Actually, I was laid-off, but I don't want to make it about me. What I've noticed is that there are a lot of colleagues that have never been through this before. I have a bunch of times, and it feels like it's just a part of working for dotcoms. The two worst gaps I lived through were after 9/11 in 2001, and in 2009 as the great recession was ending. I spent six months out in both cases.
The first thing is to not panic. It probably feels like the most natural thing, but don't do that. Generally your job fills your brain with things to concern yourself about, maybe in stressful ways, but those are instantly gone. No more worrying about getting that TPS report done, or having to sit through another status meeting, or whatever used to burden you.
Sure, you have different problems now, but none of them will be solved today. Exhale, relax, go outside. If you don't live somewhere warm, maybe now is a good time to visit one. We all take vacations, but in the back of your mind, somewhere, you probably still have that job on your mind as you're out in the world. That's what makes this situation different. It's a forced sabbatical of sorts. Try to find the joy in that.
We all put work somewhere on an identity pendulum, and you might find that yours is out of whack. On one end, you're checked out and a job is just something to fill your time, and hopefully your pocket. At the other end, life is work and work is life, it defines you. Being on that end of the spectrum is not particularly healthy. On my first lay-off, 28 years, it crushed me because I thought my job defined me. It took a long while to unlearn that.
RIF's are almost never personal. They feel personal, but it's largely about spreadsheets and bottom lines. OK, so it's personal to you, but there isn't anyone celebrating your departure at HQ.
Take a little time, then make your job looking for a job. Network, meet people, figure out how to cut through the noise. Lean on your friends. You'll get through it.
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