In the wake of a layoff, it's easy to feel like you're starting from scratch. But what if I told you that you're actually starting from a place of strength and experience? That's the message from Toronto-based outplacement and career transition coach Jane Janniere, who argues that the traditional advice to 'update your résumé' is in the wrong order. Instead, she recommends a Reset Roadmap, a process that begins with stabilizing before marketing yourself to employers.
Janniere's approach is rooted in the idea that a layoff is more than just a job-search problem. It's a human transition with a job-search component. When you lose a job, you often lose structure, routine, belonging, status, identity, confidence, financial safety, and a clear sense of what comes next. So, before you start updating your résumé, it's crucial to address these underlying issues.
One of the key steps in Janniere's Reset Roadmap is understanding practical realities such as severance, benefits, and financial runway, while also separating facts from fear. She encourages clients to ask themselves four questions: What actually happened? What am I telling myself this means? What do I know for sure versus what am I assuming? What decision doesn't need to be made today?
Another important step is reflecting on what you learned from the workplace you just left. This includes the kind of leadership, culture, and pace where you do your best work. By separating who you are from where you worked, you can reconnect with the skills and accomplishments you've built throughout your career and decide what you want more of, and less of, in your next role.
Janniere acknowledges that many people don't have the financial luxury of spending months reflecting before beginning a job search. But she argues that processing the experience and moving quickly aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, by building a strategy that balances financial realities with finding a better long-term fit, you can avoid decisions made purely from fear.
So, what does it mean to be ready to market yourself again? According to Janniere, you're ready when you can explain your layoff simply, describe the value you bring with evidence, read job postings with discernment rather than desperation, and treat rejection as information instead of a judgment on your worth. Remember, you aren't starting from nothing. You're starting from everything you've already built.
In my opinion, Janniere's Reset Roadmap is a refreshing take on the traditional job search process. It's a reminder that a layoff is an opportunity for growth and self-discovery, not just a setback. By taking the time to stabilize and reflect, you can approach your job search with a sense of purpose and direction, rather than simply reacting to the immediate urge to find a new job.
