50-something laid off and lessons learned

I was laid off six months ago and the reality is that we are now competing globally for roles. I don't know about you, but honestly I was woefully unprepared for finding a job in this new world. Six months is a long time and it's seriously taking mental gymnastics to stay positive. But I've learned a lot along the way and thought I would share. If most of your professional connections are in the same age group, it could limit your opportunities unless they're in influential positions. This wasn't even on my radar until recently. We tend to go about our work lives thinking everything's fine, and then bam! You're hit with a layoff, and suddenly having an aging or similarly affected network isn't so helpful. This was my big aha moment and I realized that I needed to take charge of my LinkedIn profile and network. This means being actively engaged, sharing relevant content, and presenting yourself in such a compelling way that you become impossible to overlook. This isn't an easy task and it can definitely be challenging if self-promotion isn't your forte. I can relate; even as a marketer, spending all day promoting others, it's easy to overlook promoting ourselves. Do what you can to keep yourself out there. I am doing my best, and thought I would share this tiny bit of wisdom. Hang in there everyone.