Twice a week, our CEO and resident money guru Jean Chatzky tackles your burning questions in the HerMoney newsletter. We’ve pulled some of the best to feature on our website — and this one made the cut! Got a question for Jean? Send it her way right here.
Q: I was recently laid off, along with about 25% of my department. I work in big tech, and the layoff was not performance-based. I’m putting together a checklist of things I need to do before I lose access to company resources. What needs to be on it?
A: Thanks for your question, and I’m sorry to hear about what you’re going through. There are a couple of obvious things you’ll want to take care of right away, including downloading any records or materials you may need for the future (e.g., performance reviews, proof of employment, projects you may have worked on, etc.). You will also want to talk with your HR department to see what your options may be for health insurance post-employment.
Then, there are some not-so-obvious things to add to your list. For those, we’ll go to the ladies of the HerMoney Facebook group who have been in your shoes:
- “Swap your work email address for your personal email address for any professional newsletters you subscribe to,” suggests Phyl.
- Be sure to get your coworkers’ personal contact information,” stresses Mary.
- “Touch base with a couple of people who could write you a letter of recommendation,” suggests Linda. “You can give them your bullet points of ways you’ve helped the company and made an impact to help guide their writing.”
- “Ask people to post references on your LinkedIn page,” says Terry. “Think about all the times you went above and beyond for someone, or tackled a particularly successful project. Start documenting those examples to prepare for interviews.”
- And last but not least, a solid tip from Amy: “Watch mindless game shows for two days in your pajamas.”
How else can we say it? Being laid off is a rough experience that causes financial, emotional, and professional stress for many. That said, by preparing for what’s to come and giving yourself time to process what’s happened, you’ll bounce back stronger than ever.
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