Job Loss and Reaching Out

Unexpected job loss can feel a lot like losing someone you love.

Your routines change.

The people you connect with every day are suddenly gone.

The sense of stability you counted on disappears.

And just like with any significant loss, the people around you often don’t know what to say.

As someone whose role was unexpectedly eliminated after 10 years of high performance, let me tell you this:

Reach out.

You don’t have to be eloquent.

You don’t have to discuss what happened.

You don’t have to promise to stay in touch.

Just remind them they mattered.

We’ve all heard the line — “everyone is replaceable.”

Unexpected job loss has a way of making that line feel personal. It stirs up a quiet voice that asks, “Maybe I wasn’t enough.” Even when it isn’t true — and it usually isn’t — that voice shows up for even the most confident person.

So if you’re still with the company, let yourself feel the awkwardness. Let yourself feel the survivor’s guilt. And if part of you worries that their situation might somehow be contagious — let yourself feel that too.

Just don’t let any of it stop you from reaching out.

A simple message is enough:

“I heard the news. I just wanted you to know I’m really glad we got to work together, and I’m wishing you nothing but the best.”

If you want to do one more thing, endorse a few of their skills or write them a LinkedIn recommendation.

None of it has to be complicated or take more than a minute of your time.

Sometimes the greatest gift you can give someone is the reminder that they matter.