You’re staring at the screen. Or maybe you just walked out of a glass-walled conference room with a cardboard box that feels heavier than it should. The HR person said something about "restructuring" or "shifting priorities," but honestly, it all sounded like Charlie Brown’s teacher. The bottom line is you don't have a job anymore. It’s a gut punch.
So, what do I do?
First, breathe. Seriously. Most people panic-apply to twenty LinkedIn jobs within the first three hours. Don’t be that person. Your brain is currently in fight-or-flight mode, and that is a terrible state for making career-altering decisions.
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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, millions of people go through this every single year. It’s a literal part of the economic cycle, though that doesn’t make the "Your access has been revoked" message any less annoying. You need a plan that isn't just "hustle harder."
The immediate 24-hour triage
The very first thing you have to handle is the paperwork. Before you leave the building—or log off the Zoom—make sure you understand your severance package. Is there one? If you're in an "at-will" state in the U.S., companies aren't strictly required to give you severance unless it’s in your contract, but many do to avoid lawsuits. Look for the "COBRA" election notice too. It’s expensive, but it keeps your health insurance alive while you figure out your next move.
Check your state's unemployment website. Do it today. There is often a waiting week, and the system is usually built on 1990s technology that crashes if you look at it wrong. You paid into this system with your taxes; use it. It’s not charity. It’s your insurance.
Don't sign the severance agreement instantly. You usually have 21 to 45 days to review it, especially if you're over 40, thanks to the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA). If the numbers look weird or you feel you were targeted unfairly, take that document to an employment lawyer. It might cost you $300 for a consultation, but it could save you thousands in unpaid bonuses or commissions.
Managing the "What Do I Do" spiral
The mental game is harder than the logistics. You’re going to feel a mix of rage, shame, and weirdly, a tiny bit of relief? That's normal.
Kinda sucks, right?
But here is the reality: your identity is not your job title. We live in a culture that asks "What do you do?" before "How are you?", which makes job loss feel like an identity crisis. It’s not. It’s a contract termination.
Tell your people. Don't hide it. When I talk to career coaches like Marty Nemko, they often emphasize that the "hidden job market" is where 70% of roles live. If you don't tell your network you're looking, they can't help you. A simple "Hey, my time at [Company] ended today. I'm taking a week to reset but would love to chat soon" is enough.
Auditing the finances without losing your mind
How much runway do you actually have? Grab a coffee, sit down with your bank app, and be brutally honest.
- Emergency Fund: Do you have the standard three-to-six months?
- Burn Rate: What are you spending on stuff you don't need? Cancel the gym you don't go to. Pause the third streaming service.
- Retirement Accounts: Whatever you do, try not to touch your 401(k) or IRA. The tax penalties and lost growth are brutal.
If things are tight, call your mortgage lender or landlord. It sounds scary, but many have programs for temporary hardship. They’d rather have you pay something or defer than go through the hassle of an eviction or foreclosure.
Fixing the resume (The part everyone hates)
Your resume is probably dusty. It’s likely a list of duties. "I managed a team" or "I wrote code."
Nobody cares about your duties. They care about your results.
Instead of saying "Responsible for social media," say "Grew Instagram following by 40% in six months without increasing ad spend." Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It’s a cliche for a reason—it works.
Also, the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is your first hurdle. It’s the bot that reads your resume before a human does. If your resume is a fancy Canva template with columns and graphics, the bot might choke on it. Keep it simple. Standard fonts. Clean headers. Use keywords from the job description you're targeting.
Networking vs. Cold Applying
Cold applying to jobs on LinkedIn or Indeed is a low-percentage game. It’s like throwing a message in a bottle into the Atlantic and hoping it hits a specific person in London.
You need a "Top 10" list of companies you actually want to work for. Find people who work there. Not the HR person—the person who would be your boss or your peer. Send a message that isn't "Give me a job." Try something like: "I’ve been following [Company’s] work on the new AI integration. I’m a developer recently back on the market and would love to ask 20 minutes of your time about how your team handles deployment."
People love talking about themselves. Use that.
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Upskilling or Pivot?
Maybe you hated your job. This is the "What Do I Do" moment where you decide if you're staying in your lane or switching tracks entirely.
If you're a project manager but you’ve always wanted to do data analytics, now is the time to hit Coursera, Udemy, or edX. Some certifications, like the PMP (Project Management Professional) or Google Career Certificates, have real weight. Others are just digital paper. Do your research. Check LinkedIn to see if people in the jobs you want actually have those certifications.
Don't spend $10k on a bootcamp without talking to three graduates first. Many bootcamps have seen their placement rates crater in the last two years.
The Daily Routine
The worst thing you can do is wake up at 11:00 AM and scroll TikTok in your underwear. You need a "job" of finding a job.
- Morning: Exercise. It keeps the cortisol levels from spiking.
- 9 AM - 12 PM: High-energy tasks. Networking emails, tailoring resumes, or heavy-duty learning.
- Lunch: Get out of the house.
- 1 PM - 3 PM: Research. Look at industry trends. Who is hiring? Who just got funding?
- 3 PM onwards: Stop. Close the laptop.
If you spend 10 hours a day applying, you will burn out in a week. Quality over quantity. Three deeply researched, networked applications are worth more than fifty "Easy Apply" clicks.
When the "No's" start rolling in
You're going to get ghosted. You'll get automated rejections at 2:00 AM. It feels personal. It’s not.
Modern hiring is broken. Many companies post "ghost jobs" that they don't actually intend to fill just to keep a talent pipeline or look like they're growing. If you get a rejection, don't let it ruin your Tuesday. Move on.
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Actionable Next Steps
- File for unemployment immediately. Every day you wait is money you're leaving on the table.
- Draft your "State of the Union" post. Update your LinkedIn headline to be specific (e.g., "Senior Product Designer | UX Research | Fintech") rather than "Open to Work."
- Create a "Work Search" spreadsheet. Track company, contact person, date applied, and follow-up date.
- Identify your "Bridge Job" if needed. If the runway is short, there is no shame in driving for Uber or working retail while you hunt. It keeps the lights on and reduces the "desperation vibe" in interviews.
- Secure your references. Reach out to former bosses or colleagues you actually liked. Ask them now, before you need them for a background check.
You’re going to be okay. It feels like the end of the world today, but for most people, a layoff ends up being the catalyst for a much better role with a boss who actually values their time. Stay focused on the process, not just the outcome.