Job experts offer tips to laid off workers after IRS firings

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Thousand of federal workers across the county are losing their jobs, and that includes Kansas City--where as many as a thousand IRS workers may be laid off. We talked with some workers after they were escorted out of the IRS building after getting the news, and some are wondering what’s next.

KCTV5 checked in with local experts for advice.

Janine Bedora at Spencer Reed Group Staffing Agency says first, give yourself grace and take some time to get through the emotions.

“It’s kind of like going through a grieving situation. So, get through a week or whatever it takes, but you don’t want to postpone it too long,” said Bedora.

Laid off workers should apply to unemployment benefits. Federal workers may qualify, and the application is made through the state’s Department of Labor.

Next, update your resume. One expert we talked with said that federal workers typically have longer resumes than those in the corporate world. It’s advisable to reduce the content to two pages or less.

Since resume writing isn’t something people to a lot, consider hiring a professional to help. Or try ChatGPT to help make your resume succinct and impactful. Our expert suggested paying for the upgrade from the free version, and tweak the resume to suit your needs. Check to be sure it doesn’t sound like AI wrote it.

Take some time to assess your career goals. Bedora said that these workers have skills that can transfer to other area.

“They just need to think outside the box. Even though it’s government, a lot of those skills are transitional to corporate America,” said Bedora.

Even though it may be hard to talk about the job loss, networking is a must. First, update your linked in profile. Use the traditional job sites, but also, reach out to on other social media platforms, school or church message boards, social groups. Let people know you’re looking for work..

Your job now, she says, is finding a job. Work at it everyday. Do your research to learn about the companies you’re applying to and be prepared.

“They just have to be well-prepared with a list of questions and researching the company, and dress professionally for that interview. You always got to put your best foot forward because first impressions are going to be so important whether it’s a phone interview, video interview or in-person interview because there’s going to be a lot of competition out there,” said Bedora.

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