@theMikeJang

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://www.f5.com/products/nginx

https://www.f5.com/products/nginx

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

 

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

  • Admins

  • Developers

  • Writers

  • Testers (QA)

  • Others

@theMikeJang

Geeks

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

CC0

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

 

Companies want your silence

 

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

 

Disclaimer:

I am not a lawyer

 

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

ai-techwriter.com

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

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

My LinkedIn announcement

  • I included domain knowledge:
    • Software security
    • Identity Management
    • DevOps
    • Artificial Intelligence
       
  • I wrote follow-up posts on
    • 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

Elevator Pitch

Remind your contacts

Network with Others

Laid off groups: common ground

Chat Groups

Slack, Discord, etc

Private -- away from "management"

Larger Companies

Alumni groups

Ask: job posts

Ask: dedicated room

Ask: referrals

Ask: intro to hiring manager

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

Find a 2nd Level Contact

  • 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

 

Time required for applications: 4 to 8 hours / company

 

  • 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

Empathy

@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

Thanks!

@theMikeJang

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

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

Online Copy

@theMikeJang