Technical Writer

• Author (RHCE)

• Linux Annoyances for Geeks

• Linux user since 1999

• Principal Technical Writer, NGINX (F5)

CC0

@theMikeJang

https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery

Background

@TheMikeJang

Recent job history

https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery

11 steps after a layoff

1. Negotiate your layoff
2. Apply for unemployment
3. Regain focus
4. Don't just ask for help
5. Network with hiring managers
6. Customize your application
7. Share your schedule
8. Extra work
9. Prepare for your Interview
10. Follow up
11. The offer

What to negotiate

1. "Everything"
2. Medical insurance (COBRA)
3. Corporate laptop / equipment

CC0

https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery

11 steps after a layoff

1. Negotiate your layoff
2. Apply for unemployment
3. Regain focus
4. Don't just ask for help
5. Network with hiring managers
6. Customize your application
7. Share your schedule
8. Extra work
9. Prepare for your Interview
10. Follow up
11. 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

11 steps after a layoff

1. Negotiate your layoff
2. Apply for unemployment
3. Regain focus
4. Don't just ask for help
5. Network with hiring managers
6. Customize your application
7. Share your schedule
8. Extra work
9. Prepare for your Interview
10. Follow up
11. 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://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://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery

11 steps after a layoff

1. Negotiate your layoff
2. Apply for unemployment
3. Regain focus
4. Don't just ask for help
5. Network with hiring managers
6. Customize your application
7. Share your schedule
8. Extra work
9. Prepare for your Interview
10. Follow up
11. The offer

https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery

Most LinkedIn announcements

• "Reaching out to my network"

• "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

My LinkedIn announcement

• My headline: I can help you create better docs

• I included domain knowledge:
  • Software security
  • Identity Management
  • DevOps
  • 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

11 steps after a layoff

1. Negotiate your layoff
2. Apply for unemployment
3. Regain focus
4. Don't just ask for help
5. Network with hiring managers
6. Customize your application
7. Share your schedule
8. Extra work
9. Prepare for your Interview
10. Follow up
11. 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

1. Negotiate your layoff
2. Apply for unemployment
3. Regain focus
4. Don't just ask for help
5. Network with hiring managers
6. Customize your application
7. Share your schedule
8. Extra work
9. Prepare for your Interview
10. Follow up
11. 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

• Contribute to their open source

https://slides.com/mike-1/layoff-recovery

Generic Resume

No Cover Letter

Blindfolded archer: ChatGPT. Spam: CC-BY-SA 3.0, car: Pixabay

Custom Resume

Cover Letter

Blindfolded archer: ChatGPT. Target: Pixabay content license

Portfolio

Domain Knowledge

11 steps after a layoff

1. Negotiate your layoff
2. Apply for unemployment
3. Regain focus
4. Don't just ask for help
5. Network with hiring managers
6. Customize your application
7. Share your schedule
8. Extra work
9. Prepare for your Interview
10. Follow up
11. 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

1. Negotiate your layoff
2. Apply for unemployment
3. Regain focus
4. Don't just ask for help
5. Network with hiring managers
6. Customize your application
7. Share your schedule
8. Extra work
9. Prepare for your Interview
10. Follow up
11. 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

1. Negotiate your layoff
2. Apply for unemployment
3. Regain focus
4. Don't just ask for help
5. Network with hiring managers
6. Customize your application
7. Share your schedule
8. Extra work
9. Prepare for your Interview
10. Follow up
11. 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

1. Negotiate your layoff
2. Apply for unemployment
3. Regain focus
4. Don't just ask for help
5. Network with hiring managers
6. Customize your application
7. Share your schedule
8. Extra work
9. Prepare for your Interview
10. Follow up
11. 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

1. Negotiate your layoff
2. Apply for unemployment
3. Regain focus
4. Don't just ask for help
5. Network with hiring managers
6. Customize your application
7. Share your schedule
8. Extra work
9. Prepare for your Interview
10. Follow up
11. 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