How to find a job after layoffs. Here's how to find who's hiring and get an interview.

Reading the words layoffs and hiring freezes is never easy.

It is heartbreaking to see these words more often nowadays, including in the Tech industry.

If you've been laid off recently, I hope this article helps you with everything you need to find your next role.

If you are trying to help someone who has been laid off recently, consider sending them this article to help them find a job.

Here's what you'll find in this article:

• How to create a resume that stands out.
• How to find and network with Hiring Managers.
• The best way to prepare for your Product Manager Interviews (50% off!)
• Bonus: How to create a LinkedIn profile that attracts recruiters.

1. Creating a resume that stands out

Below is the resume I used to get a job at Microsoft in 2019.

This advice I'll share with you has been seen by more than 5 Million people and reshared by thousands of recruiters, hiring managers, and school career centers all over the world.

While it's certainly not perfect, there are a few things that helped me in the process and I'll show them to you, using colors 👇

a. Format

Recruiters & hiring managers care about your accomplishments and about you, not about the colors you chose for your resume (unless you are a designer or something similar).

b. Write accomplishments with X-Y-Z

Most of my accomplishments were written using as a base the X-Y-Z formula (shared by Google recruiters)

"Accomplished [X], as measured by [Y], by doing [Z]"

Follow it as close as possible, but don't be afraid to put your own style into it (as long as you share your X, Y & Z)

c. Use strong verbs (red 🔴)

Start every accomplishment with a verb in the past tense.

• Strong Verbs (Led) >>>> Soft Verbs (Assisted).
• Try to use verbs relevant to the role. For PM I used: Led, Designed, Researched, Prioritized, etc.

d. Relevant Skills (blue 🔵)

Notice how I don't have a "skills section" full of Product Manager keywords like "cross-functional", "leadership", "prioritization", and "Roadmap"?

The keywords in blue are embedded in my accomplishments. I'm showing the context of how I used those skills to help customers, my team, and/or the organization.

I took these keywords from the job descriptions I wanted to apply to.

e. Show your impact (yellow 🟡)

Not every accomplishment has to have an impact, but try to add as many as you can. Impact shows that:

• You can do the job.
• You can do it well.
• You can make a difference.

Anyone can "complete a project in time", but not everyone can "complete a project in time by doing xxxxx, and having an impact of yyyyy"

If you struggle to find the impact, think about this:

What is it that without YOU it wouldn't have been possible? What did it cause (impact)? How did you measure what happened?

f. Technical Skills (green 🟢)

I write down all the technical skills that I know and can show some 'proof' (a test, a score, etc.). Many of these are taken from the job descriptions I was applying to.

A few things to remember:

• 'Sprinkle' tech(hard) skills here and there.
• Don't throw all of them in a giant skills section.
• Don't have 🟢 > 🔵 (unless you go for Software Engineer roles).

g. Other stuff to keep in mind

• Length? 1, 2, or 3 pages are ok. You may have a lot of experience. Make it RELEVANT, that's what matters.
• Tailoring your resume to the job >>>> almost everything else.
• Don't submit the same resume to every job.
• Triple-check for grammar/spelling mistakes.
• If you add a summary, tailor it to the job you are applying to.
• Education can go at the beginning or at the end. Rule of thumb: < 2 years of experience or recent grad, education at the top. 

Download this resume template here

2. How to find & network with Hiring Managers & Recruiters

While you should be tailoring your resume and applying with it, you should also be thinking about investing time in networking with the right people: Hiring Managers and Recruiters - and I'll show you how, on LinkedIn.

a. Searching the right keywords

People and teams who are hiring tend to write some form or variation of:

• hiring + "[Role]"

For example, If you are looking for Product Manager roles, search for:

• hiring "Product Manager"

b. Filter like a Pro

Here are the filters you should enable:

• Select "Posts"
• Sort by "Latest"
• Using the "All filters" option, select the "Author Companies" that you are interested in

c. Find the right role for you

Hiring managers will share "I'm hiring for X role..."
Search for a role where you have ~70% or more of the

• Required Qualifications
• Preferred Qualifications

In that order. Afterward, look at the Responsibilities.

d. WHY are you the right candidate?

Once you identify a role where you meet ~70% of qualifications, select 3 requirements where you can provide evidence (i.e. you've done that before).

You'll use these 3 requirements and evidence to share with them WHY you are the right person for the role.

e. Message them!

Now that you know you are the right fit for the role, use this template to message them 👇

"Hi [Name],

I saw your recent post about an opportunity for [role] at your company. My name is [your name] and I'm a [your latest job title].

I'm very interested in joining [their company] because [your reason to WHY you want to join their company. This shouldn't be more than 2 lines].

A bit about myself:

- [1st experience 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 (and I can't emphasize enough the word 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝) to the job posting they shared. No more than 3 lines]
- [2nd experience, similar format as above]
- [3rd experience, similar format as above]

I'd be happy to talk more about how I could help your team or answer any questions you may have. Please let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know about me or my work.

I can send my resume if you need it and be available for a call at a day and time that works best for you.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you!"

3. Product Interview Operating System - 50% off!

Everything you need to ace your Product Manager interviews is on my newest course, the Product Interview Operating System.

Use the code TOGETHER50 at checkout to get a 50% discount on the course until the end of November. 

You can see more student reviews, course material, and frequently asked questions on this website.

4. Bonus: how to create a LinkedIn profile that attracts recruiters.

Having a LinkedIn profile that attracts recruiters is key to being successful in finding your next opportunity. 

Here's a complete step-by-step guide to creating a LinkedIn Profile that will attract recruiters to you.

I hope this guide helps you in your search for a new role. If you know someone who has been laid off recently, consider sending them this article to help them.

If you need more help, there are 2 ways I can help you:

1. The best frameworks to ace your Product Manager interviews and get an offer here. (850+ students!)
2. Schedule a 1:1 session with me for Mock Interviews and Career Guidance here.