Planning Your Job Search After a Layoff

Planning your job search after being laid off can feel daunting. We totally get it.

But after more than a decade in game studio recruitment, we’ve seen just about every approach to this challenge. The candidates who bounce back the quickest are often the ones who decide to eat that frog and carefully strategize their next moves.

In this guide, you’ll find actionable tips to help you navigate this tough moment and get back on your feet.

A quick side note before we dive in:

This guide is relevant no matter what industry you’re in. While we’re focused on gamedev – and yes, we’ve witnessed an unprecedented scale of the games industry layoffs since 2023 – some rules are universal, and that’s exactly what you’ll find here.

1. Vent

Don’t pressure yourself to wake up at 6 AM the next morning, ready to enthusiastically dive headfirst into job boards. Give yourself time to process whatever emotions you’re feeling right now. Sadness is normal. Anger is completely normal too. Allow yourself at least a weekend or more to vent and calm down. Your job search came unexpectedly, and you didn’t ask for it at this moment in your life, so be gentle with yourself. Planning your job search will be much more efficient if you start it without that knot in your stomach.

2. Dedicate a Time Block to Financial Assessment

When faced with a layoff, it’s crucial to set aside time—whether a dedicated block or a full day—to assess your financial situation and thoroughly understand the details of your severance package. Knowing where you stand financially and how much time you can devote to a full-time job search is essential. We understand it might be a tough analysis. But this effort will bring clarity and help you make informed decisions moving forward.

a) Confirming Your Severance Package

Start by thoroughly reviewing the details of your severance package. This may include:

Severance Pay

How much you will receive and when it will be disbursed.

Benefits Continuation

Will your health insurance and other benefits continue for a certain period and how to maintain coverage.

Unused Days Off

Will you be compensated for any unused leave.

Non-Compete or Non-Disclosure Agreements

Any legal obligations that may affect your future job prospects.

b) Assessing Your Financial Situation

Next, take a close look at your current financial standing:

Monthly Expenses

All your essential monthly expenses (rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries).

Savings

How long your savings can sustain you without additional income.

c) Exploring Unemployment Benefits

If your layoff makes you eligible for unemployment benefits, research the following:

Benefit Amounts

How much you may receive and for how long, as this can help you plan your budget.

Eligibility Criteria

Confirm that you meet the requirements.

Application Process

Familiarize yourself with the application process and required documentation.

3. Determine Your Job Search Criteria

Clarifying your career goals is a vital step in the job search process after the layoff. It helps you focus your efforts and also ensures that you pursue opportunities that align with your skills, and aspirations. We get it. Sometimes the market or your situation won’t let you hold out for the perfect job. But having a clear sense of what you want will definitely give you a boost when you’re in those interviews.

Identify your strengths, skills, and goals.

Clarify your short-term goals.

E.g., finding a new job, gaining specific skills, expanding your network.

Define your long-term career aspirations.

E.g., desired job titles, industries, professional development.

Align your goals with your values

E.g., work environment, work-life balance, company culture.

Be realistic about your flexibility

Analyze current trends in the games industry to determine if it’s worth staying open to opportunities in other industries.

Set Your Weekly KPIs

Establishing KPIs can help you measure your progress and keep your job search focused. Here are some examples:

Applications Submitted:

Aim to submit a specific number of tailored applications each week.

Networking Contacts:

Set a goal to reach out to a certain number of contacts each week.

Follow-Ups:

Plan to follow up on all applications and networking meetings within a week, ensuring you maintain connections.

Social Media Activity:

Aim to post or engage with content on LinkedIn at least twice a week to increase your visibility and network engagement.

By structuring your job search day and setting clear weekly KPIs, you can maintain focus, track your progress, and increase your chances of landing a new job.

4. Update Your Professional Profiles

Refine your resume

Create the default, up to date version of your resume. We suggest you adjust your resume slightly depending on certain job ads you apply for.

Optimize your LinkedIn profile

We, the recruiters, are there every working day. Make sure your profile will make it to the top of our search results. Here’s the guide for you on how to make your LinkedIn recruiter-friendly using keywords.

Polish your portfolio, professional website or github.

5. Plan Your Job Search Day

If you think you’ll be job searching from dawn till dusk, think again. First, there probably aren’t that many openings that perfectly match your skills. Second, trying to do so would likely push you to the brink of burnout. Here’s a sample job search schedule:

Morning Session (9 AM – 12 PM)

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Review Daily Goals and Intentions

• Reflect on your short-term and long-term career goals
• Prioritize tasks for the day based on your goals and action plan
• Check your inbox and LinkedIn, respond to messages and notifications.

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Job Search and Applications

• Identify relevant job postings on various platforms (e.g., companies and recruitment agencies websites, job boards, LinkedIn)
• Tailor your resume for specific applications
• Submit applications for positions that align with your goals
• Track your job applications with an Excel spreadsheet and take a screenshot of every job listing you apply to (JDs – job descriptions – may disappear when expired!)

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Break

• Take a short walk, stretch, or engage in a relaxing activity to recharge

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Skill Development

• Participate in online courses, webinars, or read industry-related materials

• Dedicate this hour to learning new skills relevant to your target job

LUNCH BREAK

Afternoon Session (1 PM – 5 PM)

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Networking on LinkedIn

• Engage with content and discussions in your professional network
• Reach out to new relevant contacts (gamedev recruiters, people working in other game studios)
• Follow up with previous connections and express gratitude for their time

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Job Search and Applications (continued)

• Continue searching for job opportunities and submitting tailored applications

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Break

• Take a short break to recharge and refocus for the remainder of the day

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Interview Preparation

• Review common interview questions and practice your responses
• Prepare questions to ask potential employers during interviews
• Research the companies you have applied to and familiarize yourself with their mission, values, and recent news
• Practice your personal pitch (1 minute intro about yourself) and answers to the most common screening questions (salary range, preferred work mode – remote, hybrid, on-site?, availability).

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Review and Plan for Tomorrow

• Reflect on your accomplishments and progress made during the day
• Identify areas for improvement and adjust your action plan accordingly
• Create a list of tasks for the next day, including any new connections to reach out to or roles to apply for

Remember to be flexible and adjust your schedule as needed based on your energy levels, progress, and any unexpected opportunities that may arise.

Why Planning Your Job Search Pays Off

Planning your job search after a layoff is indeed like a job itself, and the main goal is to stay strong throughout the transition period. Here at 8Bit, we’ve seen countless success stories from job seekers who approached their search with structure and strategy. Their key to success was having a solid plan to stick to during moments of self-doubt. With a structured strategy, they avoided the stress of losing track of budgets and applications. Overall, this approach made them more confident and self-aware throughout the recruitment process. We hope your story will be one of them!