No images? Click here JANUARY 23, 2023 Talking PointsIt's the Most Awful Time of the Year Liz here, editorial director at Girlboss. It seems like the subject of layoffs has yet again reached a peak. This weekend, my TikTok For You Page was full of now-former Google folks (the tech giant laid off 12,000 people) sharing their experiences of finding out they were let go from an early-morning email, or, even more terribly, while in the middle of a work trip with clients. Over on Twitter, my timeline was filled with media industry pros affected by staff cuts at Vox (the media company cut 7 percent of its workforce last week). Getting laid off is something I know a bit about, so I thought I’d come on the newsletter this morning to share some hard-won wisdom,
and highlight a few of our resources and guides. Over the past year at Girlboss, we’ve put together a lot of content on the topic of getting laid off, not getting laid off (and the requisite guilt and overwork) and pretty much everything in between. At the end of this story are a few of my favourite reads on the topic. When my turn came, they flipped the script. Instead of individually inviting us to meetings with HR, they simply told us to gather around a table in the common area (in front of the glamorous fashion closet, hah) and told us they were shuttering the entire office and moving production to a different city (ah, those innocent, pre-WFH days). I had come to work in a beautiful Celine pencil skirt and impossibly high heels, suddenly my outfit seemed incredibly silly. It was only 11 a.m. on a Monday, but we all headed to a generic-looking pub across the street called Union Social House, where we proceeded to drown our sorrows in cheap red wine by the bottle and tray upon tray of nachos, our severance packets stacked between plates and glasses. Word had started to spread, and the worried emails and text messages from our industry peers began trickling in. The shock and sadness of it all didn’t hit me until I got home. I cried. A lot. I was privileged in many ways: the severance was generous, and I had a partner who could pick up the slack on mortgage payments. The bruise to my ego—learning that I wasn’t as indispensable as I had thought—might have been the worst of it. I was so annoyed with myself for being caught on the back foot. Why didn't I find a new job sooner? Why did I let this happen to me? There are few things more simultaneously disorienting, stressful and upsetting than losing your job. In the days and weeks following, I did everything they tell you to do: I exercised, I (reluctantly) dusted off my long-dormant LinkedIn profile. I met women in my network for breakfast, coffee or drinks. I hit the job boards and sent several applications a day. Eventually, I landed another fashion-editing gig. I was giddy with gratitude and relief. Everything everyone told me—that I would be fine, that I would find another job, that I would bounce back even better—suddenly turned out to be true. While my layoff story had a neat and happy ending, I still look back at it as one of the hardest things I’ve gone through professionally. And while I would never go as far as to say that I’m glad it happened to me, there is something oddly empowering about going through your worst case scenario and coming out on the other side. It did make me more resilient, more skeptical to capitalism’s ways and less reliant on a cool job as a substitute for having a personality. There’s that word: resilience, the capacity to recover after tough shit happens to you. Layoffs are sad, but the fact that modern workers have to earn this resilience like it’s a college credit, is, perhaps, even sadder. I don’t know if I’ll ever get laid off again, but I do know that I’ll be better equipped to handle it. If you *just* got laid off, here’s exactly what to do in the first days, weeks and months. If you’re navigating severance, here’s a handy guide for US workers. If you didn’t get laid off but your colleagues did, here’s how you might be feeling right now. If you didn’t get laid off, but you’re worried you might be, we hope this helps answer some of the questions that might be keeping you up at night. IN COLLABORATION WITHAudo+A Career Glow-Up *and* Extra Cash? Say Less In 2022, the average student debt in the U.S. was $37K. Yikes. Sprinkle in inflation and a looming recession, and the thought of going back to school seems nearly impossible. But guess what? You don’t have to. More companies are relying less on your degree and more on the skills that you’ve acquired through work and life (and online courses!). Let us formally introduce you to your new career sidekick. Audo+ is a personalized career building destination that uses A.I. to analyze your personality, skills and past experiences to suggest which courses and careers are right for you. With this premium subscription service, you gain unlimited access to 500 career tracks from high-profile people from Meta, Google, MIT, Stanford and more. Plus, you can earn money while you learn: their job match engine matches you to paid opportunities for every skill you acquire. So, why wait any longer to chase after your dream job? Snacks⚖️ Yesterday would have been the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. 🤑 “I decided to tell everyone in my life how much I make—even on first dates.” 💄 Tarte's flashy, opulent influencer brand trip to Dubai: Genius marketing campaign or out-of-touch extravaganza amid a cost-of-living crisis? 🤹♀️ Companies aren’t calling it “hybrid work” anymore—they have much wackier names. Which one is your favorite? Ours is “omni-connected.” 💻 A warning to those who have recently purchased abortion pills through a website. 🍷 Let us introduce you to a new (buzzy) literary genre: Quit Lit. RECOMMENDED READINGICYMIThe Best Books, Podcasts and Affirmation Tracks About Failure No matter how bad your work fail was, we're sure these recs will make you feel a million times better—we promise. THE STUFF WE LOVEStaff PicksThe Daily Deskside Essential“I love undated stationery—because I like to start things on my terms. This calendar pad features an oversized number, a month field and plenty of space for notes. There’s just something so satisfying about starting fresh each day.” — Liz, editorial director The Primer With a Filter-Like Finish“The something blue you need for your beauty counter. I love this blurring primer because it takes two seconds to apply and gives me that glowy ‘no makeup look’ on the days I want to be au naturel. It’s also a phenomenal base for makeup days! #NoFilter needed.” — Jade, senior brand partnerships manager The Collagen-Infused Sparkling Tea“Since I don’t drink alcohol, I’m always looking for a fun little bevvie with benefits to enjoy with dinner. Trust me, I tried to be a kombucha girlie, but these sparkling teas are a little more suitable for my palette. Not only are the flavors delish (Hibiscus Vanilla? Peach Mango? Green Tea Grapefruit? Major yum), but each can has 3,000 mg of collagen. So, you’re telling me with each sip, I’m supporting my skin, hair, nails and overall well-being? Say less.” — Victoria, senior writer Job BoardJOB OF THE DAYWe remember you. You were the leader on the playground or the captain in gym class. You expect the best from those around you, and you work with them to achieve it. You’re passionate about fitness, and your enthusiasm is palpable and pure. That’s why we want you as a Head Coach at Orangetheory Fitness. We’re looking for people to lead. To listen. To love what they do. And then to share it with the coaches in their studio, and with members entrusting the health of their bodies to you. APPLY IF YOU: Have a functional knowledge of heart rate based training. Understand the science behind our workouts specifically, heart-rate focused training programs in general and being aware of what the competition is doing. Can lead, manage and develop a dynamic team of fitness professionals. MORE JOBS |