HappyGilmore profile picture
HappyGilmore profile picture

HappyGilmore

Account Executive

Politicker
Executive
Catalyst
+7

Got laid off, now what?

Hey WR fam,

I got laid off from my company yesterday and in a swift move from HR. The company I worked for is doing some restructuring, and while this came as a surprise, I had a hunch something was up when my manager moved our 1:1 to 8:00am.

That being said, I have been interviewing recently and been looking to make a move before this happened yesterday, so not completely starting the job search from scratch. Aside from finding a new job obviously, how should I approach this unexpected time in between jobs? Additionally, how are folks keeping their heads up when this happens? (if there's a thread on this already my apologies)
🧠 Advice
🌎 Economy
👀 job search
24

34 comments

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Sunbunny31
Politicker
7
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
There's no thread about this yet, and even if there was, it's ok to vent.

Sorry this has happened to you. It's not fun, but the positive side is that explaining your unemployment will not be as difficult in the current environment. I hope your company treated you decently in this situation.

As for how to treat the time between jobs, besides applying for other roles, how about taking some time for yourself? A few days to visit somewhere beautiful can help you reset. If you have kids, you're now available to help with school trips and holiday parties.
HappyGilmore
Politicker
2
Account Executive
Company gave me some severance which is good, I’ll take the advice on just trying to reset as much as possible. That’s a really good point on the time between jobs which isn’t something that’s normal for me
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
5
Sales Rep
Really sorry to hear that, but glad you arent starting the search from scratch

Something I heard about unexpected time between jobs is to use this time as a mental health break. Not often in our career do we have multiple weeks without working, so try to take advantage of it. This could be taking up hobbies you felt you never had the time for or work around the house that has been bothering you.
HappyGilmore
Politicker
4
Account Executive
Good call on the hobbies, knowing that it’s hard to dive into those when being fully plugged into a job, this is a good spot to dive into those before the next job
CuriousFox
WR Officer
5
🦊
I'm so sorry bb ❤
jefe
Arsonist
5
🍁
Dude so sorry to hear this! At least you had some lines in the water.

I always wonder if they think they’re being slick when they move the 1:1 to 8am..

And as others have said, treat this as a mental health break. Take some time to yourself, take in some scenery if you can. Reset you deserve it. @Sunbunny31 has some great ideas, as usual
HappyGilmore
Politicker
3
Account Executive
My former manager even told HR moving the meeting to 8am would raise suspension, guess they don’t care about being slick 🤣
Irishman
Catalyst
0
Business Consultant
You should have declined the meeting for the craic to see what happened :-)
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
4
Rolling 20's all day
Sucks to hear. Connections and treating the job hunt as your new job will be key.
You might contact recruiters who help place tech sales reps, but at the end of the day it's of course up to you how hard you search.
I'd say using Bravado's Tech Sales U to get put in front of companies looking to recruit could help too.
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
3
Bravado's Resident Asshole
Sorry to hear about this. I wish you the best of luck on your search for something and for it to happen soon .
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
2
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
This is an easy/hard one. You have to keep selling - yourself and the product. But it’s hard not to take things personally. Just keep positioning yourself for better and better roles
Fenderbaum
Politicker
2
Retired Choirboy🪕
Ahhh, that sucks. Best of luck in your search. 😎
SaaStruthATX
Valued Contributor
2
Senior Enterprise Account Exec
Hang in there Happy. 1) Don't sign anything and try to negotiate your severarnce package. I too was laid off last week and managed to get a couple of extra weeks tacked onto a horrible severance package (most don't get the 4 month Meta severance). 2) I am focusing on getting in shape to keep my sanity and mind right (otherwise it can go to a dark place). 3) Use your network, its "the devil you know versus the one you don't" type scenario. Its is really hard in sale to know what you are getting into even with sites like Repvue.com, where as if you have a friend there you can get an honest assesment. Best of luck!
HappyGilmore
Politicker
2
Account Executive
Repvue has been my go to in job searching even before I got let go
SalesBeast
Politicker
1
Sales Director
Write a Glassdoor. Go smoke a J. Work out a bit. Enjoy life.
SalesPharaoh
Big Shot
1
Senior Account Executive
Happens to everyone stip thinking we are ina recession companies are hiring everywhere!

Go get them and god bless you!
anothersalesgiy
Good Citizen
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Might be layoffs happening in my org so worried about being in the same boat as you and looking around just in case. Highly recommend after you’ve looked around and narrowed your search through repvue/Glassdoor/bravado reaching out to other reps on LinkedIn to get a better inside scoop and make some friends before you join. Possibly let’s you also get a direct referral from inside the company and make the swap easier.

Take the time to mentally reset and take family time if you’ve got family and hobby time like everyone else is saying.

Would also recommend making some posts about your experience and building up a brand on LjnkedIn if you’re into that to help make you more visible. It could even get people reaching out to you so you can shorten the search cycle. Hope that helps brotha
HappyGilmore
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Repvue & Glassdoor have been helpful in my search for sure. Good call on reaching out to other reps on LinkedIn, I like that advice!.
anothersalesgiy
Good Citizen
1
Enterprise Account Executive
It happened. My gut was on it before. It the layoffs hit and now I’m in the market. Have you landed safely yet brotha?
HappyGilmore
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Shoot I’m so sorry to hear layoffs happened your way. Take some time and decompress before hitting the throttle on the job search.

I haven’t quite yet, made it to the end with a few orgs only to not get the gig/have the position be put on hold.
BrianTracysLoveChild
Fire Starter
1
Account Manager
Every sales pro who has multiple years / orgs on their resume will have at least one gap. A new sales leader comes in, decides new direction and *poof* batches of people gone or a culling is done over weeks/months.

