Laid Off? Here’s What To Do Next

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀… You’ve been laid off. It’s a gut punch that can leave you reeling, unsure what to do next or how to even begin. Take a deep breath. This moment may feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t define you. With the right steps, mindset, and support, you can regain control and set the stage for your next opportunity. Here’s a clear, practical roadmap to help you move forward—one action at a time.

✳️ 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩, 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚. Panic makes it impossible to think rationally.
✳️ 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙖𝙜𝙚 (𝙞𝙛 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚) 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙃𝙍. Don’t forget to ask about health insurance continuation under COBRA.
✳️ 𝙁𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬/ 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚’𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙚. In most states, this can conveniently be done online.
✳️ 𝙏𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙬/ 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨. You may experience all of the same emotions of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Feel the emotions, but don’t dwell there!
✳️ V𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚. Nothing helps you feel better than helping others who need it as much or more than you do!
✳️ 𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘 𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨. Skills like communication, customer service, and problem-solving are valuable no matter where you work!
✳️ 𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 metrics (𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚, 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙮 25%; 𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚-𝙩𝙤-𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 15 𝙩𝙤 8 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨). Have this list handy when you update your resume and interview for other positions.
✳️ 𝙐𝙥𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙍𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩. Include names, emails, phone numbers, & how you know them (former supervisor at X). Make sure you have their permission first! Ask them if they know of any jobs that match your experience and qualifications.
✳️ 𝘿𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙟𝙤𝙗 𝙩𝙮𝙥𝙚 𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙚𝙬. If you’re not sure what you’d like to do next, contact a career coach for assistance.
✳️ 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠. If you’ve maintained contact with folks over time, your outreach won’t feel uncomfortable. If not, restart conversations with/ your former colleagues and friends. Also, become an active member of associations related to your profession.
✳️ 𝙐𝙥𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙚𝙙𝙄𝙣 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙚. Have both reviewed by other professionals and/or a career coach.
✳️ 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙪𝙥𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨. A career coach can help with that, too!
✳️ 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛. Go to the gym with a friend, make a healthy meal, or take a 20-minute walk outside.

Losing your job is never easy, but it does not define your worth or future potential. By taking intentional steps, giving yourself space to process, and leaning on your network and resources, you can turn this setback into a reset. Every small action—updating your résumé, reaching out for support, or simply taking care of yourself—moves you closer to your next opportunity. You have what it takes to rebuild, refocus, and rise stronger than before.