What to do after getting laid off - Unemployed

Welp, it happened. After being employed for 5 years at Wayfair, myself along with 1750 other employees got laid off. The question ‘What to do after getting laid off’ became a constant thought.

There was a familiar routine with Wayfair the last 5 years. So many ups and downs, great memories and opportunities. It was weird to think I was saying goodbye.

After getting laid off, it can be difficult to know what to do next. My husband and I literally bought our second home a week prior from getting laid off. It’s important to take some time to process the situation and take care of yourself. Therefore, it’s been a week since the lay off and I’m still in this taking some time to process the situation.

Finally after taking time to process the situation I have set some goals and next steps for myself. If you are going through a similar situation, these goals/next steps may assist you.

Focusing on finding employment is a crucial next step after you’ve had some time to fully process your situation.

Here are a few useful steps to take:

Update your resume.
Take advantage of job search sites, such as LinkedIn, Indeed, etc and job boards to find openings.
Reach out to your network and let them know you’re looking for a new job.
- I was able to update my LinkedIn profile to show recruiters that I was ‘Open To Work’.
Connect with recruiters and hiring managers.
Apply for unemployment benefits.
Look into additional training or education opportunities to expand your skillset.
Take some time to reflect on the situation and consider what kind of job or career you want next.
Make sure to take care of yourself and practice self-care.
- For those who know me, my self-care is DIY! I’ve loved creating built in cubbies & accent walls, so I may take on another project to cherish that self care time.

Hopefully these tips will help you in your job search and help you know what to do after getting laid off. I will update in the comments how my search went and will gladly share what step helped me the most in my next blog post. Good luck!