Life After Layoff: 40 Ideas to Motivate + Inspire During a Job Search

But just like any of life’s hardest moments, a layoff can also be an opportunity for huge growth. (I know, I know—that’s the kind of thing you know deep down to be true, but it’s annoying when someone tells you in the moment. Stick with us.)

If you’ve been laid off, placed on furlough, or are struggling to get back into work after any kind of career break, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone—and no, there’s nothing wrong with you. 

After the pandemic, we're seeing potential employers be more understanding of gaps on a resume, and this is your chance to show how well you can handle adversity. You can come out of this season of your life and work stronger, happier, and more fulfilled.

We’ve compiled a list of 40 ways to stay positive and motivated during your job search after being laid off—or, for that matter, during a career break of any kind, whatever the cause. 

Table of Contents

What Does It Mean to Be Laid Off?

Let's quickly review the difference between getting laid off, fired, and/or furloughed since it's all a bit confusing at times!

Getting laid off is when a company lets go of employees due to circumstances outside of their control, such as a company restructuring, merger, etc. The employee's role is eliminated, and usually, many employees are impacted by this. In some cases, entire departments might be eliminated in a layoff. 

Getting fired is a result of the employee's performance and/or actions. And a furlough is an extended leave of absence from a job, with the expectation that you’re going to return at some point. 

What to Do When You Get Laid Off 

You suddenly have all the time in the world and an overwhelming array of different things you could be doing.

But you probably also feel burnout, and perhaps your confidence has taken a knock, too. Oh, and then there’s the question about how to pay your bills while you’re in between jobs.

So, first things first, let’s look at some of the practical things you should do right away as soon as you’re laid off. This list is definitely longer than the others in this article, but we think it's important to make sure your ducks are in a row so the later stages of navigating a layoff aren't filled with unnecessary stress and anxiety.

1. Get Your Layoff in Writing

Layoffs often happen for reasons outside of an employee's control. This is the most important distinction between being laid off and being fired. 

Because you were terminated for cause, it's going to be valuable to get that in writing with a layoff letter. The layoff letter will explain the circumstances of your layoff. You can show this to prospective employers.

Make sure to review the layoff letter before accepting it. Getting revisions down the road will be harder. Plus, some companies will use a standard letter during mass layoffs, but others will include details like your specific role, department, and contributions. Review your own letter to make sure it's accurate and that it includes all of the pertinent information. (It's the least they can do, right?) 

2. Ask About Severance

During your layoff conversations, your employer will most likely bring up severance and present (if any) their severance benefits package to you. While you probably don't have a ton of room to negotiate, it's best to hold off on signing anything right away. Go home and review the details when your emotions aren't running as high.

If you feel like the layoff gives you a legal claim (e.g., discrimination) to wrongful termination, consult a lawyer.

Even if the company won't increase the compensation payout, you can still negotiate for other things such as outplacement, retraining services, or ongoing health benefits. Here's our full guide on negotiating your severance package.

3. File for Unemployment

You've most likely been contributing to unemployment benefits during your employment at this company, so get yours. Apply online for unemployment ASAP because they are famously slow to kick in.

And while the added benefits will take the pressure off your finances and needing to launch a job search ASAP, your eligibility, the amount you’ll receive, and the length of time you’re covered depends on where you live. Check your individual state's laws to confirm what you can get.

4. Figure Out Your Health Insurance Coverage

Your health insurance coverage under your employer-sponsored plan varies on how the insurance premiums are paid. Your layoff package should lay out your health insurance status and options, but don’t be shy about having the details of your unemployment insurance benefits clarified because going without health insurance isn't recommended even if you can technically do it.

As part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Congress zeroed out the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate penalty (effective 2019); if you find yourself without coverage, at least you won’t be facing a looming IRS fine.

