‘The Modern Job Hunt’ is a podcast series about Job Hunting. The host Ryan Fetterly interviews experts from recruiters, to hiring managers to Campus Career Strategists. This is the first episode.
This episode covered the layoff, severance, EI applications, and the first 2 weeks post-layoff. We (Katherine Chong and I) talked about updating LinkedIn Profiles to Open to Work and answering questions during the LinkedIn live session in August 2023. This episode provides valuable insights into dealing with layoffs, the emotional journey involved, and strategies for moving forward in one's career.
Core Topics High Level:
Layoff Experiences: The guests discuss their personal experiences with layoffs. Ryan mentions that layoffs are a common part of the tech industry, emphasizing the importance of how one rebounds from such situations.
Katherine's First Layoff: She describes noting the early signs like cancelled meetings with key decision-makers. She shares the emotional impact of the layoff and the importance of setting expectations in high-risk companies.
Survivor's Guilt and Layoff Signals: Ryan talks about experiencing survivor's guilt in a previous company and recognizing signs of impending layoffs, such as unusual meeting schedules.
Immediate Reactions to Layoffs: Both speakers share their immediate reactions post-layoff, with Ryan going for brunch and brainstorming ideas, and Katherine taking time to process the event.
Concept of Sabbaticals and Unemployment: Katherine discusses her sabbatical in 2021, highlighting the importance of finding play and exploration during periods of unemployment.
Embracing New Opportunities: Ryan views layoffs as an opportunity for a fresh start and to try new things, like content creation and podcasting.
Job Hunting as a Skill: Both agree that job hunting is a skill that needs to be developed, especially in the tech industry where layoffs are common.
Finding Fulfillment in New Ventures: They discuss the fulfillment found in creating and owning projects end-to-end, contrasting this with the often fragmented contributions in larger corporate settings.
Networking and Conversations During Job Hunting: Ryan shares his strategy of having 30-minute conversations with people in his network, finding energy and motivation through these interactions.
Learning from Others' Job Hunting Experiences: They emphasize learning from others' experiences in job hunting, sharing insights and strategies that worked for them and their network.
Key Topics:
The "Zoom" Call aka Layoff Call
Severance Packages
Lawyers & Severance Reviews
Getting your contract and severance package reviewed
Applying to EI
EI & Severance
Your "Open to Work" LinkedIn Post