It's not impossible to get past a gap in your resume. Your mileage may vary, but I have found being upfront on the gap to work for me. Much like pro athletes have off nights or off stretches, so do we.

This all is based on the assumption numbers were in range, there was no PIP in place and you have a good story to share.

The hard lesson for me was quite some time ago, but, landed the largest deal for the company and gave my notice - had another gig lined up. Decided to stay when the counter came - big mistake. Three months and 14 reps later, I got the boot. The mental shock was tough and I had a couple of jobs that just didn't work out. In retrospect, I should have taken some time to get my head right - should have seen a therapist instead of white knuckling it.

My advice? Take some time, get your head/emotions settled, then go to work. Treat yourself as the product, research your ideal customer market and start your outreach campaign. And.... work out what your response will be when asked. Was it really the company going a different way? If it was something else - you may want to consider taking a hard look at what the learning is - and then make that your statement. Not knowing, placing blame - not the right answer to recruiter or potential sales leaders interviewing you. PM with any questions.
HappyGilmore
Politicker
0
Account Executive
This is all great feedback, I've been working on my response to the question of "why the layoff" and for me, I try to be as transparent as possible without placing blame/showing resentment.
WhoDey
Opinionated
1
VP of Sales
That sucks. I know this is cliché, but "everything happens for a reason". Believe that you will land on your feet and in a better position. Stay positive. Good luck!
harleyfatboy
Opinionated
1
Sales Director
Back in the day getting laid off was viewed as a negative… now a days if you haven’t yet you will at some point in your career and restructurings are now the norm. Having been in your shoes before I would recommend you take a couple of days and relax to the best you can. Then treat looking for a job as job in itself - cast a wide net to as many contacts as you have that you are looking - referrals are the best way to find a new job. Know that it may take time - reset expectations and be open to taking on a completely new role outside your comfort zone. Be sure to enjoy the time off best you can while you look.
Irishman
Catalyst
1
Business Consultant
I once got laid off around this time of year. Hard to take at the time but the first thing I did was go and buy an engagement ring for the missus and then put a strategy in place to where I wanted to be.

Once in place, I went after it. I did a placeholder job (commission-only selling solar) for a month to ease my boredom in Jan while the job I wanted got the contracts sorted and never looked back. After years of playing just below the $100k mark a year, quickly got promoted and doubled that within 2 years.

Use the time to figure out where you want to be, what you are missing to get there, upskill yourself if need be and figure out how to get yourself on the path towards your goal
opickovic
1
ADR (Account Development Rep) Sales Representative
Maybe take this time to do something you’ve always wanted to do. For example build a business or go on a trip…etc
Gasty
Notable Contributor
1
War Room Community Manager
@HappyGilmore: Sorry to hear this. How's the job search going?
HappyGilmore
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Still ongoing, have had a few final round interviews only to not get an offer. That being said I'm close to the final stages with my former employer's direct competitor haha. Will keep this thread updated once I land something new.
Gasty
Notable Contributor
1
War Room Community Manager
super! What a slap-in-the-face moment it'd be if/when you get through. Good luck, chief!
RedLightning
Politicker
1
Mid-Market AE
First off, sorry that happened to you. I hope you're in a good headspace and financially stable!

Keep in mind this isn't on you. The company made a decision that didn't work out and they moved things on a spreadsheet to adjust.

I was let go from a role a few years back and I started treating the job search like outbound sales. From a job hunting perspective, your primary focus is avoiding application portals by having an internal stakeholder refer/recommend you. Either through networking or by showing your eventual supervisor or party who is impacted by a good hire that you care can help you get past the software screens and in front of a hiring manager!

Aside from that, you have time now. Make sure you're in a good headspace, utilize this time to build healthy habits, up your skills, pick back up hobbies.

Personally, I got back into running at that time and was keeping track of my times. It felt great to get back out there!

Best of luck!
HappyGilmore
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Appreciate the words of wisdom, definitely trying to focus on making sure I've got healthy habits in place.

Good call in regards to avoiding the application portals as much as possible, it's an angle I've been trying to work of having a referral break in the door.
Arzola
Valued Contributor
0
Business administration
Layoffs happen all the time, it does not imply that you are bad, although many of us believe that being fired is synonymous with not being good, that is a total lie, my dad was fired from a company where he was more than 20 years, only because the new manager wanted to bring his brother-in-law into the company... and he said it openly, legal (possibly not) ethical, (obviously not) but those things happen.

Always be proud of yourself and what you are worth, use the time to rest, connect with your family and friends (and obviously look for work). also a course or investing in you is never wrong.
Selflesssales
0
Sales Director
Not much more I can add to the excellent thoughts and advice shared by others. I do want to say that it is important to stay positive and don’t take things personal. When one door shuts another is opened if you keep focused on serving and adding value. Your next gig will be awesome!
BrianTracysLoveChild
Fire Starter
0
Account Manager
Been were you are - have the T-Shirt and everything

1st - It's not personal
2nd - If you weren't really expecting it, you will have some shock but the biggest thing I would say - You won't get to know the real answer why you drew the short straw - which is where I would refer you to point 1 above
3rd - Depending on how this is effecting you mentally,emotionally - you may want to consider pressing pause on your career search. If you got severance without engaging a lawyer, take some time, enjoy the holidays and and resume the attack at the end of the first week of January

I actually got an offer (and took the sales role) from being a temp at ManPower. I was doing data entry and stuffing envelops, etc. and the sales leader looked at me, my car and went - Who are you?

In truth, I found the casual work, start at 8, end at 5 to be a bit of fresh air. I had severance to top me up.

DON'T take the first thing that comes your way. I would be intersted in what others have experienced, but I jumped back in too quick and wasn't mentally ready - it was like a bounce back job.

DO consider getting some help i.e. therapy/counselling - a layoff in December is a bad deal

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