COBRA Continuation Payments

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is the law that allows employees who lose their jobs to remain on their employer-provided health plan. COBRA coverage requires employers to stay on their existing health coverage plan for 18 months. This means that once you've been terminated, you can continue your health insurance under COBRA, but you are now responsible for paying the full insurance premium. The full insurance premium is the employer and employee portion of your health care plan.

In addition to your severance pay, a company might provide COBRA continuation payments for a certain amount of time. This might come in the form of a reimbursement for the employer's portion for a set period of time, but you must exercise your right to COBRA to get this. One reason why you might not exercise COBRA is that you'd rather join your spouse's insurance plan.

Another reason why you might not exercise COBRA is that the premiums are really high and you'd rather negotiate for more cash in your severance pay by not exercising your right to COBRA.

Individual Healthcare Coverage

Under The Affordable Care Act, you might choose to shop around and pick your own individual healthcare plan. Plus, you might qualify for a substantial subsidy because your income has stopped or has been dramatically decreased.

Don’t worry if it’s not open enrollment time; losing your job counts as one of those unforeseen life events that allow you to apply midyear.

5. Ask Your Former Employer for a Reference and/or Feedback

Asking for feedback from someone who just fired you is a bold move that takes a lot of courage and confidence, but hey, what do you really have to lose? If you’re on decent terms with anyone at your old place of work, it’s best to ask for feedback as soon as possible while you’re still in touch and your hard work is fresh in their mind.

Not only can you use this as an opportunity to learn, but you might also get a few good references out of it that you can use to jazz up your LinkedIn profile or your portfolio website. Whatever the feedback, by asking for it, you’re bound to leave your ex-employees and colleagues with a great last impression of you as a proactive and growth-minded person. 

6. Nurture Your Professional Contacts and Let People Know You’re Looking for a New Job

I know that the last thing you want to do when you’ve just lost your job is to tell people that you’ve lost your job. But that’s the shame talking—and, you don’t have to tell them what happened in any detail if you don’t want to. 

Letting people in your networks know that you’re looking for a job can result in new opportunities coming your way. You could always tell people that you’re currently in between jobs and describe what kind of role you’re looking for. Chances are, they won’t even think to ask why you left your previous job.

True story: our founder, Lauren McGoodwin, made a career transition from higher education to recruitment thanks to informational interviews. And when she left her recruitment job, her role was replaced with someone who had built a relationship with her via informational interviews. You can learn more about the ins and outs of Lauren's story and informational interviews in her book, Power Moves.

7. Review Your 401(k) Retirement Contributions

When you're leaving a job, you have a few options regarding what to do with your 401(k). For starters, you can leave it in your employer's plan if you have at least $5,000 in your account. It will stay invested in whatever you currently have it in. You can also open a rollover IRA (individual retirement account), and transfer your old 401(k) there. We would recommend you consult with a financial advisor to ensure you understand all your investment options with this move. 

Once you know where your money is and how much you have, you can think about your future options. Hopefully, your next employer will offer their own 401(k) plan. With that new plan, find out whether you have the option to consolidate your old plan with the new one. If so, you’ll get your retirement investments back under one roof without suffering tax penalties.

The goal of this tip is not to ignore your retirement contributions or assume your former employer will just take care it. Talk to your HR department prior to your departure to make sure you understand your options and create a strategy from there. There are lots of great financial resources out there to help you navigate these changes as well. 

8. Check in With How You’re Feeling About Your Career

Now’s a great moment to pause and do some introspective thinking about the trajectory of your career and life so far.

Once you've had time to reflect on what you want in your next role, create a list of 5-10 target companies that match your career ideals. We recommend focusing your job search on roles at these companies. Our job search course dives deeper into how to create a job search strategy around target companies, too!

9. Launch Your Job Search With an Updated Resume, LinkedIn Profile, and Cover Letter

Now’s a great moment to spend some time sprucing up your LinkedIn profile. If you want to maximize your chances of getting interviews with your dream companies, we’ve got you covered.

