Você foi demitido. Como transformar esse revés em uma oportunidade de carreira?

Recent events have shown us that even members of the British Royal Family can be laid off (hello, Prince Andrew!). No one is immune to lay-offs. Even those who are great at their jobs (not Prince Andrew.) A lay-off can teach you what success does not: . You are always in the process of leaving or losing your job. . You need to prepare yourself financially and emotionally for that which is an inevitability. . Just as you do with paying off your mortgage, funding your kids' education or planning for a comfortable retirement, you need to plan for your career in a similar way. A short term cushion, a long term "wealth" of networking/good will/ reputational equity.

Tough pill to swallow that Layoffs have become normalised ever since startup bubble bursted after the dotcom, nbfc bubble. While our education & employment market still operates conventionally on degrees, it’s a pivotal moment to make mindset shift individually towards having portfolio of career or portfolio of skills. That passion project / side hustle may now not be a retirement dream but a parallel career. Build skills, transpose hobby into gigs that people pay for, invest, teach, build community simultaneously. I m not advocating moonlighting but leveraging leisure time. Not everything in Ikegai ticks but there’s always gonna be funds for livelihood & funds for aspirational lifestyle. Layoffs aren’t in our control, insulating is.

Losing a job can be a tough pill to swallow, but it doesn't have to be the end of your career journey. Rather than giving up, you can use this setback as an opportunity to reflect on your career goals and re-evaluate your priorities. Take the time to identify your strengths, weaknesses, and areas of interest, and use this information to explore new job opportunities or even consider starting your own business. Remember that setbacks can often lead to new and exciting opportunities, so stay positive and embrace the challenge of finding your next career move. With the right mindset and a willingness to adapt, you can turn this setback into a stepping stone towards a rewarding and fulfilling career.

Use this period as an opportunity for self-reflection. Try to follow my proven steps for success: Reevaluate your skills, interests, and career goals, identifying areas for improvement and growth. Invest time in upskilling or acquiring new certifications to enhance your professional toolkit. Leverage your network by reaching out to colleagues, mentors, and industry connections for advice and potential opportunities. Update your resume and online presence to reflect your achievements and showcase your value to prospective employers. Stay resilient, maintain a positive mindset, and view the layoff as a chance to pivot, learn, and ultimately position yourself for a more fulfilling career path.

Resume and online presence plays a major role in landing a job interview. Your career documents should speak about your achievements and highlight the value you bring to potential employers. A polished online presence enhances your visibility. You can consider exploring industries related to your skills or ones you've always been interested in. A layoff can be a chance to pivot and discover new opportunities you might not have considered before.

A supportive network is critical for several reasons: 1 - More jobs are filled via referral than postings – your network provides access to leads. 2 - Employers are choosy, so you need to be well-researched and prepared – your network is a source of information and insights. 3 - Careers are a marathon, not a sprint, with inevitable ups and downs – your network is an emotional lifeline. Start by reconnecting with people you already know. Never make the first outreach about your career plans or anything that you need – just say Hello. You can then schedule regular reminders to connect on an ongoing basis. Add activities, such as professional meetings, where you can meet new people. You want to both maintain and expand your network.

Consider pursuing relevant certifications or further qualifications that can make you more attractive to future employers. Certifications in areas such as project management, digital marketing, data analysis, or industry-specific qualifications can significantly enhance your resume. Keep abreast of the latest trends and developments in your industry. Subscribe to relevant journals, attend industry webinars, and participate in professional forums to maintain a current and competitive knowledge base.

We are in the Information Age! We have all the information easily available, it's just a matter of accessing and acquiring them. - With the introduction of Gen AI, the industry is going to be disrupted in the future. Use Gen AI to your advantage by upskilling yourself in Gen AI. - If time is a concern, use LinkedIn Learning, it's short, sweet & practically very helpful. - Other learning portals like Udemy, Coursera, etc can provide certifications or help in preparing for external certification exams. - Getting upskilled will differentiate you from the rest. - While earlier, laying off was considered traumatic, today laying off is a brilliant opportunity for us to Reinvent, Remake, and Rebrand ourselves.

Leverage your professional network. Inform your contacts about your situation and the kind of opportunities you’re looking for. Networking can often uncover job opportunities that aren’t advertised publicly. A layoff can be an opportunity to explore careers in different industries or roles that you may not have previously considered. Assess how your skills and experiences can transfer to other areas where demand may be growing.

I believe that a key aspect is to become aware of the reasons for the lay-off, and most important, what lessons have been learned from that previous professional experience. By becoming conscious of lessons learned, we are able to grow and create a better version of ourselves, therefore, becoming open to new opportunities with a greater level of consciousness and purpose.

Usually, financial considerations take precedence in planning the next move. If so, keep a monthly spending budget in mind going forward. Be aware of your emotions especially while making future job decisions. Take a breather for a few days and address your mental upheaval. Treat this phase as a transition to something better in your career path. Consolidate your strengths and achievements till now and be realistic about the next steps. Keeping your strengths & achievements in the picture, reach out to your network to understand what roles are available for you to consider. Work on upskilling yourself for these roles if required. Transitions can be transforming. Resilience is the key.