Being laid off is emotionally draining. Finding another job is daunting, and it’s made even more difficult when you’re uncertain about your career path. It’s tough enough to go through it once, but some unlucky people will be laid off multiple times throughout their career.
This was the reality for Edward Kahn, who has been laid off twice. Fortunately, he persevered and, after the dust settled, he was able to come out in an even better situation than he had been in previously.
By working with GetFive, Kahn was able to understand which aspects of his career he enjoyed the most so he could leverage that knowledge throughout his job search.
“What I know, which I learned with the help of my GetFive coaches Win and Celia, is that I really like using my ability to design, execute, analyze and communicate about market research to help companies perform better. I feel good when I help people and the organization succeed. I’ll like it even more if I can do that and also lead a group of other people who would like to follow a similar path.”
“I have been through layoffs twice,” says Kahn. “The first time, my manager gave me a book about career management which suggested having a board of advisers. That was really helpful. The second time, the two senior people I had been working with job wrote me great references on LinkedIn and it inspired me to request others to do the same. This was very positive and supportive, and these references have permanent value to me and continue to inspire.”
When Kahn was laid off the first time, he kept searching for work until he found another position in his industry. His hard work was rewarded with a position that offered a salary exceeding what he had previously made.
“The first time I just kept plugging away,” Kahn says. “I did a little bit of consulting work but primarily just stayed disciplined in reaching out to contacts, applying for any opportunities and doing work with an adviser to confirm I really was on a sensible career path. I wound up with three offers and the best one exceeded what I had been making at my previous job.”
But like many working professionals, being laid off was not a singular event. When he was laid off the second time, he was a more seasoned professional and knew what to expect. Fortunately, by keeping in touch with professional connections, he was able to open the door to his new future.
“The second time was all about keeping up with your friends,” he says. “The job I had been let go from the first time was open albeit at a new company post-acquisition. The same team was very much in place and was happy to have me compete for the slot. I won it hands-down as evaluated by other, less biased evaluators.”
