More big companies, including Amazon, Facebook and Google, have begun layoffs among their workers.
Many industries have been hit, but according to layoffs.fyi, more than 120,000 tech jobs have been lost this year alone.
If you find yourself among the throngs of people laid off, this article can provide some much-needed resources to help you.
What To Do If You’ve Been Laid Off
But don’t despair: There are some proactive things you can do so that you can keep money in your pocket, including finding a job and generating extra cash in the meantime.
What Does Laid Off Mean?
First of all, when it happened to you, the words “laid off,” may have stunned you. I mean, who among us workers is fully able to process those words when they apply to us?
If you’ve been furloughed, it means you’re technically still employed. If you’ve been fired, you don’t qualify for some of the benefits afforded to other categories of job loss.
Also what does laid off even mean? The definition is crucial because it determines whether you’ll be able to collect benefits or not. And that leads us into the initial thing you will want to do when a layoff occurs.
1. File For Unemployment
Go to your respective Department of Labor and file for unemployment. Your former employer may have given you some guidance on this, but it’s not hard to find.
In Georgia, the Department of Labor’s website has all you need to get started. An added bonus this year is that unemployment recipients will get an additional $600 a week until July 31 due to the CARES Act passed by Congress.
One of the requirements of those who would receive unemployment benefits is that you need to be looking for a job.
In fact, proof of your job search is so important to the state, that they will require you to “certify” every week. That’s why you’ll want to …
2. Search For A Job
Looking for a job is more convenient these days, yet it’s still as hard as it’s ever been. You’ll want to use all means at your disposal to find a job. Here are some resources you’ll want to tap:
- Friends and Family
- Job Sites
- Social Groups (Fraternities, Sororities, etc.)
- Help Wanted Signs
- Posters
If you’re not familiar with it, LinkedIn.com is a great resources for job seekers. Here’s how to use it in your job search.
3. Secure Health Insurance
When you get laid off or lose your job another way, your former job is required to keep your health insurance for 60 days post-dismissal.
During this crucial time, you’ll want to look for health insurance so that your coverage continues.
You may qualify for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), which is employer-sponsored health insurance coverage.
Contrary to popular belief, COBRA insurance is not free. Your monthly premium will typically cost what you’ve been paying plus a 2% service fee.
4. Network
Another thing you’ll want to do is network, network, network. We mentioned checking with family and friends as well as social groups to help you find a job.
You can kick things up a notch by networking online. Join Facebook groups that are job-focused. You can also join “who’s hiring” groups on LinkedIn and other sites.
The bottom line is that you may have to get out of your comfort zone. Talk about yourself, brag about your accomplishments. Some ways to do that are:
5. Start A Side Hustle
While your job search is in high gear, take advantage of the time by looking at what side jobs, projects and hustles you can do to generate income.
Do you like to paint? Maybe you can paint birdhouses or fences? Are you an artists? Perhaps you can do graphics for small businesses or individuals.
If you need some help coming up with ideas, check out our 15 Hobbies You Can Turn Into Side Hustles.
Bottom Line
The U.S. economy is teetering on a recession because of the coronavirus pandemic. If you’ve been laid off, here are some steps you need to take to get back to work.
The bottom line is that even though you may be idle from a working standpoint, you want to stay productive for your mind and wallet’s sake.
Don’t get down on yourself or wallow in pity. Millions of people transition from one job to the next in any given year. In fact, it’s the only way your career can grow.
