While layoffs appear to be slowing down, some fields are still hurting.
HR practitioners, for example, have been disproportionately impacted. Now, those often tasked with helping employees through the layoff process need to prepare, mourn, and rebound.
Be prepared. Getting laid off is often among a person’s worst nightmares. No one, not even an HR pro, is guaranteed work, so they should conduct a career assessment once a year and update their resume, according to the New York Times.
Roxy Keshavarznia, a Toronto-based talent acquisition partner with more than a decade in tech HR, told HR Brew about the stress that accompanies career instability. Prior to being laid off in November 2022, she said she could feel it coming. “It was like dating someone who you didn't know was interested in you and you're like, ‘Just break up with me already.’ Like, I'm tired of just waiting and anticipation.”
She tried to get ahead of the situation by coming up with a financial plan with her partner and started applying for jobs, just in case. Some experts recommend putting more money in an emergency savings account and keeping a careful eye on your budget to prepare.
Bouncing back. Greg Martin, an Atlanta-based recruiter, was laid off for the first time in June 2022 and then again in November. He recommended that out-of-work HR pros be patient and thoughtful when applying for jobs.
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“Instead of putting out multiple nets in different ponds hoping to catch something, you stretch yourself and may get something you don't want,” he said via email. “My advice is to create the best possible net you can, which will attract the fish you want to swim in your net, and then you can pick and choose what fish you want.”
Keshavarznia echoed similar sentiments, saying that recruiters need to believe in the company they’re hiring for because they may feel responsible for the well-being of potential new hires. That’s why she focused on “stable companies.” “If it's not like a stable economy or a stable company or product…it doesn't feel good to do your job.”
To protect his mental health, Martin searched for jobs as if he were working a 9-to-5. He set up a schedule, gave himself specific goals, and attended resume and interview workshops to prepare.
But the time between jobs shouldn’t just be about work. Martin and Keshavarznia recommended taking time to focus on yourself and what brings you peace. For example, Martin spent more time playing sports, while Keshavarznia took some time to volunteer, fostering a litter of kittens.
“It still sucks and you still need to mourn. And everyone mourns differently,” Keshavarznia said. “Whatever your journey is, is your journey.”