In the wake of a layoff, it's easy to feel like you're starting from scratch. But what if I told you that you're actually starting from a place of strength and experience? Jane Janniere, a Toronto-based outplacement and career transition coach, argues that the traditional advice to update your résumé first is misguided. Instead, she recommends a Reset Roadmap, a process that begins with stabilizing before marketing yourself to employers.
Janniere believes that a layoff is more than just a job-search problem; it's a human transition with a job-search component. When you lose a job, you also lose structure, routine, belonging, status, identity, confidence, financial safety, and a clear sense of what comes next. So, instead of rushing to update your résumé, Janniere encourages you to take a step back and reflect on what you've learned from your previous workplace.
She asks her clients four questions: What actually happened? What am I telling myself this means? What do I know for sure versus what am I assuming? What decision doesn't need to be made today? By answering these questions, you can separate facts from fear, reconnect with your skills and accomplishments, and decide what you want more of and less of in your next role.
Only after working through these questions should you update your résumé, LinkedIn profile, and interview story. Janniere acknowledges that many people don't have the financial luxury of spending months reflecting before beginning a job search, but she argues that processing the experience and moving quickly aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, taking the time to reflect can help you build a strategy that balances financial realities with finding a better long-term fit.
So, the next time you find yourself laid off, remember that you're not starting from nothing. You're starting from a place of strength and experience. Take the time to reflect, reconnect with your skills, and build a strategy that works for you. And who knows? You might just find that your next job is even better than the last one.
