Laid Off? 3 Things Recruiters Should Do After a Job Loss

So you’re a recruiter and you’ve just lost your job . . . now what?

Even if you’ve built your career around connecting people with open positions, it can be jarring when you find yourself suddenly on the other side of the search. If you do, just know that you aren’t alone: Layoffs are sweeping many industries and as hiring slows, so does demand for recruiters.

The main thing you shouldn’t do after a layoff is panic. “Our business is cyclical,” Tony Riggins says. Tony would know: The San Diego–based senior recruiter and career coach with 20,000+ followers on LinkedIn and a resume filled with tech and consumer packaged goods heavyweights (including Twitch/Amazon, Pandora, and Clif Bar) got laid off himself when his last employer, Snapchat, thinned its ranks in September of 2022. 

We talked to Tony about what recruiters can do after a layoff to take care of themselves, their finances, and their career futures; he shared his recommendations for recruiters facing job loss and looking to position themselves for success.

3 things recruiters should do after being laid off:

1. Take stock of what you have and what you need

Tony recommends taking 24 hours off to take a deep breath and take stock of your personal situation. That means carefully assessing any severance package offered and your financial stability to determine how much runway — or extra time and financial support — you realistically have in front of you.

The first step? Sign up for unemployment benefits. “I know it can be confusing, feel awkward, and have a stigma attached,” Tony says, “but there are no downsides to filing for unemployment. These benefits exist for exactly these moments, and taking advantage of them is part of the process of extending your runway — so you have the freedom to look for the job you want, rather than the one you need. That is, of course, unless your goal is to just start paying the bills asap. There’s nothing wrong with that. We’ve all been there.”

Reviewing your financial and professional situation with a clear head keeps you from rushing too quickly into big decisions. “People are grinding in their job searches right now,” Tony says. “The competition is stiff and, I get it, this is a tough cycle to go through as a recruiter and it can burn you out. 

“I’ve even seen some recruiters land jobs in a couple of weeks after being laid off,” he adds. “But I’m curious if they’ve made the right choice financially and professionally. Did they have the time to engage their network and put together a strategic job search? If time wasn’t on their side, I get it. But when you do have some options with severance, unemployment, and savings, you should use this cash flow to your advantage and increase your chances for finding the next perfect job.”

2. Leverage your network connections to unearth hidden opportunities

Connections, patience, and persistence: The same skills that help recruiters do the job can help you find the next one. 

“I’ve learned,” Tony says, “how really important it is to always ask for help in everything.” That means spreading the word to people in your network that you’re on the job hunt. Your connections can give you access to roles and opportunities that aren’t posted on public job boards — but they can’t help you if they don’t know you’re looking. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from close connections in your network, Tony advises. “Don’t let your ego get in the way,” he adds.

And people are more likely to help you if you reach out to them directly, with specifics about what you need. He recommends prioritizing your “hot” or “warm” connections — those close, active, or recent relationships — over “cold” parts of your network that are more distant or cursory. Your hot connections, such as recent colleagues or longtime professional friends, are more likely to refer you to open positions or make key introductions right away. 

Follow up with those leads regularly to stay on top of your search, Tony says, but don’t overdo it. The idea isn’t to burn out on 10 to 12 hours of hunting and networking a day. Treat the search like a job itself: Give yourself a schedule, goals, and, more importantly, breaks.

Also, spend some time plotting your approach. Convincing people to take time from their busy schedules for your benefit is a big ask, Tony notes, so get creative. “I’ll say, ‘Hey, send me your DoorDash order,’” he shares, as an easy way to connect over a virtual coffee or lunch. And, seriously, don’t be shy about following up: It’s not about nagging but simply securing a response and engaging with your network. 

3. Let go of preconceived ideas about what your next job will look like and consider a range of options

Your next role might not look exactly the way you thought it would — and that’s OK. 

“I keep saying that 2023 is the year of underemployment,” Tony says. “I’ve connected with a lot of recruiters lately who are only prioritizing full-time roles. And I’m like, you’re shooting yourself in the foot.” 

As the job market continues to shift, freelance, contract, and part-time roles are becoming more common. Instead of ruling out these prospects as underemployment, consider how they can play into a longer career strategy. When budgets are thin, contract and freelance work might be the best option to get your foot in the door. And when those budgets return, many employers will bring those reliable recruiters on full time as soon as it becomes an option. 

As the recruiting world continues to adjust, short-term roles could be lower-hanging fruit than more traditional full-time roles. And as you evaluate your options, consider what’s important beyond just the bottom line: “What you should want,” Tony says, “is to work with people who are truly great and with a company that offers a healthy and balanced workplace. Don’t just look for jobs, look for amazing people who you really want to work with and the cultures and companies with values that mirror yours.”

Final thoughts

For recruiters, layoffs are a natural part of the job cycle. Instead of panicking or jumping too quickly to the next role, take stock of your runway by assessing your financial options and applying for unemployment benefits to buy yourself time. Make the most of your network to source potential opportunities. And let go of any preconceived notions about what your next job will look like. Instead, think more broadly about which people and companies you want to work with and how short-term options can manifest long-term career results. 

Does this approach really work? Well, Tony himself just landed a role as a contract talent acquisition consultant for Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits arm of LVMH, the French luxury goods behemoth. 

And that’s news worth popping a cork and toasting.

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