How to Communicate a Layoff to Your Network.
Over the last month, I’ve seen dozens of people in my network post updates on social media or through emails with the news that they’ve been laid off and are looking for opportunities.
I’ve watched and analyzed the announcements, unpacking how people communicate their situations and the responses they’ve gotten from people.
Below are some thoughts around the approaches I’ve seen lead to positive outcomes - plus a template to create an announcement that can lead you to meaningful conversations and connections.
1. WHAT TO SHARE
Some of the best announcements I’ve seen – that have the most comments on social media, and connections being made out through them – are the ones where people share a little bit about what they loved doing in their last position, and show their unique impact.
What will you miss about your work? Were you fortunate enough to have a great manager or manage great people? What was your biggest accomplishment that sums up your value and impact? This is the time to share that.
If it feels authentic to you, call out your teammates or boss and share that you loved working with them.
“Make it personal and bring some honesty and emotion to your outreach. If you’re really disappointed because you loved your job, you can say that! People will be more compelled to interact with you if you make it more real.
In one specific instance, I saw an announcement from someone I’ve partnered with over the last year who I always thought highly of – and after reading 20+ comments from their coworkers about how fantastic they were to work with, (including comments from their bosses), my perception of this individual and their value shot up even more.
Make it personal and bring some honesty and emotion to your outreach. If you’re really disappointed because you loved your job, you can say that! People will be more compelled to interact with you if you make it more real.
2. BALANCE BEING OPEN WITH BEING SPECIFIC
When we’re feeling desperate it may feel better to say, “I’ll take anything!” But put yourself in a hiring manager’s shoes: would you really want to hire someone who says they’re interested in a position with you when their attitude is ‘I’ll take anything?’ Probably not.
I’ve seen lots of posts or emails that are as general as “Please be in touch if you know people that are hiring.” But how do I know what type of work you’d like to be connected to? That type of statement is so vague it’s not helpful to most people reading your message.
You have to walk a tightrope of wanting to be open to new opportunities - and things you might not have had in mind! - but also being specific enough not to come across as desperate or all over the place.
Giving some direction around what you’re looking for – with 2 or 3 examples of types of work you’re interested in exploring - actually helps people think of others to connect you with more easily.
3. FOCUS ON HAVING CONVERSATIONS OVER JOB LEADS
If your goal is to find job leads, consider this: you’ll find out about more opportunities the more people you talk to. So, ideally your goal should be to have meaningful conversations to understand the landscape and fill in the gaps in your knowledge.
“Here’s the thing: we can all stand to learn more about how companies/sectors/roles differ so we can make smarter decisions, and make more compelling cases as to why we’re the best fit.
And here’s the other thing: we can all stand to learn more about how companies/sectors/roles differ so we can make smarter decisions, and make more compelling cases as to why we’re the best fit.
For example, there are so many differences between an average marketing role – is it for a new organization or old organization? Is it providing services externally as a consultant, or being internal to an organization? Is it on behalf of a product, or a service, or an issue?
Exploring and learning about how marketing roles are different will help you make smarter, more strategic choices about where you land next. If you can clarify these differences and ask for directions, people will see you as being thoughtful and intentional about your future.
So, instead of: “If anyone knows people hiring for marketing roles, please let me know!”
Try: “I love the energy and variety that comes with working with many clients, or in fast, evolving companies. That’s why I’m interested in talking to people who are either in marketing consulting firms working with many clients, or with people who are in internal marketing roles in fast-moving startups. I realize there are differences between these routes and I want to make a smart, strategic decision about which one feels right for me. I’d welcome connections anyone might have to people in those areas.”
We all usually approach networking by thinking about who we immediately know that can help us. But instead, think about what you need to learn about various types of roles or sectors, and then think about who can help you fill in the gaps in your knowledge. That is strategic networking.
4. AMPLIFY YOUR MESSAGE
If you’re communicating on social media, you’ll want to use hashtags to improve your chances that your post is seen by as many people as possible - #laidoff #jobhunting #jobsearching #hireme or #connections have been popular recently.
If you want to see hashtags currently trending in your network, click on the ‘my network’ icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage and scroll to the bottom to see which are most popular at the moment.
You want others to like and comment on your post so that your post will show up in the feeds of those people’s 1st degree connections. So return the action for others - like and comment on posts of your colleagues to help amplify them as well.
5. PULLING IT TOGETHER INTO A TEMPLATE
After reviewing dozens of these announcements, there was one post on LinkedIn that stuck out as a great example. As a result of the author’s post, he’s had conversations with c-suite level people at different companies and has been contacted by numerous headhunters.
With his permission, we’re sharing some of his content in this template:
I’m sad to share I’ve been let go from [company] today in my [job title] role. I’m so grateful to have worked on such great work with my team members over these last [x years/months]. The team I managed was made up of [adjectives that describe your team positively] and I will miss working with them. I had amazing mentorship from my manager and am grateful for their support.
Over my time at [company] I’m most proud of [a key accomplishment - for example: creating a new group of programming for our critical audiences that doubled over my tenure, OR overseeing a 30% increase in fundraising/raising over $5M for girls empowerment education through tireless outreach to major donors and foundations].
I am excited to put my [2-3 types of skill areas: management and program creation OR fundraising and team development] skills to use at another organization.
[If you know the type of sector you’d like to work in, or have a few options, name them.] I realize there are a few different directions this work could take. I’d love to connect with people who are doing [think about 2-3 buckets of work that describe the types of people who can help you get directions on the options in front of you].
Till then you will find me catching up on [TV or book or movie or hobby]!
6. FOLLOW UP
Many people will likely respond with a “Best of luck to you, I know you’ll land in a great place!” or “Any organization would be so lucky to have you!”
This is why it’s so important to give people a few areas you’re interested in exploring. You might shoot them a private note or email afterwards and say “Thanks so much for your comment – I’m excited to see where I land next as well! I’m hoping to connect over the next few weeks with people who do X or Y or Z (specific types of roles) OR people who work in A or B or C (specific kinds of industries or organizations) to get a sense as to what’s happening in those types of roles/types of organizations. Does anyone come to mind who you think could help me learn more about these pathways?”
And if someone introduces you to someone else, get back in touch with them to thank them again for the connection and tell them what you learned. Continue to build that relationship by keeping them informed on your progress.
So - to sum it up:
Make it personal and honest
Talk about what you’re sad to leave behind and your accomplishments
Clarify that you’re now at a pivot point and are looking to talk with people who can help you get clarity on a few pathways you see for yourself
Get genuinely curious to learn more about the options in front of you