Re-Launch You: Liftoff After Layoff Catherine Morgan Career Transition and Entrepreneur Coach Point A to Point B Transitions Inc.
Jul 12, 2015
Re-Launch You:Liftoff After Layoff
Catherine MorganCareer Transition and Entrepreneur Coach
Point A to Point B Transitions Inc.
You are not alone
• Congratulations for getting here today
• Tales from the front
Some people feel relief
• I always ask if congratulations or condolencesare in order
– But you might feel guilty if you do feel relieved
What we will cover today
1. Reframing Transition
2. The New Normal
3. The Rollercoaster
4. How to Have an Easier Transition
Reframing Transition
Transition as a time to evaluate
• I encourage you to think of this as a time to evaluate:
– What did you like?
– What would you change?
– What have you always wanted to try?
– What is on your life list that you have been meaning to do?
You might say…
• My life sucks
I might say…
• Probably only some parts of your life suck
Exercise: Wheel of Life
(not my creation but very helpful)
Career Health
SpiritualityFinances
Creativity
Family
Relationships
Social life
Transition as a time of opportunity
• This could be a time to:
– Get back on track
– Find work that fits around your life
– Find work that is more aligned with your values
What I call transition
“The squishy rich primordial stew of infinite possibility” ~ Catherine Morgan
Photo credit: Maryanne Natarajan
The New Normal
The world of work has changed
• We are all self-employed
• We must take responsibility for our own training
• We must maintain our network
What is your right next choice?
• What is your overhead like?
• What obligations do you have coming up?
• What is your financial situation?
Has your job paradigm shifted?
• Will corporate rehire for your position?
– Or will it typically be outsourced going forward?
New possibility – job portfolio
• Some of you will look for traditional full-time work
• Some people either by choice or necessity will opt to have a “job portfolio”
– Several part-time jobs
– Primary job and a side project
– Freelance work
– Freelance work and their own business
If you want to freelance
• Do you pitch your own projects?
• Go through another company?
Self-assessment
• What have you always wanted to do?
– If you don’t know, check out Do More Great Work by Michael Bungay Stanier
• Thinking about starting a business?
– Read The Entrepreneur EquationBy Carol Roth
Tying it all together
• Want to thrive in the new world of work?
– Read Body of WorkBy Pamela Slim
Exercise: Likes and Dislikes
What I liked about my prior job(s) What I would change in my next job
Connecting to your values
• Not all of us are money motivated
– But there is nothing wrong if you are
• Did your work leave you feeling hollow?
– I helped Deloitte make a lot of money but…
• Have you been walking around thinking,“Is this all there is?”
• What do you want your legacy to be?
The benefits of being clear
• There are huge benefits to being clear on exactly what you are looking for
– You can use it as a lens through which you can evaluate opportunities
• But leave the door open for something that might be even better
The Rollercoaster
There are emotional ups and downs
• You will have good days and bad days
– I told one client that I would be more worried if she wasn’t depressed sometimes
• But you also may feel guilty about enjoying your time off
Not unlike the Five Stages of Grief
• The Kübler-Ross model, commonly known as The Five Stages of Grief
– Denial
– Anger
– Bargaining
– Depression
– Acceptance
How to stay out of the dips
• Do something every day to move your job search forward
– It can be something very small or a few very small actions
– The trick is to feel like you are making progress
Volunteer, shadow, or intern
• To learn new skills
• To have stories to tell in interviews
• To explore different possibilities and next steps
Go on informational interviews
• To find out what doing that job might be like
• To build your network
Start a blog
• To establish yourself as an expert or thought leader
• To keep yourself relevant
• To get Google juice and LinkedIn credit
– Google and LinkedIn are the new background checks
Stay scheduled
• Spending too much time in your own head is not good
• Work expands to the amount of time allotted
• If you keep things in your schedule you will get more done (Trust me on this!)
– Remember that old saying, “If you want to get something done, ask a busy person.”
Consider teaching for free
• Teaching is a great way to:
– Establish yourself as an expert
– Keep your skills sharp
– Build connections
Play catch up
• Catch up on the things you have wanted to do but didn’t have the time
– Learn a new business skill
– Paint a room
– Organize your garage, basement, office, or closet
– Learn to cook
– Start eating healthily
– Begin (or continue) exercising regularly
Fill the well
• Take an art course
• Learn a language
• Go on a road trip
Small things, big differences
• Sometimes small things can make you happy and feel abundant
– Julia Cameron and fresh fruit from The Artist’s Way
BUT keep looking for a job
• Projects can distract
– They make you feel like you are doing something
• Is looking for a job a full-time job?
How to Have an Easier Transition
For an easier time with your search
• Get a buddy
• Join some groups (like this one)
• Hire a coach
Useful tools and techniques
• Ensure your browser has spell check enabled –this is a must!
• Become a connector
– I keep hearing that 85% of jobs don’t get posted
– But you can’t ignore online postings
• Check out Indeed.com (a consolidator job site)
My best advice for job search
• Don’t do your own resume
– It’s impossible to strike the right tone and balance
• Don’t let your spouse or partner coach you
– Even if they are an expert
• Accountability is king
– Make sure you are accountable to someone (or preferably several people)
My best advice on how to thrive
• Evaluate all of your options
• Make the most of this time
– Use it to catch up on all the things you have been meaning to do
• Reconnect with friends and family
• Help someone else
• Be extra kind to yourself
– Transition is stressful and exhausting
Questions?
Catherine Morgan
Career Transition and Entrepreneur Coach
Point A to Point B Transitions Inc.
877.672.5333
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/pointatopointb
Twitter @PointA_PointB