If you know someone who was recently laid off, it's one thing to feel bad for them. Its another to offer to help. 

Not only can you offer to put them in touch with your network, or someone you know is hiring - but if you worked closely with the person, one way you can really help them is to write a LinkedIn recommendation highlighting their strengths to help them get their next role. 

If you find yourself staring at a blank screen - especially if you aren't a writer to begin with - this can be intimidating. Here are the steps that I follow, and it does take a little bit of time - but it's worth it. So I'll walk you through it: 

1 - Set the stage: how did you work together? 
This just provides a bit of context on how you know this person and how you worked together: think of it as an introduction before you dive right into how awesome they are. Did they report to you? How did you work together? Did you collaborate on a specific project? How long did you know them or work together for? 

2 - Ask them what you would like them to highlight
It's perfectly valid to ask the person what specifically they'd like you to highlight. If they asked you to write the recommendation, see what they'd like you to focus on...for example, if they had a sales role but want to transition to more of a customer service position, stress their skill in dealing with clients using examples. As part of this, ask if there are 3-5 bullets they'd like you to focus on as something you can reference while writing your recommendation. That way, you have some guidance on what to write, and you know you are writing something that will be helpful to them. Everyone wins :) 

3 - Add a personal touch
I like to end each recommendation with a personal note: sometimes it is an opportunity to show potential employers their personality a bit, which is always difficult to understand especially when determining a cultural fit. Something like, "on a  personal note, Sam has a great sense of humor and I have really enjoyed working with him every day. He would make a great asset to any organization" This gives them a feel-good compliment while adding a more human layer to their qualifications. 

The Bottom Line
It's important to keep your LinkedIn profile updated, and the best thing you can do for a coworker who has lost their job is to offer to write a recommendation for them. It doesn't have to be a book, but should be a thoughtful few sentences to help position them favorably for their next position.

After writing a recent post on what to do if you get laid off, I thought it would be helpful to expand on what you should be doing with your LinkedIn profile. So whether you are currently looking for your next job or are happily employed, here are some tips everyone can apply to their LinkedIn profile presence. 

1 - Work on while employed, not just while you are looking
Don't neglect your LinkedIn profile if you are not looking for a new job. This should be an asset of yours that should be updated regularly. Execute a great project? Update your profile, and link to it so you can reference it later, or show off your work to future employers. Did you run some metrics for the quarter and you saw some favorable improvements? Add a bulllet to your current role description sharing how you helped increase leads, revenue, etc. x% over whatever time period. These types of activities are all so much easier to do as they happen instead of months or years later, when trying to remember your greatest accomplishments so you can talk about them today. 

2 - Ask for recommendations. 
I'm always looking for opportunities to get fresh LinkedIn recommendations - both from people I work with directly, but also those in different departments and levels. All of this demonstrates my ability to work cross-functionally, which is a real strength regardless of your position.

That being said, it can be intimidating for people to start from scratch - so don't just blast people with open-ended LinkedIn recommendation requests: often you may not get  a response. In your request, I would provide bullets on what you'd like them to focus on - which should contain keywords describing your expertise. For example, ask them to describe your role in a recent project you worked together on, or stress your leadership skills if you are looking to move up in your next role, etc. Not only is this a lot easier for people to do, but it provides some validating content on what you want to be known for. 

3 - Customize your URL
This sounds like a basic one, but you are able to customize your LinkedIn URL. It's so much easier to share a link that is your profile name, instead of a bunch of numbers. Depending on when you read this, the instructions may change: but today, if you are on your LinkedIn profile page, the top right has an option to "Edit Public Profile & URL" where you can customize the text. Mine is simply www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyosgood which is my maiden name (there are a LOT of Ashley McManus, and I want to stand out!) 

4 - Invest in a professional headshot
Please, please don't use that photo of you from a wedding. Yes you look amazing, but you also need to look clean and professional. Either invest in a professional headshot or get a friend to take one up close with a simple backdrop, zoomed in and cropped at the shoulder. 

Think about how you want to be portrayed: what vibe do you want to give off? Hair up or down? Glasses? Clothes? Accessories? How can you portray your creativity in you headshot? All things to consider.

5 - Brevity is your friend
Similar to resumes, we don't need gobs of text to describe your roles, summary and focus areas. Think about keywords again and get to the point: how can you bring value to an organization? Why would someone hire you? What tone can you use to attract the company you want? 

The Bottom Line

LinkedIn is a huge source for hiring managers, recruiters and other roles at your future employer. Put your best foot forward and give your profile some love today, or schedule some time over the next few weeks on your calendar to make some updates. Think about who you can ask to recommend you, and make sure you file away the action item to update your profile with links whenever you accomplish something great, so you will be able easily reference this in the future. 

The tech industry has been rampant with layoffs in recent months. As someone who has had their position eliminated in the past, I know how much this can suck. So if you find yourself suddenly without a job today, it can be disorienting to say the least. In addition to the income loss, the daily grind that you had become so accustomed to has now come to a stop and it's normal to be paralyzed. So what now? 

Here's what I recommend you do:
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1 - Take 2 weeks off to reflect. 
The WORST thing you can do right now is throw yourself into the job search. You are not in a place to thoughtfully apply to your next role. Take some time now to honestly reflect about the work you were doing: what did you like about that job? What didn't you like? Where do you want to go next? Take this decompression time to realign with yourself and think about where you really want to be: it can be a great chance to psych yourself up for the job search ahead. 

2 - Tap into your network. 
I am a big fan of having a personal board of directors: that is, a group of people you surround  yourself with who invested in your professional success. It can be past bosses, old professors, even coworkers who want to see you develop and grow. Reach out to them first and explain your situation, and see if they know of anyone who is hiring or share what you are looking to do next. This is where the 2 week reflection comes in - you have had the time to look back and decide what would be the best fit for you now. If any recruiters have reached out to you in the past (maybe you have connected with them?) reach out to them as well saying that you are looking for your next opportunity. 

3 - Update your resume and LinkedIn Profile, if needed. 
Spend some time on your LinkedIn profile: are all your latest accomplishments on there? Courses you have taken? Have you asked coworkers for recent recommendations? Especially if your position was eliminated, and you left on good terms, it's perfectly acceptable to ask colleagues or even your old boss to provide a good reference for you. Think about what you want to be known for and what you want to do next: I would provide bullets of what you'd like them to write for you, which makes the process easier for them. Make sure to also spend some time refreshing your resume so you have it ready to go upon request. 

4 - Take reflections from step 1 and go hunting. 
You know where you want to go next, type of role you want, and maybe even have a shortlist of companies that are hiring thanks to your network. Now is the time to dig in and start with the applications. It can take up to 6 months to secure a new role, so patience and persistence is key. If you don't get an offer, ask for feedback: where can you be stronger?

Also block off some time every day to focus on the job search, and structure your new daily routine around it. Maybe its a good time to take that professional development or in-person course you've always wanted to do - now that you have the time, and can update your LinkedIn profile / resume with it...not to mention, do a little networking with the instructor or classmates. I would also recommend looking to see what local events are happening around you - often groups of professionals have regular meetups and you can socialize while figuring out who is hiring.  

Bottom Line: One door closes, another opens
This experience sucks, I've lived through it. Take the time to grieve but when you come out on the other side, try to reframe this as an opportunity. Think about what was not ideal at your prior job, whether it's an increase in salary, more flexibility, or something else you want that is important to you. Best of luck in your search, and in the meantime grab this interview guide to nail your future interviews!