Experiencing a layoff can be a challenging and disheartening event, but it’s also an opportunity to reinvent yourself and find new paths. It is ok to take time to mentally process what happened. You dont need to immediately jump back into the rat race. If you can financially, I would recommend taking a week to grieve to mentally process everything. The job hunt that follows can feel like a jungle, but with the right strategies, you can navigate it successfully.
Update Your Resume:
Although this may seem obvious, I’m specifically talking about the formatting. My resume had a format that worked well in the 2010s but didn’t stand out today. Updating your formatting might be tedious, but it can help you stand out over other candidates.
In today’s world, your resume is unlikely to be read by a person initially. Instead, it will first pass through an AI screen before even reaching the HR screen. Therefore, you need to make sure your resume is ATS-friendly. ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System, a software used by many employers to manage the recruitment process. Here’s what an ATS-friendly resume should include:
Keywords: ATS systems scan resumes for specific keywords that match the job description. These can include job titles, skills, qualifications, and industry-specific terms.
Format: Simple and clean formatting is essential. ATS can struggle with complex layouts, graphics, tables, and unusual fonts. Use standard fonts (like Arial or Times New Roman), avoid headers and footers, and use clear section headings.
Sections: Include essential sections like Contact Information, Summary, Work Experience, Education, Skills, and Certifications. Ensure each section is clearly labeled.
File Type: Preferred file types are .docx or .pdf. Some ATS systems might not read other formats correctly.
Bullet Points: Use bullet points to list achievements and responsibilities. This makes it easier for the ATS to parse the information.
Consistency: Maintain consistency in dates, job titles, and other information to avoid confusing the ATS.
No Images or Graphics: Avoid including photos, logos, or other graphics as they can interfere with the ATS’s ability to parse the text.
Standard Headings: Use standard headings like “Work Experience” instead of creative alternatives like “Career Journey” to ensure the ATS correctly identifies sections.
You can use free checkers online to see how well your resume measures up. Here are some that I know of:
When to Apply:
Monday - Tuesday Morning: Jobs posted on Friday HR/Recruiters review Monday morning. Then Monday postings are reviewed on Tuesday.
Friday-Sunday: Jobs posted over the weekend are often reviewed on Monday.
Avoid, Wednesday & Thursday, HR/Recruiters are usually scheduling interviews or conducting interviews.
You Got the Interview, Now What?
Prep:
Research the Company:
Know the industry.
Understand their competitors.
Read recent news articles, especially about any new initiatives the company has announced.
Mentally Prepare:
Believe you are going to get the job to project confidence.
Confidence not only appeals to interviewers but also prevents you from appearing desperate, which can lead HR to offer a lower salary.
Right before the interview:
Strike a power pose. People often feel more confident after adopting a physical posture of strength — feet wide, back straight, hands-on-hips or arms stretched wide, like Superman or Wonder Woman. Don’t knock it until you try it.
Listent to music that pumps you up and makes you feel like you can accomplish anything. I personally listen to Lose Yourself, by Eminem.
During the Interview:
Salary Negotiation:
Many jobs now list a pay range. If asked early in the process about your salary expectations, it can be stressful. You don’t want to sell yourself short or get disqualified for asking too much. If the pay range is $100,000 - $150,000, ask, “What separates a $100,000 candidate from a $150,000 candidate?” Then you can respond with, “That’s within my range, and we can negotiate at the end of the interview process.” This will give you insight into what they are looking for, and you can use their criteria to justify your desired salary at the end.
How to Stand Out:
Use Unique Identifiers:
Problem solver
People leader
Analyzer
Project leader
Strategist
Use Unique Verbs:
Adaptable
Confident
Calculated
Determined
Committed
Interview Questions:
"Why do you want to work here?"
This question is very common and you want to answer in two parts:
Why you want it = Motivation
Why you deserve it = Evidence
Examples:
“I want this role because your company embodies values that I truly align with. This motivates me to do my work well and on time, and to collaborate closely with my team members who share the same values.”
“I believe I would be a good fit for this role because I have been a project leader in my previous role at [Company], driving innovation and problem-solving to help my team and company. I am confident I will do the same for your company, given the opportunity.”
Have Examples of Your Work:
Always have examples ready, even if not asked for one its better than one sentence responses to questions. Use the STAR Method — Situation, Task, Action, Result. This technique is often used in behavioral interviews to provide a clear and concise answer to questions about past experiences. Here’s how it breaks down:
Situation: Describe the context within which you performed a task or faced a challenge at work. Be specific about the circumstances and provide enough detail for the interviewer to understand the context.
Task: Explain the actual task or challenge that was involved. This could be a goal you were working towards, a problem you needed to solve, or a responsibility you had to manage.
Action: Describe the specific actions you took to address the task or challenge. Focus on what you did personally, highlighting the steps you took, the skills you used, and the decisions you made.
Result: Share the outcomes or results of your actions. Quantify the results if possible (e.g., “increased sales by 20%,” “reduced customer complaints by half”). Discuss the impact of your actions and any recognition or lessons learned.
Example of a STAR Response:
Situation: At my previous job, our team was facing declining customer satisfaction scores due to delayed responses to customer inquiries.
Task: I was tasked with improving our response time and overall customer satisfaction within three months.
Action: I conducted a thorough analysis of our current process and identified key bottlenecks. I then implemented a new ticketing system to prioritize inquiries and trained our team on more efficient handling techniques. Additionally, I set up a monitoring system to track response times and customer feedback in real-time.
Result: As a result of these actions, our response time decreased by 40%, and our customer satisfaction scores improved by 25% within the first two months. The new system also streamlined our workflow, making the team more efficient overall.
Questions to ask at the end of the interview:
DO: Ask specific questions at the end of the interview.
Examples:
“Can you provide some examples of the types of stakeholders that the person in this role previously worked with and the kinds of relationships they cultivated to stay on task and meet deadlines?”
"What would success look like in the first 6 months for someone in this role?"
[Manager Interview Only] "What strategies do you use to empower your team members and foster a sense of ownership over their work?"
[Manager Interview Only] "What are the deliverables for this team in the next year?"
DON’T: Ask common questions everyone asks.
Examples:
“Why do you like working here?”
“What’s the culture like?”
With these tips and strategies, you can transform the daunting task of job hunting into a rewarding adventure. Happy job hunting!