How to Stay Productive After a Layoff: Essential Tips for Office Professional Job Seekers

person looking for a job online

Experiencing a layoff can be unsettling, especially when it impacts your office career. However, this transition also presents an opportunity to reassess your goals, sharpen your skills, and explore new office job opportunities. At Keystaff Professionals, we specialize in connecting talented office professionals with temporary, temp-to-hire, and permanent roles designed to match their skills and career goals.

Reflect and Refocus Your Office Career Goals

Start by reflecting on what kind of office roles best suit your skills and professional passions. Whether you’re interested in administrative assistant positions, customer service roles, or specialized office support like executive assistants and accounting clerks, identifying your priorities will help target your job search effectively.

Build Relevant Skills for Office Jobs

Use this time productively by updating and expanding your office skills. Platforms like Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, or specialized CRM software training can enhance your employability. Certification in these tools often distinguishes candidates in office temp job pools.

The Three-Step Networking Framework for Office Professionals

  1. Make an Announcement: Update your LinkedIn or professional networks with clear information about your job search and the office roles you’re seeking.
  2. Individual Outreach: Reach out to former colleagues, supervisors, and professional contacts to gather insights and potential leads in office roles.
  3. Exploratory Conversations: Arrange informational interviews or brief chats with office managers or recruiters to understand current office job market demands.

Networking within the office professional community can uncover unadvertised opportunities and widen your career prospects.

Create a Focused Daily Routine Using the 90-Minute Rule

Maximize your productivity by dedicating focused 90-minute blocks to essential job search activities. Start your day with tasks like customizing resumes for office roles or drafting cover letters. Follow with networking outreach and skill-building sessions using online tutorials relevant to office administration, data entry, or customer support.

Maintain Your Financial and Emotional Wellbeing

Evaluate your financial situation carefully and engage in stress-reducing activities. Keeping your mental and physical health in check is crucial for sustained job search effectiveness.

How Keystaff Professionals Can Help Office Job Seekers

At Keystaff Professionals, we offer access to a broad network of office temp jobs, temp-to-hire assignments, and direct hire opportunities. Our recruiters specialize in office staffing solutions, assisting candidates with resume reviews, interview preparation, and personalized job matching. Temporary office roles provide immediate income, skill development, and a flexible work schedule, helping bridge gaps and open doors to permanent office careers.

Whether you’re looking for administrative positions, receptionist roles, data entry jobs, or office management opportunities, partnering with a dedicated office staffing agency like Keystaff Professionals gives you a clear advantage in a competitive job market.

Stay Positive and Persistent

Job searching after a layoff takes perseverance. Celebrate small accomplishments, stay connected professionally, and embrace learning opportunities. With the right mindset and the support of an office staffing agency, your next office role is closer than you think.


At Keystaff Professionals, we’re committed to helping office professionals turn layoffs into new beginnings. Contact us today to explore office temp jobs and staffing services tailored to your career goals.

Why Office, HR & Accounting Professionals in the Twin Cities Stay—or Leave

Office manager having meeting with staff

The Twin Cities are home to a bustling hub of administrative, human resources, and accounting roles—from executive assistants and payroll specialists to HR generalists and accounts payable pros. Yet, retaining top-tier clerical and office personnel remains a challenge.

At KeyStaff Professionals, a division of Midwest Staffing Group, we’ve spent decades building deep relationships across Minnesota’s professional staffing landscape. Our mission: to understand why office-based professionals stay—and why they move on.


Why Office and Accounting Staff Often Leave

  • Lack of Career Progression
    Many administrative, HR, and accounting professionals desire growth—whether it’s mastering new systems, stepping into supervisory roles, or expanding into strategic functions. Without visible pathways, stagnation quickly sets in.
  • Feeling Overlooked in the Back Office
    It’s not uncommon for vital roles like clerical support or payroll processing to go unnoticed. Yet simple recognition—an email, team call-out, or sincere thanks—can significantly uplift morale.
  • Cloudy Expectations and Weak Feedback Loops
    In roles driven by precision and deadlines, unclear responsibilities or feedback can foster frustration. Professionals want clarity—where they stand, what’s expected, and how they’re performing.

What Keeps Office Professionals Motivated

  • Clear Communication & Trust
    Supportive managers who provide frequent, transparent feedback build trust and reinforce staff commitment.
  • Professional Development Opportunities
    Whether through training on the latest HR software, Excel mastery, or cross-training in finance functions, growth is a key retention lever.
  • Meaningful Recognition
    Celebrating someone’s accuracy in month-end closes or responsiveness to employee inquiries shows that detail-oriented work truly matters.
  • Purpose and Work-Life Balance
    A stable, supportive office environment where tasks are imbued with strategic purpose goes a long way in maintaining engagement.

How KeyStaff Professionals Supports Retention in Office Roles

  • Deep Twin Cities Expertise
    With over 30 years of experience through Midwest Staffing Group, and over 40 combined years of recruiting know-how, KeyStaff understands the Twin Cities’ office staffing dynamics inside out.
  • Specialized Office Staffing Solutions
    Whether you need contract staffing, contract-to-hire, or direct placements in Administrative, HR, or Accounting & Finance, KeyStaff delivers tailored matches.
  • Personalized Candidate and Client Experience
    The team takes time to understand both candidate goals and organizational culture—ensuring a match for skill and fit. As one HR client shared: “KeyStaff Professionals provide thoroughness that is very rare… they truly listen… the entire staffing process is managed at a very high level.”
  • Compliance, Support, and Trust
    Built on Midwest Staffing’s infrastructure, KeyStaff manages background screenings, payroll, compliance, and more, so employers can focus on supporting office teams.

Recommendations for Employers in the Twin Cities

ChallengeStrategy
Staff stuck in admin routinesDefine skill-building paths or cross-functional goals
Employees feel undervaluedShine a spotlight on successes and dependability
Communication breakdownsHost regular check-ins or email updates
Hiring gaps in office functionsUse contract-to-hire for flexibility and evaluation

Final Thoughts

The backbone of many Minnesota businesses lies in their office—whether HR, accounting, or administrative. Retaining professionals in these roles starts with clarity, development, recognition, and purpose.

KeyStaff Professionals, rooted in Twin Cities tradition and fueled by Midwest Staffing’s experience, is your partner in building that workplace—a place where office experts aren’t just employees, but valued team members.

👉 Discover how to keep your clerical, HR, and finance teams engaged: visit keystaffpro.com