This was not the plan. You did the job they asked you to do. That was supposed to be enough. Now a layoff has happened (or it’s looming), and suddenly out of nowhere, you have to figure out what’s next. So you're thinking:
“The last time I did a job search was so long ago, I don’t even know how this works anymore.”
“I didn’t plan to be job searching and now I’m completely unprepared.”
“Should I do a career pivot? I have no idea what roles I should even be targeting.”
“I can’t stop swinging between panic, overwhelm, and despair. I have no idea where to even start.”
“How am I supposed to get a job in an economy like this anyway?”
Approaching your job search with steadiness instead of pain and panic. Imagine how it would feel if:
You could release the rage, betrayal, and self-criticism enough to believe in yourself and move forward.
You understood that layoffs are not a reflection of your value as a person or a professional, and you really believe it.
You recognized that post-layoff anxiety is normal and you can still think, decide, and take action.
You had a clear, realistic sense of what matters most in your job search right now and what can wait until later.
You knew how to honor and prioritize your limited energy so you make progress without burning out.
A LAYOFF IS A BETRAYAL THAT LEAVES WOUNDS
The agreement is if you do the job, you keep the job. Layoffs break that agreement. Too often in a sudden, cruel, and impersonal way. It is normal to feel anger, fear, grief, hurt, and deep insecurity in the face of a layoff.Â
It’s incredibly common to turn the pain inward. To wonder what you missed. To question your value. To replay decisions and look for where you went wrong - even if the reason had nothing to do with you.
BUT YOU STILL NEED A JOB
As unfair and painful as this is, it doesn’t change the fact that you have bills to pay.Â
At some point, you still need to stop spiraling long enough to engage in a job search consistently enough and well enough to get a new job.
And the job market has changed so much. The Great Resignation is over. Hiring takes longer. Competition is higher. AI is simultaneously making things easier and WAY harder. What used to work doesn’t always work anymore.
So what are you supposed to do?
SO GET HELP WITH BOTH THE WOUNDS AND THE SEARCH
The anger, fear, and self-doubt interfere with your focus, decision-making, follow-through, and confidence. They make it harder to show up well, even when you technically know what you’re supposed to do.
That’s why in a Starter Session, we don’t just take a tactical approach. We get practical, but not without acknowledging what you’re dealing with.Â
You need someone who understands how emotionally difficult this is and knows how to do this work well.
The Starter Session is a fast, focused way for you to tackle your job search with confidence. In this 30-minute coaching session, I’ll work directly with you to clarify what’s going wrong right now and what will actually work for you in today’s job market.
...and if I can't help to fix your situation for whatever reason, your Starter Session can be fully refunded, no questions asked!
Already had a Starter Session? Then just click here to find out more about my 90 Day Career Lab.
Let's Go!
You’re thinking about starting a job search, but feeling out of practice.
You want to start your search, but can’t decide on a target role.
You’ve been job searching on and off, but want to finally crack it.
You’re mid-search, it’s not working, and you don’t know why.
You know what you need to do, but you can’t make yourself do it.
Hi, I’m Phoebe Gavin
A career coach who helps women and people of color build careers they don’t have to recover from. My work blends strategy, structure, and emotional intelligence. I’ve helped over a thousand clients across dozens of industries get unstuck, level up, and move forward (even in difficult markets like this one).
I’ve also been featured in The Washington Post, Time Magazine, CNBC, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, New Yorker Magazine, CNN, and Netflix.
