Sick Post: Tips if you've just been laid off

Life advice and job search tips learned from being unemployed for 10 months

Welcome to Tech Atypically 👋, your weekly blog that explores the intersection of ADHD, product management, and the complexities of a neurodiverse life. In each issue, I dive into the science, stories, and strategies that can help you navigate the challenges of ADHD and being a product manager.

I got COVID and my brain isn’t quite working

After 4 hours across 2 days, I’m surrendering to the fact my brain can’t write a newsletter this week.

Between the covid fatigue (it finally got us after 3.5 years) and my mouth tasting like batteries from the Paxlovid, I’m going to let myself rest until next week.

Until then, enjoy this Reddit post I made about what to do if you’ve just been laid off.

Photo by Jeremy Dorrough on Unsplash

Tips on what to do if you just got laid off and have ADHD

• Write down the main accomplishments you did at your most recent job while it's still fresh. 

  • Think about the hardest things you did there and see if you can change them into solid bullet points for your resume. Hard things, usually mean bigger scope and good stories, including failures. 

• Reach out to former colleagues to catch up and have them review your bullet points for the job you worked with them. 

  • Ask them if you missed anything or what they might add. They probably have more details to context to add to make your content even better.

  • If you're a PM with ADHD like me, this is key because I tend to minimize my accomplishments. Having someone add to my stories created more impactful stories and quite my inner critic.

• Make it your job, to find a job, and remember you only need 1 job.

  • Reduce your anxiety by setting aside a specific time to look for work and leisure.

  • For example, job hunt from 9am-12pm, 1pm-5pm (see friends, exercise, upskill, etc), 5pm-6pm job hunt. 

  • By setting aside time, you'll be more focused on your job search and allow yourself to enjoy your extra free time without shame/anxiety.

  • You only need 1 job out of the thousands out there. See each rejection as one step closer to the one you'll eventually get.

• Enjoy your extra free time to make yourself a stronger candidate. 

  • You don’t get many breaks like this in your adult life. Enjoy the time by reconnecting with yourself through self-care and doing the things you weren’t able to do because of work. Get back into that hobby work took away. 

  • Being happier and more confident makes you a better interview candidate and more effective at preparing for interviews.

🐼Connect with me for free ADHD help

⏭️Next Week

What is a product manager with ADHD part 3.