Whether you could use a refresher on how to write an outstanding cover letter, put together an eye-catching resume, or ace a job interview, it’s worth reading up on our tried-and-tested tips for all these essential steps in getting your next job. We even have some helpful deep-dive courses that can help you fast-track to success in your job hunt as well.

Don't forget to research in-demand industries and high-income skills, explore other types of career paths, and use a variety of job boards.

How to Use Your Layoff to Restore

Depression after being laid off or losing your job is very common.

You may also be coming out of your last job feeling burned out and in poor health, so it’s important to use the time after your layoff to rest and restore before you charge right into the next thing on your to-do list. Let’s break down what that might look like for you.

10. Catch Up on Health Appointments

Whether it’s an eye test, dental checkup, or general check-in with your doctor, we’re all guilty of leaving health appointments perpetually lingering somewhere in the middle of our to-do lists.

Now’s a great time to schedule those in, if you can. Is it fun? No. Is it smart and healthy? Yeah, we know. 

11. Introduce Some New Healthy Dishes to Your Routine

Meal planning is also one of those things that tend to fall by the wayside when you’re busy. Why not take stock of your eating habits and try cracking open some recipe books or checking out some of those nourishing recipes on Pinterest you’ve been meaning to get around to testing?

12. Improve Your Sleep Habits

Are you an early bird or night owl, or do you have no clue anymore because you’re used to burning the candle at both ends? Try tracking your sleep habits for a week and see how you feel. Now is the perfect time to make some adjustments to your routine to maximize your energy.

13. Get in a Good Exercise Routine

You don’t have to have a fancy or expensive gym membership to get into a good exercise routine.

Think about what kinds of exercise you enjoy, and then decide on a routine that you think you can realistically stick to—whether it’s 10 minutes of Pilates a day at home with the help of YouTube, a regularly scheduled dance break with your housemate, or a daily walk around the block, make it easy and fun.

14. Get Your Finances in Order and Set Yourself Some Goals

You’re likely needing to save money wherever possible right now, so why not also take the opportunity to design yourself a plan to get out of any credit card debt that might have built up? You’ll form some good habits that will help while money’s tight, and while you probably won’t be able to save or pay off your debt while you’re not earning, you’ll be prepped with some great money-saving habits and ready to go as soon as you get your next job.

15. Make a Vision Journal

When we’re busy with work, it can be hard to find the time to sit down and really think deeply about what we want for our life, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of just letting things happen to us.

Now that you’re facing a natural moment of pause in your career, why not create your own vision journal so you can make sure that the next steps you take will lead you to a more fulfilling and happy life? 

16. Organize Your Photos

Not only are well-organized digital photo albums (complete with backed-up files) The Dream in a world of digital clutter, organizing photos is also a great way to reconnect with some of your happiest memories and the people in your life that mean the most to you. This awareness may well spark ideas for ways you’d like to spend this time in between jobs.

17. Nurture Your Inner Circle

One of the key pillars of resilience during difficult periods is having a strong social circle. Rather than focusing on quantity, or superficial interactions, try to focus on quality, keeping that inner circle small but investing your energy with the people you trust the most.

When we’re between jobs, it’s easy to get lonely while many of your friends are busy during the work day and without your own colleagues to make small talk with on the regular. Make sure you book in time with your nearest and dearest, whether that’s on a Zoom or in person.

18. Schedule (and Limit!) Your Job Hunting Hours

Let’s face it, looking for a job can be draining, and if you don’t put some firm boundaries in place to limit the amount of time you spend scouring job sites and tweaking your resume, you’re setting yourself up for a mental health disaster.

Treat your job search like a part-time job and define the hours you’re going to show up for that job so it doesn’t end up swallowing all of your time—and your self-esteem and wellbeing in the process. 

How to Inspire Yourself After a Layoff 

Remember that vision journal? It’s time to crack that open and start dreaming up some fun and creative ways to spend this time. It’s not all about the job hunt—or, it doesn’t have to be.

