This text initially appeared on Enterprise Insider.

This as-told-to essay relies on a dialog with Jeff Sipe, a personal tech profession coach and former Google recruiter. It has been edited for size and readability.

Massive Tech layoffs have been at all times going to obtain backlash — that stated, I do not suppose any of them have been dealt with completely, and plenty of of them may have been prevented. Sure, corporations wanted to chop down on prices, however greater than that, I believe layoffs have change into fashionable.

After layoffs, the corporate’s inventory value often goes up, and the board of administrators and shareholders (most of whom do not work there) are comfortable. It begins changing into increasingly acceptable to conduct them; Twitter did it, so Google can do it, so Microsoft can do it, and so forth.

However there are different methods to deal with a recession. A Stanford enterprise professor says that layoffs usually do not minimize prices and suggests corporations may implement different methods like a ten% wage minimize throughout the board.

That stated, I do not suppose anybody who’s been laid off or desires to break into the business needs to be discouraged — it is at all times a great time to get into tech. Tech employees will at all times be wanted. So if working at Google or Amazon has at all times been a dream, I at all times advise individuals to go for it.

Use LinkedIn to work smarter, not tougher

Whether or not you have been laid off or are hoping to break into tech for the primary time, the very first thing that it’s best to do is clear up your LinkedIn profile. You could possibly be sleeping, working, or going to the health club, and your profile will do the give you the results you want. Each side of your profile, out of your image, to your headline, to your title, to your about, to your expertise, that needs to be buttoned up.

I hardly ever see true purple flags on LinkedIn, however I believe it is unappealing when candidates do not embrace their picture. Your headshot needs to be shoulders and above; I see lots of people use a photograph of themselves with sun shades on or a photograph with their households, and it is simply not skilled. I like to recommend simply taking a selfie or having any individual take an image of you towards a clear background.

You also needs to be utilizing the platform to achieve out to recruiters at goal corporations — with a giving method, moderately than simply asking for a job proper out of the gate. A message like it will go a good distance: “Hey Sue, I got here throughout this actually cool article about machine studying, I believed I might share it with you.”

Check out what’s trending in your house and commit time to sending notes like this, in addition to commenting on different individuals’s posts. It is going to make you rather more noticeable to hiring groups on LinkedIn.

I additionally like when individuals hold monitor of what we have spoken about prior to now. For example you ship one other message to Sue a month or two later. Preserve monitor of your connections in a spreadsheet in order that it is simpler to observe up. Belief me: proceed with that giving method, and ultimately Sue will ask how she may also help you out — it should come full circle.

Be open about your layoff

When you’re popping out of an enormous tech firm, likelihood is you have constructed up an excellent community. You have to be asserting to the world that you just’re on the lookout for work. Make a LinkedIn put up saying, “Hey, I received laid off. Listed here are the varieties of roles I am on the lookout for.”

I’ve seen that many workers who’ve been laid off add the “Open to Work” function to their LinkedIn, however do not essentially make it clear that they have been laid off.

I like to recommend making a banner to set as your profile’s background picture. Anybody can create one at no cost, utilizing Canva for instance, that claims, “Impacted by Google Layoffs.” I might additionally embrace the varieties of roles you are serious about, in addition to your contact and areas.

From a recruiter’s viewpoint, I might see this and instantly perceive your standing — I do know you have labored in a tricky setting, and I understand how to contact you. I have never seen laid off candidates do that but, however I believe it might undoubtedly assist them bounce up the checklist.

Do not underestimate comfortable abilities

Going into an interview, it’s vital to have a plan. Any interview coach will inform you to apply with different human beings. It may very well be with a good friend or a member of the family, however in the event you fumble by way of it with somebody one-on-one, you will get considerably higher.

For me, positivity is large. We’re all going to make errors, however I search for how candidates can present they’ve discovered from them. Use optimistic language — name it a problem or a chance, moderately than a failure. When you have been impacted by a layoff and also you’re indignant, you do not wish to put down your former firm. Give attention to what you have discovered and what you are grateful for.

If somebody seems to be good on paper, they’re going to solely make it up to now within the hiring course of. However comfortable abilities are simply as essential. When recruiting at Google, I at all times paid consideration as to whether the candidate arrived on time, in the event that they have been pleasant, and in the event that they have been communicative. Not having the ability to meet sure necessities can undoubtedly trigger an in any other case robust candidate to lose out.

For anybody attempting to bounce again from a tech layoff, it is simple to get imposter syndrome, however keep in mind: recruiters aren’t individuals impacted by the layoffs in a unfavorable mild. They know that some individuals have been simply unfortunate, and it had nothing to do with efficiency.

Personal your layoff, use your community, and present gratitude.