The holiday season may be filled with joy and corporate holiday bonuses but for some reason, corporations lay off employees a lot during the holiday season. I’m employed now but being laid off in the past helped me align my purpose. Right after college, I stayed to work at said college but it was also the first time that I got let go from a job. I was devastated but I learned so much about myself after that. In 2023, after the pandemic and 9 years of working hard for a company, my job was outsourced to India and I was again laid off. Every time you’re laid off, it changes you a bit and it’s important to remember that most of the time it’s not the employee’s fault. I used both times to reset. The first time I was laid off I didn’t know what it was or anything about severance and Cobra.

The second time I knew a few things. First and foremost negotiate your severance pay because I don’t know about other places but in PA, they tax your severance and it’s considered taxable income although you don’t know when your next paycheck is coming they are taking a significant amount of money out of that check. Wild, isn’t it! The next thing I tell people is to apply for unemployment as soon as possible because even though we’re in the year 2024 it is by far the slowest process and almost treated as a punishment. I had to submit proof that I was applying for jobs or the state would withhold my payment. Last but certainly not least, take the time to not panic but figure out what you want your next employment journey to be. It was after my previous layoff that I determined that I wanted to pivot. Working somewhere for almost a decade and not being valued (after being an essential worker during the pandemic) felt draining therefore I started working for myself and also doing more nonprofit work where I could see and feel the difference my work was making. Really take your time with finding your next adventure if you can afford that luxury. Don’t just take a job for the money or you could end up in another unhealthy work environment.

Be picky while you’re pausing. Treat finding your next adventure as if you’re the prize and interviewing the company on what they could bring to the table beyond money as most companies have money. There has to be something more or you’ll just be going to a job every day not making much of a difference.

Keep going after things that help you grow. @justdae