Rebuilding Your Career After Job Loss Overview
In times of career transition — whether due to a layoff or another form of unexpected job loss — having the right support and strategies is essential to moving forward with confidence.
Led by seasoned career strategists and leadership coaches, the program features a series of four concise, online modules that deliver real-world strategies. You’ll learn how to identify and communicate your transferable skills, build a strong professional network, and craft a forward-looking career vision.
Whether you’re navigating a sector shift or simply seeking your next step, this career transition program offers the guidance, support, and empowerment you need to successfully pivot and grow.
Benefits
Over the course of the four modules, participants will gain the tools and clarity needed to build their next career chapter and thrive in a shifting job market.
Other takeaways from this program include:
- Crafting messaging that clearly communicates your impact across roles and industries
- Learning to network strategically and build business relationships to support your next career move
- Navigating interviews and negotiations with confidence, both virtually and in person
- Developing a personalized, flexible job search roadmap to take consistent, meaningful action
- Receive a Certificate of Completion from the Harvard Division of Continuing Education
Who Should Take Rebuilding Your Career After Job Loss
This online program is designed explicitly for displaced professionals facing the emotional, professional, and practical challenges that follow a layoff or unexpected career disruption.
Curriculum
Each module in this program focuses on a specific subject area helpful to those recovering from a layoff or unexpected job loss, including interviewing, negotiation, adaptability and resilience, and networking and relationship building.
For details on what each module covers, refer to the program schedule.
Considering this program?
Instructors
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![Jill Slye]()
Jill Abruzese Slye
Jill Abruzese Slye, a Harvard instructor and public speaking consultant at the Harvard Kennedy School, brings over 30 years of business experience across industries including healthcare, finance, and technology. Recognized with Harvard's Petra Shattuck Excellence in Teaching Award, she specializes in leadership communication and presentation skills, empowering leaders worldwide. Jill is also the author of Reinvesting in Your Rhetoric, a guide to enhancing professional communication. -
![PDP Instructor Eugene B. Kogan]()
Eugene B. Kogan
Dr. Eugene B. Kogan is an award-winning Harvard thought leader and keynote speaker on power strategies in negotiation and leadership. He is the Principal & Managing Director of Kogan Global Advisory LLC & teaches at Harvard Division of Continuing Education’s Professional & Executive Development Programs. -
![John Westman]()
John Westman
John Westman is a practitioner and teacher of professional selling and sales management at Harvard Extension School and Boston College. He has led commercial efforts — including strategy, sales management, marketing, business development, and strategic partnerships — resulting in improved business results for market-leading and start-up healthcare companies. -
![Julie Jungalwala]()
Julie Jungalwala
Julie M. Jungalwala is a leadership educator, coach, and author with over 20 years of experience helping leaders thrive through change. Founder of the Institute for the Future of Learning, she’s a Harvard-educated expert in adult development and a recipient of the Harvard Hero and Donna Elder Awards. Her work empowers authentic, strengths-based leadership.
Program Schedule
Monday, June 9, 2–4 p.m. ET | Communication & Public Speaking
Communication & Public Speaking — Essential Skills for Delivering a Confident Interview
Instructor: Jill Slye
Communicating your personal brand value, with particular focus on a newly envisioned professional brand.
As part of this online module, you will:
- Define your personal brand
- Identify your core strengths, values, and differentiators
- Craft your personal brand statement
- Articulate your impact and contributions in past roles
- Adapt your message for different roles or industries
- Practice confident, authentic communication
- Master virtual and in-person interview presence
Monday, June 16, 2–4 p.m. ET | Negotiation
Negotiation: Salary, Benefits, & Advocating for Yourself in a New Role
Instructor: Eugene B. Kogan
Empowering you with the mindset and skills to confidently negotiate for your worth.
As part of this online module, you will cover four elements of negotiation:
- Framing: Negotiation is a professional dialogue, not a confrontation
- Preparation: Knowing your value, practicing pitching & listening, readying your alternatives
- At the table: Managing nerves, exploring without committing, navigating salary expectations & asking strategic questions
- Follow-up: Writing thank you notes & responding to first offers
Monday, June 23, 2–4 p.m. ET | Adaptability & Resilience
Adaptability & Resilience – Handling career changes with confidence
Instructor: Julie Jungalwala
Navigating the uncertainty of job or career loss invites us to adapt, grow, and build resilience. This session is reflective, empowering, and designed to help you envision and create what’s next.
As part of this online module, you will learn about:
- Building Confidence from Life Lessons: Leverage pivotal moments to strengthen resilience and clarify purpose
- Navigating Career Transitions: Pinpoint your transition stage and apply strategies to move forward decisively
- Envisioning Your Future Self: Craft a compelling vision for your next chapter through guided reflection
- Activating Your Job Search Roadmap: Design a flexible action plan and engage peer support to maintain momentum
Friday, June 27, 1–3 p.m. ET | Strategic Networking & Relationship Building
Strategic Networking & Relationship Building: Finding New Opportunities
Instructor: John Westman
Empowering you with the skills and confidence to network strategically and build relationships.
As part of this online module, you will learn about:
- Building business relationships to advance your career
- Strategic networking to get your next position
- Structured networking conversations — what to ask, what to tell
- Asking for introductions naturally, without feeling awkward
FAQs
Who is this career transition program designed for?
This online career transition program is designed for professionals who have been laid off or experienced unexpected job loss and are now facing the challenges of a career change.
How does this program support emotional recovery after being laid off?
This program will help you adapt, grow, and build resilience after experiencing unexpected job loss. You will also build your confidence through the modules in this program. All of these may help with emotionally recovering from the sudden change of being laid off.
Is this program helpful if I want to change industries or pivot careers?
Yes, this program may be helpful if you want to change industries or pivot careers. Please note that it is specifically designed for professionals who have been laid off or experienced unexpected job loss.
Will I receive support with salary negotiations and compensation conversations?
This program covers the fundamentals of salary negotiation, including how to prepare for a salary negotiation, and outlines frameworks for effectively negotiating those conversations. You will learn the language you should use — and avoid — when asking for more compensation as well as how to negotiate for other elements like bonuses, benefits, paid time off, or a title change.
As part of the program, you will review common salary negotiation scenarios and how to respond if an offer is lower than expected, and how to respond to counteroffers.
What outcomes can I expect after completing the program?
After completing this program, you will have the tools to confidently navigate career transitions, define your personal brand, and communicate your value with authenticity. You’ll build resilience, strengthen your networking and interviewing skills, and develop a personalized job search roadmap to help you move forward with clarity and purpose.
