Recovering from a layoff and plunging into a new job search is a daunting journey. If you’re wondering how long it may take to find a new job after a layoff, I’ll be sharing my own experience and tips for an effective transition.
With constant news coming out daily about major layoff announcements, it seems like no one is hiring. If you remember, just a couple of years ago was the great resignation when it seemed like companies were scrambling to hire and retain talent.
Today, with an uncertain economy, the current job market is much different. It’s an employer’s market, and competition is fierce.
I was laid off from my job last summer and didn’t realize how bad it was until it was time for me to secure a new job. So if you’re currently experiencing one, I completely understand your pain.
Understanding the Average Job Search Times Today
According to a recent survey conducted by ZipRecruiter, a substantial 80% of professionals believe securing a new role takes at least three months or more. With some experiencing job searches that stretch to two or three times this anticipated amount.
When I was laid off from my job, I naively walked into the job search with my rose color glasses on.
In a strong job market, I could land interviews within days and start a new job within a month. During the summer of 2023, it took me 3 months to land my new remote role after hundreds of applications and countless conversations with recruiters that led nowhere. Plus, I was even ghosted by companies after getting to the final round of interviews.
Some of my ex-colleagues were able to land something faster than this, and others took longer. It will vary by your industry and experience level.
So what the heck is going on in the job market?
While the dynamics of the job market are ever-evolving, the main culprit to our current situation is the economy. With inflation, higher interest rates, and all the free COVID money dried up, companies are taking a very conservative approach.
To extend their cash runways, they have to cut costs. Unfortunately, this is at the expense of workers’ jobs and their livelihoods.
As for the job hunt, companies are being way more selective about the candidates they interview for open positions. This is then trickling down to the recruiters.
I can’t tell you how many conversations I had with recruiters about open roles that I was probably a good fit for and was ghosted by after. It’s disheartening at first, but it’s something you’ll learn to get over quickly as you get further along in the job search process.
How To Land Your Next (Remote) Job Quickly
In the wake of a layoff, your ability to swiftly navigate the job market is crucial, especially when targeting remote positions.
Most of the work-from-home roles get hundreds of applications. Even though not all job applicants are qualified, you should have an effective job search strategy to maximize your chances of landing a job and minimize the amount of time you are unemployed.
Simply filling out job applications online, without an optimized resume won’t get anywhere.
You need to take a methodical approach, give yourself time to analyze your situation, and, most importantly, don’t jump into the job search full of panic and desperation.
Hiring managers can tell if you’re in a state of despair. They’ll likely not hire you because they may think of you as a flight risk. Someone who only applied for the job because they need one and will leave once a better opportunity comes along.
So as cliche as it sounds, you HAVE to get your mindset right! I know it will be tough at times. Especially when the job search starts to get long, and you have no leads.
Although looking for a job is now your full-time job, make sure to make time for moving your body, doing activities that you enjoy, and connecting with friends and family. It will make all the difference in your headspace.
Identify Your Career Goals
Before jumping straight into the job search, take a moment to evaluate what you REALLY want out of your next role.
Do you want to work at a small company or a large one? Are you ok with a hybrid role or do you want to work from home full time? Do you want to transition into a higher title? Do you want to switch industries?
Once you identify what you want next in your career, you’ll be able to focus and target those specific roles.
Update Your Resume
A strong resume that displays your related skills is crucial to getting your application past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and in front of the hiring team.
You’ll also need to tailor your resume to include keywords from each job you apply to. For a more detailed guide on how to update your resume, check out my other post: How To Optimize Your Resume For Applicant Tracking Systems
Want the exact template I used to land a new remote job? Use the link below!
Target Specific Job Titles That Align With Your Experience
To give yourself the best shot at landing a new role quickly, you should focus on roles that match your experience.
You can try to apply for jobs outside of your normal industry, but in this current job market, it will be hard. If you decide to do this, you’ll need to revamp your resume to highlight how your prior experience relates to the position.
Track Your Applications and Interviews
Tracking your job applications is a great way to hold yourself accountable and ensure that you searching for a new role daily. When I was unemployed, I set a goal of applying for at least 3 jobs daily.
You can also track how long it takes companies to get back to you, the interview process, and track and easily see if you’ve already applied for a company or role before.
Leveraging LinkedIn for Your Job Hunt
There’s a lot of hate thrown around about using LinkedIn to find jobs, but in my experience it remains the best platform to find quality jobs.
Unless you’re in the Tech industry, the vast majority of jobs for all other industries are posted on LinkedIn and Indeed.
I prefer LinkedIn because you can sometimes see who the job poster is and who works at the company. You can leverage this and network to get your name known.
I also suggest signing up for LinkedIn Premium so you can get more insights during your job search. While it does cost around $30/month, I found the additional information regarding other applicants and whether my application was viewed helpful.
However, I did find some of LinkedIn’s job suggestions to be off at times. Their algorithm would suggest my profile was a ‘match’ for roles that I was in no way qualified for.
Update Your LinkedIn Profile
Your LinkedIn profile should be a reflection of your resume.
While you don’t need to write down every single detail of each job, it should demonstrate that you are a real person and have the relevant experience to match your resume.
Set-Up Job Alerts For Your Search
Utilize LinkedIn’s job alert function so you can get new jobs delivered to your email daily. You’ll choose the job criteria, such as title and location.
I found this helpful so I could quickly jump on applications without needing to refresh the job search page so often.
Reach Out To Former Colleagues
It’s been found that around 80% of jobs are found through professional and personal connections.
Do you have some former managers and colleagues who will vouch (positively) for you? Reach out to them and let them know of your situation. They may know of job openings that are not advertised to the masses yet.
Reach Out To Recruiters
If you’ve been in your industry for a while, you likely have connections with recruiters. Now is a great time to reconnect and let them know you’re on the market for a new role.
Even if they don’t have a role for you currently, you’ll be on their mind for when the right role does pop up.
Reach Out To The Hiring Manager/Job Posters On LinkedIn
In a competitive job market, you have to be more aggressive in your job search.
This means finding out who the hiring manager or job poster is, introducing yourself, letting them know you applied for the role, and highlighting your relevant skills.
While it’s not a guarantee they’ll answer, it’s a great way to network and get your name out there. If you’re a strong candidate for the role, they may be able to push your application to the top.
As a result of reaching out to job posters for jobs I applied to and was a great match for, I was able to set up a few conversations more quickly.
How I Found My New Remote Job After A Layoff
This was, without a doubt, the toughest job market I’ve faced to date, but with persistence in my job search, I landed a role that fit my experience perfectly.
There were a lot of ups and downs in my job search. I left many interviews feeling confident and then never heard from companies again. Even after the final stages of interviews and many hours of my time wasted. Zero explanation.
But once the stars aligned, I finally found a new remote role that came with a salary increase and decent work-life balance.
I actually applied for my new job directly on LinkedIn, with zero connections to any of the employees. The interview process was straightforward, which was a breath of fresh air.
From my job search experience, if a company has a long and drawn-out interview process or keeps moving the goalpost, it’s a red flag.
Final Words of Wisdom
It might seem daunting to find a new job following a layoff, but with the right strategies in place, the next chapter in your journey can be a beautiful one!
During this time, embrace patience and be persistent in your search. Remember to be kind to yourself and always navigate the uncertain waters post-layoff with confidence.
Layoffs happen to the best of us. You’re worthy of landing an awesome role and will soon find yourself anchoring down in your next fulfilling job.