Writing a Condolence Message After a Job Loss

Writing a Condolence Message After a Job LossWriting a Condolence Message After a Job LossWhen a family member, friend, or colleague loses their job, it can be hard to know what to say. Even though its probably not the easiest letter or email you have ever written, receiving a supportive message means a lot to the partie who has lost their job. When writing ajob loss condolence letter, you dont need to go into details about how the person lost their job (i.e., if they werefired or laid off). You can simply mention that you are supportive, you care about the person, and that youd like to offer to help them if you can. If you arent able to help with a job search or a reference, simply state how sorry you are to hear the news and let the person know youre available if they would like to talk. Here are some tips for writing a job loss condolence message. Offer Networking Help If you can provide networking contacts to help your friend or colleague with their new job search, do so. It will be especially valuable to people who have had the same job for many years and hasnt actively maintained a professional network. Offer, in your message, to introduce the person who has lost his or her job to your LinkedIn connections. If they arent familiar with LinkedIn, you can offer to help them sign up, write a profile summary, request LinkedIn recommendations, and use LinkedIn endorsements. Provide a Reference If youre familiar with the person in a work-related capacity and can endorse them, offer to provide aprofessional reference. Otherwise, offer to give them apersonal reference. Review a Resume or Letter Its always helpful to have another pair of eyes to review your resume. You dont need to be a professional resume writer to proofread a resume or letter. So, offering to review a resume or cover letters is a great way to offer help. Refer to Job Search Sites Do you have a favorite job search site? Popular ones include Indeed.com, Glassdoor.com, and CareerBuil der.com. If so, mention it in your condolence message. Mention, as well, if you know about a Job Search Forum that has been useful to you when you have searched for a new position in the past. Refer to Jobs Let your unemployed friend, family member, or colleague know that you will keep them in mind if you come across relevant job listings. Offer to send listings that might be an appropriate fit for their experience and qualifications. Ask What They Need Sometimes, you might be surprised at how much something little can mean to someone who is unemployed. Ask what they need - it could be something as basic as a walk in the park, a cup of coffee or lunch, or a phone conversation. Most importantly, offer to be there for the unemployed person. When youre out of work and trying to navigate a difficult job market, just knowing that you have support can make a big difference. Job searching is a stressful process, particularly when it is prompted by unanticipated job loss. In order t o conduct a successful career search, candidates typically need to view their search itself as their job, putting as much effort and as many hours into it as they would a real job. Sometimes all an unemployed friend needs is a sympathetic ear. But dont underestimate how valuable it might also be for you to offer to perform daily tasks like babysitting or running errands for them so that they can concentrate fully on their search. Job Loss Condolence Message Example This is an example of a job loss condolence message to send when someone has been fired or terminated from employment. SubjectHello from Your NameDear First Name,Jane Doe informed me that your employment was terminated. Its very unfortunate news and I wanted to see how I could help you during this difficult transition.If youre available for lunch this week, Id welcome the opportunity to chat with you to see how I can help. Otherwise, I am available via phone (111-111-1111) in the evening or email (yournameemail.com) a ny time. I look forward to hearing from you.Your NameYour Email AddressYour Phone Number Expand