I think this is a fabulous idea – as long as the card isn’t snarky or sent with a mean spirit. I’ve also seen “Happy Lay Off” cards that can be very funny, if you’re in the mood.
But, I also wouldn’t stop with only a card, even if the card is wonderful. There are so many more things you can do for someone who has just lost their job.
When you’ve been laid off, you can feel like an escapee (if you’re lucky) or like a failure or a victim, and sometimes you feel awkward about reaching back to people you saw every day but who are now employed where you were once employed.
You also feel cut off from your colleagues – from your (former) support network at work. With luck, and a little effort, colleagues can transform into a network outside of work, too.
So that card is a great start. And then:
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1. Stay in touch! Don’t abandon the person.
Particularly if you were a co-worker of the person who got laid off, stay in touch. It’s too easy to lose track of people when they leave the work environment. Remember, they haven’t disappeared. They’ve just moved on.
2. Don’t feel guilty if you still have a job.
Feel very lucky and know that a layoff could happen to you, too. Don’t “drop” the person because you feel uncomfortable with their employment status. Reach out to them, because they may feel too unsure of their welcome to reach out to you.
3. Share positive feedback.
If you have ideas on what you think they do really well, share that information. Remind them of their accomplishments, obstacles they overcame, achievements, and successes.
4. Help with networking.
Put yourself in your laid off friend’s shoes, and do what you would hope someone would do for you – help them with their networking.
Off-line help:
- Call them just to stay in touch.
- Ask what they want to do next.
- Ask who they might want to work for next.
- Figure out if you have any connections that could help them find that next job. Share those connections.
- Make phone calls on the person’s behalf to potential networking or job sources.
- Arrange “coffee” meetings to connect the person with good networking connections, and be there to make the introductions in person, if possible.
Online help:
- Send email “introductions” connecting them with new people.
- Write a nice recommendation on LinkedIn.
- Share the person’s resume with anyone you know who might be able to help with a job lead or more networking connections.
- Help them find good websites (like Job-Hunt.org) where they can get excellent advice and links to useful job search resources.
5. Don’t send this card as a joke or a warning.
Right now, job loss is no joking matter. So, let the greeting card lighten the blow for someone who really has been laid off. Be nice, and don’t scare someone with one of these.
Bottom Line
A job search today is tough, but it’s much easier if you have a good network helping you connect with that next job. So, if you know someone who was just laid off, send them the card, if you think they’ll enjoy it. Then, more importantly, offer to help them connect with that next job. Because you could be unemployed soon, and won’t it be nice to have employed friends who appreciate your support of their job search!
© Copyright, 2011, Susan P. Joyce. All rights reserved.
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About the author…
Online job search expert Susan P. Joyce has been observing the online job search world and teaching online job search skills since 1995. Susan is a two-time layoff “graduate” who has worked in human resources at Harvard University and in a compensation consulting firm. In 1998, her company, NETability, Inc. purchased Job-Hunt.org, and Susan has been editor and publisher of Job-Hunt since then. Follow Susan on Twitter at @jobhuntorg.
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