In recent months, the tech industry has seen sweeping job cuts. According to layoffs.fyi, 356 companies have laid off 104,557 people in 2023, and counting.
As a publicist and ghostwriter serving executive business leaders, I have something to contribute, and I firmly believe this:
Any piece of content has the potential to create an opportunity.
A contact of mine was recently laid off from Google. After the initial shock wore off, she shared a post with her network on LinkedIn. She shared a bit more than just the obvious.
She presented herself to her network with vulnerability; she empathized with her fellow Xooglers; she let her network know about her plans (she was going to use this unexpected shift to go all in on executive coaching), and then, she gave her network a means to schedule complimentary sessions with her.
Her post gathered close to 50,000 impressions, and she had more than one person reach out to request a proposal from her.
Her network showed up for her, and then some.
Content creates opportunities that have yet to be seen.
For those who have been impacted by layoffs, there are opportunities out there for you. You may not be able to see them, but they are there.
To unlock those invisible opportunities, you have to be brave. You're going to need to build up the courage to create something. I know it's not what you want to hear.
The desire to make your next move has to be greater than your fear of sharing.
What's the worst thing that could happen if your network finds out you've been laid off? Is it that they're going to feel bad for you? Is that what you're afraid of?
That's your ego talking. Tell it to leave the room.
If you don't share your news with your network, your network can't help you make your next big move.
Believe me, your network WANTS to help you. Asking for help is not weak. Repeat that to yourself.
The bottom line is that you're going to need to get comfortable with the idea that, by sharing your news with your network, a lot of people are going to learn about your new reality at once.
Is that such a bad thing?
Think of yourself as the lead marketer of... yourself.
Couldn't resist.
The second part of leaving your ego at the door is realizing that you are the lead marketer of you. You are the one person who has the potential to get yourself out of the situation you're in. You just have to build up the courage to create something.
Share your new reality with your network.
There are plenty of ways to share your not so great news with your network.
For me, LinkedIn is the platform that has the power to make lemonade out of lemons. On LinkedIn, you can reach a large group of relevant people quickly. LinkedIn is where your professional network lives. It is a fountain of opportunity, if you choose to tap into it.
Sharing one single post can be incredibly liberating.
"I was terrified before publishing the post about my recent layoff. I had no idea how wonderful it would feel when my network and community showed up for me the way they did. It feels fantastic."
Here's the tactical advice.
Craft your post.
Type up a paragraph about what's going on with you professionally. What happened... how you're feeling... what your area of expertise is... what you're looking to do next.
Yes, you CAN share your feelings. Trust me. It is going to help you more than you know.
Look at the paragraph you just wrote, and ask yourself if it's enough. Ask yourself if the tone is appropriate. Ask yourself if what you wrote has the potential to reach the people in your network who might be able or willing to help you make your next move. Ask yourself if your post will inspire anyone to respond.
Edit your post. Leave it alone for 24 hours. Edit it again.
Add a couple of relevant hashtags to give it a bit of gusto (#layoffs, #yourexpertise, #tech...)
Trust that the universe will support you, and hit publish.
After 24 hours has passed, message me and let me know how you're feeling.
If someone you know has been impacted by layoffs, share this article with them. Be a person who gives someone that little push they need to move forward.
Thanks for reading,
Amie
What does your external profile look like? Is it an accurate reflection of who you are and where you want to go with your career? Do you need a little push or a touch of polish to position yourself for your next big move?
I created WINS to give women in leadership the external support they need to maximize their impact and secure their success in business by putting the power AND the story into their hands.
It sounds dramatic, but it's true. So much of the struggle AND the success of reaching our goals is about where the power sits -- about who is controlling the narrative -- and who is charged with making the decisions of impact. In your career journey, that should be you.
Learn about WINS or view the services list at https://www.wins.media.
