Good economy or not, four in ten companies expect to have layoffs this year. Two experts explore how people can recover from what can be a huge setback, recover emotionally, and rebuild your career without panic or self-sabotage.
Episode Guide:
Liz Bentley (Founder & President Liz Bentley Associates) sits down with Frances Weir (Business Psychologist & Executive Coach Korn Ferry)
00:00 — Cold open and tonal setup
A comedic back-and-forth dramatizes the chaos of being laid off and the urge to either spiral or take action.
01:05 — Episode intro
Jill frames layoffs as a painful but common business reality and introduces the idea of bouncing back psychologically and professionally.
02:10 — Guest introduction: Liz Bentley
Jill welcomes career coach Liz Bentley to discuss layoff prevention and recovery.
02:45 — Signs you may be at risk
Liz explains that layoff warnings often show up as exclusion from meetings, emails, and special projects.
04:00 — How to avoid being in the layoff group
Liz stresses realism, paying attention to feedback, and avoiding excuses or blame.
05:10 — Up in the Air clip
The episode uses the film scene to show how layoffs are often framed in overly positive language.
05:55 — Day one after being laid off
Liz advises moving past blame, reflecting honestly, and beginning practical next steps like networking and updating the resume.
07:05 — Whether to take the first offer
Liz says sometimes the first job is right, but when possible, it can help to wait for a better fit rather than rushing.
08:05 — AI and job searching
A clip from Jeff Su introduces how AI tools can improve job search outcomes when prompts are strong.
08:45 — LinkedIn and visibility
Liz encourages staying active on LinkedIn and re-engaging rather than “turtling” after a layoff.
09:35 — Crafting your layoff story
Liz explains how to present the layoff as a fit issue or business mismatch without badmouthing a former boss.
10:50 — Transition to psychological recovery
Jill tees up the second half of the episode, focused on emotional recovery and mental health.
11:25 — “This Week in Leadership” segment
Rupak Bhattacharya covers entrepreneurship stigma, housing assistance, and dynamic pricing trends.
13:10 — Margin Call clip and transition
A layoff scene from Margin Call sets up the discussion on emotional aftermath.
13:50 — Guest introduction: Frances Weir
Jill introduces business psychologist and executive coach Frances Weir to address the mental side of layoffs.
14:25 — Coping with grief and darker feelings
Frances says the best approach is to let the feelings happen, acknowledge them, and seek help if needed.
15:35 — What not to do immediately
Frances warns against panic behaviors like emotional posting on social media or mass job applications.
16:35 — Layoffs in the U.S. vs. Europe
A clip from David Wen leads into a discussion of how different labor systems affect the psychology of layoffs.
17:10 — Why process matters
Frances says more employee voice and formal process can make layoffs psychologically easier and more humane.
18:05 — Video vs. in-person layoffs
Frances argues technology can help employers deliver layoffs with more dignity and less public embarrassment.
19:10 — Closing remarks and credits
Jill closes the episode and credits the production team.