You may have just started a new job or earned a promotion, but with the Covid-19 pandemic, you are faced with the inevitable – getting laid off! The question that pops up now is, “how to make my resume stand out after getting laid off?

It stinks to get laid off! Whether you saw it coming or it came as a shock, a layoff can rock your world! You may even feel some rejection.

Do not think of a layoff as a setback in your career. While getting laid off is often unexpected, you can do something kind to yourself after it happens. Take a break, get a massage, or call a friend.

It is important that you relax, come to terms with the layoff, and let yourself feel all your feelings. Taking a day or two to process all your feelings will help you prepare for your next steps.

Life goes on, and you have to find a new job. You just cannot sit on your couch all day and watch your severance package slip away!

Although you may not feel like it, getting laid off can be an exciting opportunity. It’s natural to get scared of the tough job market, but being smart will help you succeed.

Approach the situation you are in right now the right way. It may be a blessing in disguise! Look at it as a time to make sure that what you do next is something you really want and one that will make you happy.

Level up! Don’t put off the job hunt. Your resume is your best asset. Don’t get tempted to send out random job applications. Plan and strategize!

How to Find a Job after being Laid off

Do not let getting laid off get you down!

Be Positive

You may be depressed and frustrated after being laid off, but that is ok. Being positive can be easier said than done! But do you have any choice? Losing a job is something you will overcome so do not dwell on it too much.

Be in control of the situation and decide where to go next. Everything is up to you. The ball is in your hands. Being positive will help keep you moving forward. It will also help you make great progress in landing your dream job.

Conquer your Fear

Give in to your fears and you will end up not being able to think well and straight. It is not good to ignore your fears, though. But do not allow your fear to control your life or you will end up in the wrong direction. With some support, you should be able to conquer your fears.

Weigh your Options

You can first use your newfound free time to weigh your options and reassess your current career path. An unexpected change can even help you set your priorities from a new point of view. You may just be able to get some inspiration to advance your career path or pursue a passion.

Of course, your goal is to find a new job. Look around. Talk to your friends and relatives. Learn from them.

Seek a Mentor

You can seek a mentor, too who can guide you in finding a new job. Many people have been in your situation. Reach out to experienced mentors and build a relationship.

Your mentor will not only help you find a new job but can also receive some emotional support.

Never allow getting laid off to get you down! Seize the opportunity. Think well and use your time wisely and perhaps you may land a job you never have thought you would!

Is your Resume the Right Place to Mention a Layoff?

How are you going to explain in your resume that you were laid off? Truth is, you do not have to! Your resume is valuable real estate. It should unleash your strongest accomplishments and show your worth to the next employer.

There is no requirement that says you should mention you were laid off in your resume. It may come up during the job interview, but it does not have to go on your resume.

This does not in any way mean that you should hide being laid off. Layoffs happen all the time. Even great people get laid off, so it is nothing to be ashamed of.

Refreshing and creating a kick-ass resume after layoff is important and there are several ways to do it. Don’t rush. Focus on creating an updated and fresh resume.

How to Write a Resume after Layoff

If you are worried about including a job you have been laid off from in your resume, don’t be! Tough luck you were laid off. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. It happens even to the best.

Here are a few resume tips on what to include and exclude that will make you feel more confident about landing a new job after a layoff.

Follow these resume advice and you will be good to go:

The cover letter

Some job hunters can get away without mentioning they were laid off until it pops up during the job interview. Others believe mentioning you were laid off in the cover letter is the way to go.

The Covid-19 scenario is a different story. Several competent employees have been laid off due to the pandemic. It is now easier to prove in a sentence or two that you were laid off to keep the company afloat and not because of your poor performance.

If you just started your job in 2020 and was laid off in the same year, it is also easy to explain that in your cover letter.

How then should you write that you were laid off in your cover letter? Simply just mention it in passing.

Keep it short, do not dwell on it too much, and move on. Save the details for the face-to-face interview.

You can say something like, “My previous company had a round of layoffs, because of the COVID crisis. I was a top performer but my department was hard hit. I can bring my level of expertise to your company.”

You can spin the negative impact of being laid off into something positive by saying that you did some volunteer work or worked on developing new skills while you were unemployed.

Another word of advice: Use your cover letter to highlight your accomplishments and explain why you are a perfect match for the job.

Show off your work experience

Your work experience is the heart and soul of your resume. Your resume is your lifeline to finding a new job. It’s your life on paper! What you write in here will determine if you are a perfect fit for the job.

List your work experience by creating headings for each job. Include your job title, name and location of the company, and how long you’ve worked there.

List your work experience in reverse chronological order meaning list your latest job first.

Under each job title heading, list your duties and responsibilities. Mention your achievements, too. Your achievements will highlight your being a standout talent.

List only your years of employment

A typical resume format would have the month and date when you started and ended a job. Many job hunters only list their years so the employment gap does not get to be too noticeable.

Another way of writing your resume after laidoff is to note in parenthesis that the layoff was companywide. You can write “mass corporate layoff” or “COVID-19-related layoff.”

You do not have to list everything

You do not have to list your whole life on a piece of paper. Of course, while being a cashier at McDonalds is part of your work experience, you can leave off this side hustle.

You also do not need to include why you left every job including the one you were just laid off. This stuff can be discussed during the job interview.

Never lie

Never lie in your resume to mislead the interviewer. He wasn’t born yesterday! The company may call your previous jobs and references to confirm what you wrote in your resume. You may be disqualified from the job should they find out you were lying.

Only write your exact role in your previous jobs. Sugar coating your role and accomplishments can make it harder for you to find a new job.

Final Thoughts

You should never feel embarrassed about getting laid off. It happens to many people every year, more so during this pandemic.

You may be anxious over nothing. The interviewer may not even bring it up considering it is a common thing.

When asked, you should discuss the layoff. But it is not something you need to volunteer if it does not come up in the interview. Neither are you obligated to mention it in your cover letter or resume.

Just make sure you are honest in your resume and highlight your work experience. Get a good rest and be in good mental shape. Plan and strategize. These will get you hired in no time and who knows, for a better job.

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Connect with companies that are a perfect fit with your qualifications and work experience. Find your dream job in a relaxed environment where peers, mentors, and hiring companies are extremely supportive of your goals. Been there, done that! Join Rise!