many people dread networking because they equate it with schmoozing over awkward coffee dates. But networking is essentially about fostering relationships. And it is most effective when you’re not looking to receive anything. When you currently have a job, it relieves the pressure of meeting someone and you can sincerely say that you simply want to get to know him/her because you think he/she is awesome. Effective networking doesn’t even have to be in person. No matter how busy we are, we can all spend 30 seconds writing a 2 sentence email to someone in our network to say hi, share an interesting article or offer congratulations on a promotion. Once you have established authentic relationships, if you do ever get laid off or if you’re looking for other opportunities, reaching out to your network will feel much more organic.
