@theMikeJang
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Privilege to Pain
https://ai-techwriter.com
@theMikeJang
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
You've been laid off
Now what
And what you can do next
(How you can prepare)
https://ai-techwriter.com
Blog: https://ai-techwriter.com
URLs
@theMikeJang
Slides: https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
https://ai-techwriter.com
Gratitude
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/11484960/NGINX-Part-of-F5-horiz-black-type-525x208_2x.png)
https://www.f5.com/products/nginx
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/11465811/Slide2.jpg)
https://www.f5.com/products/nginx
Technical Writer
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Author (RHCE)
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Linux Annoyances for Geeks
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Linux user since 1999
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Principal Technical Writer, NGINX (F5)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/3706357/nerd.png)
CC0
@theMikeJang
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
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Background
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/3706388/rhceBook.png)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/3706389/linuxAnnoyances.png)
Linux user since 1999
Recent job history
- Job search, Fall 2023
- Layoff #2 March 2024
- Job search, August 2019
- New job, November 2019
- Tip: Credentials in a Git repo
- Recruited May 2021
- Layoff #1 January 2023
- Search: 53 days
- Accepted job offer
- Search: 42 days
- Accepted job offer
Finally! A Great Job
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
Audience
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Admins
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Developers
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Writers
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Testers (QA)
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Others
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/3704620/audience-648476_1920.jpg)
@theMikeJang
Geeks
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
CC0
11 steps after a layoff
- Negotiate your layoff
- Apply for unemployment
- Regain focus
- Don't just ask for help
- Network with hiring managers
- Customize your application
- Share your schedule
- Extra work
- Prepare for your Interview
- Follow up
- The offer
What to negotiate
- "Everything"
- Medical insurance (COBRA)
- Corporate laptop / equipment
Companies want your silence
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/11484103/caricature-5123999_1280.png)
CC0
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
11 steps after a layoff
- Negotiate your layoff
- Apply for unemployment
- Regain focus
- Don't just ask for help
- Network with hiring managers
- Customize your application
- Share your schedule
- Extra work
- Prepare for your Interview
- Follow up
- The offer
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
US Only: Unemployment rules
- Vary by state
- If you're getting paid, you aren't unemployed
- Employment search requirement
- Search within the state (?)
- Can get paid until you're employed again
- Some maximum number of weeks
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
Disclaimer:
I am not a lawyer
11 steps after a layoff
- Negotiate your layoff
- Apply for unemployment
- Regain focus
- Don't just ask for help
- Network with hiring managers
- Customize your application
- Share your schedule
- Extra work
- Prepare for your Interview
- Follow up
- The offer
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
Job search: A full time job
- Get over your anger
- Anger shows in interviews
- Set a work schedule
- Typical: 8-9 hours / day
- Set up your credentials / portfolio
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/11484107/desk-8419551_1280.png)
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
Credentials for your Git repo
- Resume
- The work that you're proud of
- README
- List of samples (writing, design, coding)
- Other professional public stuff (such as presentations)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/11484107/desk-8419551_1280.png)
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
11 steps after a layoff
- Negotiate your layoff
- Apply for unemployment
- Regain focus
- Don't just ask for help
- Network with hiring managers
- Customize your application
- Share your schedule
- Extra work
- Prepare for your Interview
- Follow up
- The offer
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
Most LinkedIn announcements
- "Reaching out to my network"
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/11468388/Screenshot_from_2024-07-11_22-19-25.png)
- "I love the company that laid me off"
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
My LinkedIn announcement
- My headline: I can help you create better docs
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/11497931/Screenshot_from_2024-07-28_08-05-13.png)
My LinkedIn announcement
- My headline: I can help you create better docs
- I included domain knowledge:
- Software security
- Identity Management
- DevOps
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Artificial Intelligence
- I wrote follow-up posts on
- Software security
- Identity Management
- DevOps
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Artificial Intelligence
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
Follow-up posts
