Got laid off after almost 20 years at company.

9 Comments

1. AnonymousOctober 5,2023 at 9:22PM UTC

   I'm hoping you got a good severance package. When the same thing happened to me (22 years), I got two weeks' pay for each year I was employed there and an $8,000 bonus to cover six months of COBRA. I still applied for unemployment, but at what I was making when laid off, the unemployment amount was not worth what I had to do for it (classes on how to write a resume and interview, job boards that typically had fast-food and retail jobs, etc.). I used the severance to downsize, return to school for a master's, and have never looked back. Since I was seriously burned out, it was a good time for a career pivot.

2. AnonymousOctober 6,2023 at 10:04PM UTC

   Thank you! I ran and made appointments for all of us since my family was insured under me. It was the better of the 2. Now we have no insurance while we wait for my husband’s job to allow us to sign up in November. Been out of practice and did my resume and started sending it out. I actually received an email from one company and the woman actually emailed me and said she didn’t like my resume! She said to show it to friends or family for their opinions or hire a resume writer. I was floored. It was a whole email y’all. Still not sure if I should be pissed or grateful ? Lol but I did it over and as I type this my sister is reading it??‍♀️. Did I mention she also said the resume was the reason she wasn’t considering me for role. My sister said my old one wasn’t meaty enough for what I did for 20 years.

3. AnonymousOctober 8,2023 at 12:40PM UTC

   While getting a strongly worded rejection might seem harsh, consider it a blessing in disguise. So many receive no response at all and get ghosted every day. I’d highly recommend exactly what Elizabeth said as well- revise your resume and resend to the same person and see what they say. As crazy as it sounds, they might be hoping you do that as well so they can hire you! It’s an extremely difficult world out there right now with tons of job seekers and you’ve got to really bring it!

   In the meantime, take care of yourself and get some rest- enjoy this time with your family and friends while simultaneously applying! There’s definitely a light at the end of the tunnel for sure ?

4. Joann S. LublinOctober 8,2023 at 3:05PM UTC

   If your revised resume still does not pass muster, you should consider using a resume writer to revamp it again. Given your long tenure at the company, you likely haven't had to prepare a resume in a while.

   Here's another jobhunting tip: Make clear to potential employers that you're willing to start as a temporary consultant and take short term projects in which you can prove you're worth hiring permanently.

   You can find some good tips about negotiating a good pay package in my first book, "Earning It."

   Best of luck!

5. Crystal HowellOctober 9,2023 at 1:02PM UTC

   Hopefully you got a good farewell package, take a breath and do what you love. Good luck!

6. Stephanie RenkOctober 9,2023 at 2:12PM UTC

   I'm so sorry to hear the news. There's a few things you can do to get started. Put together your job history, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Think of it as your master list of everything. Then you can focus your resume on what you want to do next. Do you have a LinkedIn profile? If you do, you should update that as well as it's just as important as a resume these days. Start networking and reaching out to people you know. It's not about looking for a job but connecting and potentially getting referrals to people that can help you. If you have any questions, let me know. My email is stephanie@idahonextstepscoaching.com.

7. LORI-ANN BURLINGAMEOctober 9,2023 at 3:07PM UTC

   Change is difficult. Hopefully, the company offered your a severance package and/or access to an outsoucing company. This will help with the transition.

   Focus on the good thing. Working at the same company for 20 years is great. Many of us never get that opportunity. Bad decisions on the part of executive management often changes the direction of the company.

   Be proactive and take charge of your career and what you want to do in the future. There are may opportunities waiting for you.

8. Catrina MurrayOctober 9,2023 at 3:31PM UTC

   Same thing happened to me. I had been with a company for 19.5 years when I was laid off a few months ago. I took some time off, then determined where I want my career to go next. From there, I was able to focus my resume on just the experiences and accomplishments that are relevant to roles that I want. I'm in a professional organization for my industry and was able to have someone from the group review my resume and LinkedIn profile. Keep in mind, recruiters and hiring managers are inundated with applications. If you include information that isn't relevant to the role, they may pass you over.

9. Margaret PerezOctober 12,2023 at 4:32PM UTC

   I also after 20 years and it is scary, not having an updated resume, interviewed by anyone in 20 years. I have a lot of experience, some education, I am looking but also started certificate of a couple of hats I wore to put paper behind knowledge. Hard juggling both and living but I am doing my best to make it work. It's hard when you hear a lot of "we have decided to pursue other candidates"