Together.
Hi No Ceiling Family,
I hope everyone is having a good start to the week. This week’s blog is tough to write as so many in our tech community and others have been impacted by recent layoffs. Growing up in the “tech bubble” as some call it, I never thought I would see the state we are currently in. In 2008, when the last recession took place, I was a junior in high school. The term "recession” didn’t mean much, as I wasn’t in the job force. When graduating college in 2015, I was blessed to come into a strong job market. Here we are 7 years later and another dip has taken place. No one is able to predict when it will be over, but what we can control is how we help those who are directly impacted. As someone who is super career focused, these layoffs have made a clear reminder that these roles can end abruptly and suddenly, but yet I still put a lot of my identity into them. I am now in the headspace of trying to balance out who I am as a person and not allowing my job title to influence that. This is one of the current dialogs, I am having with my therapist. As I continue this journey, I will provide you updates. Now, let’s take a look at how YOU can be of service to those around you, whom may have been impacted by layoffs.
Prior to kicking things off, it’s important to understand and know if whomever you are trying to help is ready to dive back into the job market. If it takes time for a response to email or text, that is fine. It is up to each individual on their timing and process. I’ve been researching articles and thinking of ways I would want to be supported during this time. Below are five actions you can take today, for those who are ready to dive back in. I recommend proactively reaching out to anyone you know was impacted and kick things off. It can be nerve racking for them to begin those conversations.
OFFER SUPPORT WITH THEIR RESUME or LINKEDIN PROFILE AND/OR LEAVE A RECOMMENDATION
HELP THEM CREATE A LIST OF TARGET ORGANIZATIONS - ASSIST W/ OUTREACH EMAIL TEMPLATES
MAKE INTRODUCTIONS OR SUBMIT REFERRALS - IF THERE'S A ROLE OF INTEREST & YOU HAVE A CONNECTION.
BE THERE FOR THE LOWS—NOT JUST THE HIGHS - THIS PROCESS MAY TAKE TIME. WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT GO A LONG WAY.
MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. DON'T OVERSTEP. BE SUPPORTIVE.
Also, as you finish off this week. Please know it’s okay if you are not operating as business as usual. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Keep lines of communication open with your manager.
You got this!
-Alexandria
