How To Help Your Unemployed Friends

I survived. I still have a job after my employer, Microsoft, laid off 2% of its workforce last month.

On the one hand, I breathed a sigh of relief that I was not among the 6,000 employees let go. On the other hand, I am experiencing survivor's guilt. I know some of the people who lost their jobs, and I can attest that they are intelligent, conscientious, and qualified.

I want to help those who are affected, but I struggle to find ways to do so.

What Can I Do?

Here are some things you can do to help those who recently lost their job.

Write a recommendation

This applies only to people with whom you have worked. Write about what they did, how it helped, and the skills they demonstrated. Be as specific as possible. Before you write, ask them if there are things they would like to highlight in this recommendation. LinkedIn provides a convenient platform for posting recommendations. DO NOT click LinkedIn's endorsement button. That feature is entirely useless and ignored by employers. If you or they do not use LinkedIn, consider typing, printing, and signing a letter, as our ancestors used to do when writing these letters.

When you learn of a job opening at your company or another company, ask yourself if it could be a good match for your unemployed friend. If so, forward it to them.

To facilitate this process, I created a spreadsheet of friends and acquaintances who were actively seeking employment. My spreadsheet had the following columns:

Name
Skills
Misc Notes
Found Job? (Y/N)

Whenever I learned about a job opening, I checked my list to see who was still looking and possessed the required skills for that job.

Amplify their job search

I frequently see social media posts in which a friend announces they are seeking employment (#OpenToWork is a popular hashtag to communicate this status.) Clicking the "Share" button takes almost no time and can help spread the word. Sometimes, I take a minute to add a public note telling my network how awesome the person is.

Offer to Review Resumes

A resume provides a jobseeker's first impression to a potential employer, and many resumes can be improved. If you know something about crafting a resume, offer to review theirs. Sometimes, a fresh set of eyes can spot potential problems. Here are a few common issues to watch for:

too long
contains irrelevant information
emphasis on the skills
errors in spelling and grammar

Listen to them

Losing a job and looking for a new one almost always adds stress to one's life. Sometimes, it helps to talk about it. Even if they do not feel like talking, it is good to know others are thinking of them. Send a text or email letting them know you care and are willing to listen if they want to talk.

Conclusion

I know the stress of going through a job search, and I appreciate those who helped me. This article is my way of paying that help forward.