Now that you have taken care of the practicalities of your situation and are aware of what kind of state your finances are in, things can get interesting.

19. Reframe How You Think About This Time

It’s not every day you get a big chunk of time off work. While it wasn’t exactly your choice, and you may not feel positive about it right now, you get to choose how you think about this time. Seeing the potential and freedom of this phase can be empowering. Let’s make sure you don’t look back on this time and wish you’d spent it doing something other than refreshing your email, scouring job boards, and Netflix bingeing. 

20. Get Involved With Volunteer or Fundraising Work

Whether your thing is running marathons, litter picking, mentoring teenagers, helping the elderly, or volunteering with an NGO, giving your time and talents to a good cause is not only incredibly fulfilling, but it’s a great thing to put on your resume or share in response to questions about how you spent this time in between jobs. 

21. Travel 

Whether or not you have enough money saved up to fund some travel, an adventure further afield isn’t off the cards. If you’re short on cash, consider volunteering with an organization like Indigo Volunteers, working on a farm in a beautiful place in exchange for accommodation, au pairing, or teaching English.

22. Dedicate Some Time to Your Side Hustle

Whether you want to try your hand at selling letterbox baked goods, floral arrangements, or thrifted clothing, or use a website like Upwork to get some part-time freelance work, now’s your chance to try your hand at something new.

Start small, keep the stakes and costs low, and you never know what could come of it. Maybe you’ll create yourself a whole new career, or maybe you’ll just have some fun and learn some things in the process. Either way, it’s time well spent, and you might earn enough to tide you over until your next job.

23. Learn a New Skill Just for Fun and Get Outside Your Comfort Zone

How long has it been since you tried something new? Find out if there are any improv, comedy, art, or dance classes available to you locally. Or if you’re musically inclined, find a local choir or music group to join.

24. Learn a New Skill to Level-Up Your Resume

Take a free Google Analytics course, teach yourself to code or use Photoshop, refine your public speaking skills, learn to give and receive feedback better. Whatever you’re drawn to learn or improve, it might just boost your confidence or give your resume a new edge.

25. Make Yourself a Portfolio Website

Do you have a website where you showcase all your impressive skills and experience yet? They’re easy to build, and can be such a useful way to communicate who you are and what you’re passionate about to future employers. It might even help you get some freelance work while you look for your next full-time gig.

26. Start a Blog

You might want to take the idea of a portfolio website one step further and start a blog. What are you passionate about? Photography, social justice, nature, knitting? Why not start a blog and indulge in your enthusiasm for whatever brings you joy.

Once you’ve got it going, you could even monetize it by adding the Ko-fi plugin, affiliate links to your favorite products and books, or start a Substack newsletter. 

27. Start a Podcast

Learning how to record and edit a podcast is a really useful skill to have and another impressive thing to be able to tell future employers about in a job interview. You don’t have to commit to doing hundreds of episodes.

If you have an idea, start small, have fun, and try doing a mini-season of, say, 10 episodes and see how you feel about continuing after that. Apps like Anchor make it easier than you might think to record and edit your very own show.

28. Write a Book

Ever wished you could find the time to write a book? Why not go for it now?

Whether you make a short and sweet e-book or write a fantasy epic, use a self-publishing platform like Unbound or start approaching agents and publishers, you’ll feel proud that you used this time to pursue a dream.

29. Enter Some Creative Writing Competitions

Speaking of writing, if writing a book feels too overwhelming to you, why not try writing shorter pieces and entering some creative writing competitions?

There’s something out there for everyone, whether poetry, short stories, or creative non-fiction is your thing. Having an external deadline and a prompt or theme can be a really helpful way to get ideas flowing.

30. Commit to Your Hobbies

Initiatives like the 100 Day Project have grown in popularity lately because it’s incredibly satisfying to commit to something and then see yourself improve little by little.

Whether it’s knitting, sketching, poetry writing, photography, or embroidery, you’ll feel a huge sense of achievement by setting yourself a goal and doing something you love every day.

