Episode 308
How to Handle Layoffs, Rejections & Career Pivots
Episode 308 - Rejections are part of the job search and they can also guide your next steps. In this episode, Renata answers questions about resumes, layoffs, LinkedIn gaps, and how to pivot into new opportunities.
In recent months, the messages I receive from clients and podcast listeners have become increasingly urgent. Experienced professionals, many in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, are being forced to navigate layoffs, endless rejections, and the unsettling prospect of having to pivot careers in an economy that feels unstable at best.
The questions raised by hundreds of participants in a recent webinar I joined, organized by the job seeker’s platform Callings.ai, painted a vivid picture of where corporate professionals stand today.
This moment is not unique. Labor markets cycle, as history shows us. Yet 2025 has brought together a particular mix of challenges: post-pandemic restructuring, political shifts that have left government professionals in limbo, funding cuts, and AI-driven restructures. For executives and experienced professionals, these shifts create both barriers and opportunities.
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Timestamps to guide your listening:
- 00:00 Introduction to the Webinar and Podcast Episode
- 04:36 Handling Rejection and Staying Motivated
- 12:53 Applications, Resumes, and LinkedIn Strategies
- 26:32 Career Pivots and Returning to Old Employers
- 36:05 Interviewing and Closing the Deal
- 42:48 Application Strategies and Timing
Links mentioned in this episode:
- Join the RB Lnkdn Club to improve your presence on LinkedIn
- Watch the Layoff webinar
- Follow the other panellists: Albert Qian
- Follow the other panellists: Matthew Sorensen
- Follow the other panellists: Garrett Rice
- The Job Hunting Podcast interview with Garrett Rice, CEO of Callings.ai (282)
- Search The Job Hunting Podcast episodes by category or keyword
About the host, Renata Bernarde
Hello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress.
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