- Describe what you've done
- Get recommendations
- Bonus: Helps prepare for interviews
- Example story: https://ai-techwriter.com/best-practices/tw-sysadmin/
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/11497935/Screenshot_from_2024-07-28_08-08-34.png)
11 steps after a layoff
- Negotiate your layoff
- Apply for unemployment
- Regain focus
- Don't just ask for help
- Network with hiring managers
- Customize your application
- Share your schedule
- Extra work
- Prepare for your Interview
- Follow up
- The offer
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
Find that Hiring Manager
- Target a company
- Check for matches on LinkedIn
- Typically: from a job opening
- Informational interview
- Sell yourself
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
11 steps after a layoff
- Negotiate your layoff
- Apply for unemployment
- Regain focus
- Don't just ask for help
- Network with hiring managers
- Customize your application
- Share your schedule
- Extra work
- Prepare for your Interview
- Follow up
- The offer
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
Customize your application
- Match the job description
- Customize your resume / CV
- Include a cover letter
- Show how you can help -- based on the job description
Time required for applications: 4 to 8 hours / company
- Contribute to their open source
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/11501014/DALL_E_2024-07-29_21.03.08_-_A_person_standing_outdoors__shooting_an_arrow_at_a_target_while_blindfolded._The_person_is_holding_a_bow_with_an_arrow_drawn_back__aiming_towards_a_ta.webp)
Generic Resume
No Cover Letter
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/11501043/Spam_2.jpg)
Blindfolded archer: ChatGPT. Spam: CC-BY-SA 3.0, car: Pixabay
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Custom Resume
Cover Letter
Blindfolded archer: ChatGPT. Target: Pixabay content license
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/11501052/DALL_E_2024-07-29_21.03.17_-_A_person_standing_outdoors__shooting_an_arrow_at_a_target._The_person_is_holding_a_bow_with_an_arrow_drawn_back__aiming_towards_a_target_in_the_distan.webp)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/11501057/bullseye-926864_1280.jpg)
Portfolio
Domain Knowledge
11 steps after a layoff
- Negotiate your layoff
- Apply for unemployment
- Regain focus
- Don't just ask for help
- Network with hiring managers
- Customize your application
- Share your schedule
- Extra work
- Prepare for your Interview
- Follow up
- The offer
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
Share your schedule
- Set up a calendar
- Google, Outlook, Calendly
- Be ready to share it
- Do block off time
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
11 steps after a layoff
- Negotiate your layoff
- Apply for unemployment
- Regain focus
- Don't just ask for help
- Network with hiring managers
- Customize your application
- Share your schedule
- Extra work
- Prepare for your Interview
- Follow up
- The offer
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
Show what you can do
- When open source is available
- You can contribute
- I show what I do best
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
11 steps after a layoff
- Negotiate your layoff
- Apply for unemployment
- Regain focus
- Don't just ask for help
- Network with hiring managers
- Customize your application
- Share your schedule
- Extra work
- Prepare for your Interview
- Follow up
- The offer
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
Review your credentials
- Remember all those posts you created
- Now you can use those stories
- Tip: Prepare a closing statement
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
11 steps after a layoff
- Negotiate your layoff
- Apply for unemployment
- Regain focus
- Don't just ask for help
- Network with hiring managers
- Customize your application
- Share your schedule
- Extra work
- Prepare for your Interview
- Follow up
- The offer
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
Help the interviewer remember you
- Interviewers may have talked to >10 people
- Add a thank you note with a highlight
- Address any concerns
- Don't just say "Are we there yet"
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
11 steps after a layoff
- Negotiate your layoff
- Apply for unemployment
- Regain focus
- Don't just ask for help
- Network with hiring managers
- Customize your application
- Share your schedule
- Extra work
- Prepare for your Interview
- Follow up
- The offer
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
Negotiate
- Sometimes, you'll take any offer, and that's OK
- Silence can help
- The person who speaks first -- gives more
Empathy
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media-p.slid.es/uploads/631991/images/5227287/shoes-1245920.jpg)
@theMikeJang
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
Elevator pitch
How you can help
Based on target company "issues"
Show you've thought about the company
Closing statement
Empathy
Action plan when you're hired
Blog: https://ai-techwriter.com
URLs
@theMikeJang
Slides: https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
https://ai-techwriter.com
Alternative
Experience and traction
Jordan Hewitt
Road less traveled
Thanks!
@theMikeJang
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery
Online Copy
@theMikeJang
You've been laid off. Now what?
By Mike
You've been laid off. Now what?
What you can do when you're laid off
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