How to Motivate Yourself After Being Fired or Laid Off

31. Join a Job Search Happy Hour

Career Contessa Founder Lauren McGoodwin, recommends joining or starting a job search happy hour—a regular meet-up with other people in your network or community who are also looking for a job or have just started a new job. Job hunting and career transitions can be lonely, and connecting with others in a similar phase of life is a great way to stay accountable and motivated.

When I was going through a career transition, I connected with a friend who was also job-hunting via WhatsApp. We’d share how we felt that week and celebrate things like submitting a job application or getting an interview. It helps to have a buddy or two who just get it.

32. Make Yourself a Positive Affirmation Swipe File

Our brains are wired to focus on the negative, so we all need a little help focusing on the positive from time to time. It might sound corny, but keeping a Word document where you put any positive affirmation you receive can be a real pick-me-up when you’re feeling down.

You don’t only have to save professional feedback, either. If a friend, family member, or stranger gives you a compliment, don’t just shrug it off. Write it in your positive affirmation swipe file to cheer yourself up on a rainy day.

33. Consider Working With a Career Coach

Not everyone has the funds to invest in a career coach or consultant while in between jobs, but if you do, now’s a great time to do that. Having a professional on your side to help you adjust your sails during this transitional season could be invaluable. They can help you ensure your next job is more fulfilling and enjoyable than the last. 

34. Find a Mentor

A career mentor can be someone in your circle who gets your unique struggles and interests and is just a few steps ahead in whatever area you need help in. You might even find a mentor in the form of a willing friend or family member. Wherever you find one, a mentor can support you, cheer you on, and help you feel less alone.

35. Be a Mentor

Just because you’ve been laid off doesn’t mean you don’t have a lot to offer someone younger and less experienced in your field. Perhaps you’d like to share some things you’ve learned about your career and path in life via Instagram or your blog.

Or, maybe you’re aware of a less experienced person in your life who’d like a listening ear and occasional support and advice in their career. A rising tide lifts all boats, and you’ll get a confidence and morale boost from sharing your experience, as well as giving back.   

36. Put Together an Inspiring Reading List

Are you really living your best life after layoff without a good book or two (or three…)? If you’d like a motivational read to help you achieve your goals, Career Contessa Founder Lauren McGoodwin’s book Power Moves and Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo are bound to do the trick.

37. Celebrate Small Wins With Regular Rewards

It’s easy to forget just how much you’ve done each day unless you actually track it. Make a habit of celebrating every time you accomplish something from your to-do list, whatever the results. Submitted a job application? Celebrate. Reached out to check opportunities with someone from your network? Celebrate. Felt the fear of going outside your comfort zone, but did something new anyway? Celebrate!

38. Make a Rejection Jar

We all know rejection stings. So, let’s turn this into a game: write each job or opportunity you applied for but didn’t get down on a piece of paper, fold it up, and put it in a jar (the bigger the jar, the better).

Your goal is to fill up that jar. Make a note on the lid of how you’ll reward yourself when it’s full, and don’t forget to follow through.

39. Keep a Running Brag List

Someday soon, you’re going to be sitting in a job interview or talking to someone who’s in the position you’re in now, telling them about the lessons you learned and skills you developed during this season. It takes grit, resilience, and vision to persevere through a difficult and uncertain time, and writing down all the things you have to feel proud of will help you stay connected to your power. 

Will you look back one day and realize that your layoff was the best thing that ever happened to you? You never know. But either way, if you use your layoff as an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate, you’re bound to bounce back stronger than before. 

40. Identify and Celebrate Your Career Strengths

If your self-esteem took a hit with this layoff, take a deep breath and do a deep dive into your strengths. Don’t worry, we’ll walk you through the process. Not only is this a great way to feel better about yourself, but it will also help you identify jobs that are likely to be a good fit for your strengths, put together strong applications, and give you more confidence in interviews.