The Smartest Job Search Moves After a Layoff (Hint: It’s Not Updating Your Resume)
My Simple Guide to Getting Back on Track After a Layoff
Welcome to issue #150 of The Introverted Networker. Each week, I share my best networking advice to change the way you feel about networking. If you like this issue, share it with a friend.
So, you got laid off.
First: take a breath.
If you’re feeling disoriented, ashamed, or anxious, you’re not alone.
I’ve been laid off twice in my career.
It’s one of the most emotionally jarring things you can experience in your professional life.
You may be wondering:
“What do I do now?”
“Will anyone want to work with me?”
“How do I tell people without feeling embarrassed?”
This week’s issue is a guide to getting unstuck after a layoff starting with a few small actions that can shift your mindset and help you start reconnecting.
BTW: These steps will work for you even if you haven’t been laid off recently!
This issue takes about 5 minutes to read…
Before We Get Started:
📣 You're Invited: Live Q&A with Me
Have questions about how to network after a layoff?
Want to get unstuck, but don’t know where to start?
Join me live next week for a free Q&A session.
I’ll answer your networking questions in real time.
🗓️ It’ll be June 24th at 1PM ET, 10AM PT
👉Register here for Your Networking Questions Answered By The Introverted Networker
Bring your questions—or just listen in.
Hope to see you there.
Now, back to this week’s issue…
Step 1: Process the Emotions
Layoffs don’t just impact your job.
They hit your identity and confidence too.
So before you jump into updating your résumé or scanning job boards, take time to process.
Talk to friends.
Talk to a therapist if you need to.
Give yourself the space to grieve a little.
You don’t need to “hustle” your way out of these feelings.
But once you feel ready, take a small action.
Because action calms anxiety.
Step 2: The First Five
Once you're ready to start reconnecting, begin with the “first five.”
Think of five people (outside your immediate family) who you feel comfortable reaching out to.
Former coworkers
Past bosses
Trusted peers
People who will want to help you after being laid off.
Your message doesn’t need to be fancy. It can be as simple as:
“Hey [Name], just wanted to let you know I’m looking for a new role. My last day with [Company] was [Date]. I’d love to stay in touch and may reach out for your advice as I figure out next steps.”
You’re not asking for a job.
You’re just opening the door.
Make the list.
Reach out.
Then talk to them. Ideally by phone or video.
Ask how they’re doing too. It’s not just about you.
Step 3: Build Your Target Company List
Now that you’ve started reconnecting with people you know, focus on where you’d like to go.
Literally: make a list.
Companies you admire
Competitors of your old company
Places your connections already work
“Best Places to Work” lists in your city
Companies you find through LinkedIn search
This gives your search focus.
It also gives you a reason to connect with others especially if they work at companies you’re curious about.
Step 4: Start Showing Up Online
This part is uncomfortable for a lot of introverts but it works.
Once you have your list, start engaging on LinkedIn.
You don’t need to post. Just:
Update your profile (photo, headline, About section)
Comment on posts by people in your field
Engage with content from your target companies
The more you show up, the more visible you become.
And visibility leads to conversations.
Pro tip: Look up employees at your target companies who are posting content.
Add thoughtful comments.
Once you’ve built a little rapport, you can say:
“Your company is on my target list. Would you be open to a quick conversation about your experience working there?”
That’s how conversations begin.
Not with a pitch. With curiosity.
Have a friend who just got laid off and could use this issue? Then, I have a favor to ask: Hit the Share button and send it to them!
Bonus Step: Show, Don’t Just Tell
Two stories from this week:
A job seeker I know built a custom job search tracker in Google Sheets and shared it online. She works in learning and development, so the tracker wasn’t just helpful. It showcased her skills as a learning and development professional.
Someone else I talked to is exploring a career in compensation and is speaking with 20 experts to compile their advice on getting in the profession into a guide. Once she does this, she’ll stand out to these experts and can share it with her broader network. This demonstrates her drive and ambition.
If there’s something you can create that shows who you are and how you think, build it.
Share it.
It can be a door-opener.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve just been laid off, it’s okay to feel shaken.
But small, intentional steps can shift you from stuck to in motion.
Reach out to your first five
Build your company list
Start engaging online
And if you’re ready, create something that helps you stand out
Nobody wants to go through this.
But when you do, it helps to remember: you’re not alone, and you’re not starting from zero.
You’ve got a network.
All you have to do is start reconnecting.