I’m the former Microsoft VP of HR –  January is the busiest month for job cuts so here are my six must-dos within 48 hours of being laid off

Layoffs can happen at any time, but January is historically the busiest month for job cuts across all industries due to corporate restructuring for the new year.

With the month only a few weeks away, a former VP of Human Resources (HR) at Microsoft shared six things people should do within 48 hours of being terminated.

Chris Williams, who worked at Microsoft from 1992 to 2000, now uses his more than 40 years of experience building and leading teams as an advisor to people who have been laid off from their jobs or have laid off workers.

He urges people to read their layoff packages carefully before agreeing to sign anything and to consult an attorney if they are considering legal action.

Williams also suggests updating your resume and LinkedIn page right away to put yourself in a better position to get your next job quickly.

Williams lists important steps to take in the first 48 hours after stopping work Interested in trade An editorial, even when companies take the wrong approach to mass layoffs.

“In the past few years, and even the last few weeks, we have seen a host of companies handle layoffs with a process and timing that borders on draconian,” Williams said in the op-ed.

“Layoffs…plain and simple,” Williams said in a letter. YouTube videoadding: “But they don't have to have sex as bad as some companies do.”

In her op-ed, Williams offers the following six steps to help people survive layoffs.

Really read through the layoff documents

Immediately after a layoff, HR will send you numerous documents containing sometimes confusing legal jargon, including information about when your severance will begin, whether you will receive severance pay, how long your health care will continue after the layoff date, and more. .

Documents will likely need to be signed and returned as soon as possibleThis is in the company's favor because it enables it to move forward quickly.

However, Williams warned that signing documents immediately is the opposite of what laid-off employees should do.

“It is in the company's best interest to end this matter immediately, get you out, close your file, and move on. It saves them time, money, and drama,” he wrote.

Instead, laid-off employees should tell HR that they “need time to understand all of this” and take it home to read it over because once it's signed, it's binding.

Consider challenging the decision

Williams advises that you should consider resisting management if you have any influence, such as being part of a protected category such as age, medical condition, gender, etc.

Using this leverage, laid-off employees may receive a better severance package than they were offered, from extended benefits to more significant severance pay — but employees should not expect that to reverse a company's layoff decision, he shared. Williams.

He wrote: “I present the issue not on the basis of sympathy, but on the basis of business terms… some issues that speak of business and money, not of the feelings of the heart.”

Williams included examples such as telling the company that you need to organize and document your work, that you have a medical need that requires extended health coverage, or that you work in a specialized field that will take longer to find a new job.

Look at your legal options

Hiring an attorney to review your termination documents and provide feedback on whether you can build a case against the company for wrongful termination is essential.

This can apply to those in a protected class, or if you believe the layoff is due to a complaint you filed, but when speaking with an attorney, it's important to make sure they're not charging an upfront fee.

Williams urges people to talk with someone who only charges a settlement fee if your case is not accepted or says there is no likelihood of success.

“Talk to a lawyer if you're considering it,” he wrote. “Here too, the worst they can say is ‘no’.

Update your resume and LinkedIn page

Once you've dotted the T's and crossed the T's, it's time to look to the future and update your resume and LinkedIn.

Your resume should highlight your most recent jobs and experience, while highlighting what makes you the best candidate for future roles, Williams said.

Include your last position, titles, and any major accomplishments – if you're not sure what this should entail, there are online resources to help you build a strong resume.

Likewise, if you don't keep your LinkedIn page up to date, now is a good time, but don't pay for third-party help, Williams wrote, but instead quote the many people who provide this information for free.

“Don't spend hundreds of precious dollars, no matter how desperate you feel,” he wrote.

“Their advice will be taken from their own playbook, and it probably won't represent you as well as you can represent yourself.”

Keep it low key when mentioning your layoff online

Even though the ink has barely dried on your termination documents, it's time to decide if you want to share what you were laid off upfront.

You can choose to keep it quiet and change when you leave your job, but if you decide to be transparent, Williams wrote, the best option is to remain humble.

This option only requires a few sentences explaining that you were part of the company's layoffs, adding, “I enjoyed my time there and look forward to my next adventure.”

Williams cautioned that you should never post anything critical of the company and share all the drama that led up to the layoffs, which is more appropriate to discuss with a friend over drinks.

“I strongly recommend against this type of post. You are burning bridges behind you,” Williams wrote.

The splinters will damage people you may use as contacts or references.

“Even worse, you're telling any potential future employers that you're prone to drama.

“You don't handle adversity well and often do so in public.”

Takeaway: Keep it simple. Keep it nice.

Communication is key

Landing a new job can come from posting an open job notice on your LinkedIn or directly applying for a job, but “the best hires are made through connections,” says Williams.

You might be surprised at how many people you know who are in the perfect position to open the door for an interview and can compliment the hiring manager by doing so.

Williams advised reaching out to as many people as possible, one-on-one, over a cup of coffee or a Zoom call, adding: “Reach out to everyone you know who might have knowledge of a job opening.”