Ladies Encourage Woman Who Was Laid off to Embrace the Positive Aspects of Unemployment While Job Searching, Wholesome Discussion Ensues

Author image for Eleonora Bader
Eleonora Bader
Mar 15, 2024 7:00 PM EDT

When laid off, don't despair, for when one door closes, another one opens… Look, I get it. Being laid off would throw anyone into the pits of despair. At least temporarily. It's like a breakup… At first, you are in total denial. You cry, but deny. Then, you get angry. How dare they fire you? You were their best employee! But before you get to the bargaining stage, think about it. This is your opportunity to try something new. To branch out, to figure out who you are and what you want! Remember what I said… It's like a breakup.

One woman who was laid off took to Reddit, expressing her unease at being jobless. Other women were quick to chime in, offer support, and give wholesome advice. They picked her crown up from off the ground and handed it back to her. How's that for girl power? Scroll down to read all about it, and then, if you're a bit of a geek and like DnD, check out these Dungeons and Dragons memes.

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  • 01
    "I just got laid off..."
    via Canva
  • 02
    How did you "settle in" to unemployment? Career Advice / Work Related
    via u/roxaboxenn
  • 03
    Hello lovely and wise Money Diary folks. I was laid off last week which came as a bit of a shock. Financially, I am good. I received a decent severance package and I have an emergency fund and a spouse who works. Our expenses are pretty low and we have no debt. I know that technically, this is a time to rest, explore, and of course apply to jobs. But I'm struggling a bit with what to do first.
    via u/roxaboxenn
  • 04
    My mind veers wildly from "this time off is going to amazing" to "oh god I'm never going to hit my investment goals." My question is: How did you find that sweet spot during unemployment where you weren't giving up on your career, but you weren't spending all day refreshing LinkedIn and were appreciating the little things (sleeping in, time to volunteer, going for long walks, etc.)? And any other layoff/unemployment advice is appreciated! Thank you all in advance.
    via u/roxaboxenn
  • 05
    invaderpixel 17 days ago Apply for jobs when they're fresh every day. Despite the toxic Reddit advice, you cannot apply for jobs for 40 hours per week every week and treat job applications like a job. Keep your phone on super loud and answer every single call. Email notifications can also be loud, check in periodically. I walked around and read a lot of audiobooks when I was unemployed and that really helped. Join the library if you haven't already.
    via u/invaderpixel
  • 06
    But honestly you'll never feel completely at ease even with all the mental health tricks in the world. If you go to a party and have to explain you get reminded of it all again. There is uncertainty and it's okay to feel your feelings. 139 д Reply Share
    via u/invaderpixel
  • 07
    Ok-Pool-2750 - 17 days ago I was laid off from my job in the first week of December, and it's looking like I will hopefully receive an offer in the next few weeks (fingers crossed!). I was approaching burnout at my last job so in some ways it was the right time to get laid off. I was super stressed at the beginning, especially because it was right around the holidays. And I was anxious that the anxiety would stay high until I got a job. But after some weeks in it, I can say that this is one of t
    via u/Ok-Pool-2750
  • 08
    I've taken a sewing class, redone our guest bedroom, mentored others in my field, read a lot of books, increased how much I exercise, and volunteered. All while applying for jobs. Like you, I have the privilege of a financial cushion and low expenses, which also has probably contributed to my lack of anxiety.
    via u/Ok-Pool-2750
  • 09
    My only tip is to delete the LinkedIn app on your phone I was spending a lot of time doomscrolling on it. I would recommend following pages and people that repost jobs rather relying on the algorithm to serve you the right jobs at the right time. 63 Reply Share
    via u/Ok-Pool-2750
  • 10
    roxaboxenn OP 17 days ago I deleted the LinkedIn app as soon as I read your comment! You are so right. It's been four days and I've been in a doomscrolling loop! Congrats on the (hopefully) new job! I'm glad your unemployment period was so restful. 20 Reply Share
    via u/roxaboxenn
  • 11
    laynesavedtheday 17 days ago She/her I was laid off almost a month ago so I'm fully in the thick of this. I also got great severance and have company stock I'll be cashing out, so I'm not super concerned about finances in the immediate term. My immediate reaction the week after was to lean fully into my hobbies - that stained glass class on Tuesday mornings I've wanted to take for 2 years? Time to book it. I've been ice skating for years but really wanted to try going in the middle of a Tuesday
    via u/laynesavedtheday
  • 12
    After that, I felt like I needed to start prepping for interviews. So for the past 2 weeks it's been a juggling act of skating, stained glass, and interview prep. I'm a software engineer so the prep is pretty intense - but I'm trying to take it easy and not stress too much. I will say the job market SUCKS. I was laid off from a well known company with a great reputation and I'm getting ghosted, told I'm "not senior enough" (after 8 years experience and being a team lead on my last team…..), or j
