—Erin, Washington D.C. “I could not speak more highly of local employment counselors; I’m honestly upset I’d turned my nose up at the idea of ’needing that kind of help’ for so long in my life as part of the workforce.” —svenskaspark —Anonymous —Michael, Colorado “Let’s say that you are applying for a job that requires mentoring junior employees, but you haven’t done that. Or have you? Did you train someone new in a previous job? Did you show someone how to use a register? Did you help someone understand a corporate policy? That counts.” —thia_m Use your network! These days, layoffs are so common that you would be surprised how many people have been through it themselves. When people hear you’ve been laid off, they are (most of the time) more than willing to pass your name along to others. I’ve had friends who posted about their layoffs on LinkedIn, and then their post got shared 1,000+ times. They ended up having over 50 interview invites! You never know who knows who, and it doesn’t hurt to reach out for help." —Annie, Los Angeles “I also googled sample interview questions and wrote them on notecards with my answers on the back. Since all of my interviews were virtual, I had my notecards laid out in front of me or taped to my laptop. I practiced a lot before interviews, but having my cards right there was a big help. I also researched the company before the interview and wrote down their info on notecards as well. Ask questions! I had plenty of those written out as well. And take notes during the interview so you can compare companies and offers later. Most importantly, know your worth! Don’t be afraid to make a counter offer — recruiters basically expect it. It can definitely be a scary and depressing time, but try to stay focused, busy, and positive. A new and better opportunity is out there! Also, it’s okay to kind of enjoy the time off as well.” —Callie, Kansas —MS, Chicago —michelle_b And don’t be afraid to ask former managers or coworkers to open doors for you. I had a former manager write a glowing recommendation to a hiring manager for a role I was interested in (they work at the same company now), and I am convinced that I moved to the final interview round because of my former manager’s note." —Eva, Virginia —Matt, Dallas —Lauren, Ohio —byrdknb
