You arrive at work—are called into a meeting—and before you adjust yourself, you hear, “We’re letting you go.” I’ve been there. Although I was not at fault, and I felt it coming, the impact was emotionally crushing. Until it wasn’t. The emotional floodgates of anger, frustration, loss, and anxiety hit hard. It’s natural. Losing your job, regardless of the reason, especially during conomic shifts or corporate restructuring, can be highly traumatic. For most professionals, the loss goes beyond a paycheck. You’ve lost security, your routine, for some, your “identity,” and
your sense of purpose.
But here’s the truth: a layoff isn’t the end of your career—it’s a disruptive pivot opportunity.
The Emotional Aftershock
Unemployment, regardless of the reasoning, elicits emotional reactions ranging from shame and anger to grief and fear. As a professional who has worked at a company for years, you have slowly and unintentionally adopted the corporate identity as your own. This loss of position can feel as though you’ve lost an enormous piece of yourself.
Why me? What could I have done better? I’ve failed. These are valid and natural emotions. However, they are most often not factual or reflective of reality. The system you were part of shifted; you did not fail. How you respond now matters.
Here are Five Steps to Realign Your Career Mindset
Step 1: Reframe Your Inner Narrative
Rather than viewing your layoff as a professional blow, consider it an
inflection point in your career journey—you’re transforming. That
small but profound distinction reframes your mindset and gives you
back the power to decide what’s next in your career.
Ask yourself:
- What did I enjoy most and like least in that role?
- How have I grown within my position?
- What possibilities are available for me now, that weren’t before?
Reframing puts your emotions in the back seat and allows power and purpose to be your drivers.
Step 2: Transferable Skills Inventory
Your layoff did not erase your experience, skills, or capabilities. Your professional expertise and abilities are still
intact. You need to catalog and match your skills with current requirements to understand what skills transfer
versus where you may need to upskill or reskill.
Try this 3-minute reflection prompt:
- List three challenges you overcame in your last role.
- List three skills you used consistently to overcome each challenge.
- Name three things colleagues often praised you for.
This reflection helps you reestablish self-confidence and clearly communicate your value.
Coaching Insight: Unemployment does not invalidate your skills and professional experience
Step 3: Reconnect with Intent
It will be extremely easy to isolate. After all, you’ve been dealt a blow. Understand that your position was what you did, not who you are. Now is not the time to languish in rejection. Reach out to colleagues, mentors, former clients, and peers. It’s time to network with intent.
Coaching Insight: Professionals who network properly want to help, but genuineness responds in kind. No one wants to feel used.
Step 4: Upskill Strategically
If your industry or position changes, consider how to remain competitive. In step two, you conducted a skills transfer inventory. Now, it’s time to consider the best way to develop or refresh your existing skills.
Look into:
- Free online courses (Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, edX)
- Industry or job-related webinars or workshops.
- Volunteering or freelance gigs to keep your momentum and add new skills.
Pro Tip: Add course experiences to your résumé and LinkedIn profile under “Professional Development”—they
show adaptability and continual professional growth.
Step 5: Define Your Career Preferences
It will be very tempting to take the first job offer you get. After all, you applied for it, gave your best interview, and landed it. It is essential not to react with emotion or based on need. Take a breath and ensure you have clarified:
- What kind of leadership best works for you?
- What style of work environment allows you to thrive?
- What corporate values do you need in your next company?
We all have financial and emotional responsibilities in life. This time of layoff is your moment to define the career and work life that suits you best. Look beyond landing another job. You want to both survive and thrive.
Motivational Moment
Think of the lotus flower. Its foundation is mud or murky water. Yet, each morning, it rises searching for the sun: pristine and beautiful—no sign of its blemished circumstances. This momentary disruption is the murky water from which you must rise to create authentic, transformational breakthroughs. You need to feel the aftershock, breathe, steady your mind, and decide your E.T.A.
Daily Empowerment Affirmation
“I rise with resilience. What ended has made space for what’s meant.”