    via u/laynesavedtheday
  • 13
    I'm also starting to get a little antsy about my progress. There's so few opportunities popping up that fit my location, experience level, and skillset. It's not even about money - I would take a pay cut for the right opportunity, but there's just not that many companies hiring. I've heard from really talented folks that they felt it's too far into their career for them to consider contract work, but it's the only option available. Whatever you do, apply for unemployment immediately. Severance i
    via u/laynesavedtheday
  • 14
    dangerrzone. 16 days ago I'm in a similar boat; 9 years experience (laid off in December) and I was the Principle analyst on my last team and the acting manager, but all of the roles I'm finding I'm either too senior for them or not senior enough/not enough manager experience. Plus my work is so niche and I'm not US based so it's making it more tricky too. Leaning into hobbies is definitely helpful (similar to you, I'm enjoying going to the climbing gym or hiking in the middle of a weekday when
    via u/dangerrzone
  • 15
    Op - I'm not sure anything will completely eliminate that feeling! My therapist said to give a timeline where you're not actively job searching - she gave me three months but lol I'm still kind of searching. 4 Reply Share
    via u/dangerrzone
  • 16
    • NewSummerOrange 17 days ago She/her /40s Here's my simple advice. Given your severance - treat it like PTO, because it is - and use part of that time in the ways that best serve you. Get out of your house - go visit family, go visit that friend you've been meaning to see. Get that chemical peel you wanted and spend a week or so recuperating. Your job search can wait until your face isn't terrifying anymore. This isn't a race.
    via u/NewSummerOrange
  • 17
    What I do when I'm job searching is that I schedule massages every day at the massage school and I do my job searching around my massage and workout schedule. I also used that time to go to any weird classes or do any daytime things I previously was unable to do. So my schedule was based on my extra- curriculars, and the job search wrapped around it. This worked for me, it kept me focused and allowed me to do things I wanted like take advantage of a tuesday mid-day pedicure deal.
    via u/NewSummerOrange
  • 18
    I was ready for several months off for my last job search, but I had an offer less than a week after I started my search and I was very disappointed that it didn't last longer. In this market, I would expect it could take several months. Be nice to yourself. 35 Reply Share
    via u/NewSummerOrange
  • 19
    roxaboxenn OP. 17 days ago You get a massage every day?! Goals lol. And thank you for the advice! I am definitely looking forward to having more time to exercise. 9 Reply Share
    via u/roxaboxenn
  • 20
    CommunicationOk9330 17 days ago sorry to hear that. in approximate order of priority: -even with the severance, look into unemployment asap -relax and recharge for a set period of time. you might need a few days off, a week off, or more. -set a schedule. i recommend not job searching 8 hrs a day, set aside a certain amount of time you know you can commit to.
    via u/CommunicationOk9330
  • 21
    -set a schedule for stuff not related to work, like gyming or yoga classes or whatever. i recommend to do regular scheduled social stuff outside of the house -tap into your network. ive seen people literally get interview offers from making a linkedin post saying "i got laid off." -spend time doing stuff you dont normally have time for. 24 Reply Share
    via u/CommunicationOk9330
  • 22
    [deleted] 17 days ago I got laid off in January- luckily I saw it coming, have savings, got mediocre severance etc. I can hang out for a while, but don't want to drain my savings. I found the book Never Search Alone to be really helpful. It's written for tech employees but the guidance is applicable regardless of industry. The author (Phyl Terry) even has a checklist online for what to do when you lose your job.
    via u/deleted
  • 23
    When I shared the news that I'd been laid off on LinkedIn I got a completely overwhelming response and spent the first couple weeks just saying yes to every networking offer, and used this as the listening tour in the book I recommended. Now I've got a target list of roles and companies, a vetted resume template (with different versions for each role type), and most importantly a very keen sense of what I'm worth in the current market. People want to help, so don't be shy about asking for intros
    via u/deleted
  • 24
    I'm trying to maximize my enjoyment of this time though- working out when the gym isn't busy, trying new recipes, going to museums, exploring neighborhoods I don't visit enough, spending time with my retired parents and friends who are on mat leave etc. Honestly this part is fantastic. I need to spend less time on Reddit and TikTok, but otherwise I'm loving it. For me, the key is keeping a balance of staying on top of the search while also taking advantage of this interim time. Positive self tal
    via u/deleted

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random act of kindness boss encouragement fired girl power laid off kindness of strangers job searching resume reddit discussion company unemployment emotional-support women in tech
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