Your first 30 days after a layoff

Losing a job is a shock, even when you saw it coming. The first month is not about sending 200 applications. It is about understanding what changed and setting yourself up to choose well.

Week 1: Stabilise

• Confirm your final pay, benefits end dates and any severance terms in writing
• Write down what happened while it is fresh: dates, reasons given, projects you owned
• Tell a few trusted people. You do not need a public announcement yet

Week 2: Gather your evidence

Collect your CV, performance reviews, project outcomes and messages of praise. These are the raw material for every application and interview that follows. Facts beat adjectives.

Week 3: Understand the market

Look at 20 current postings for roles you could do. Note which skills appear again and again, and where you are strong or thin. This is your gap map.

Week 4: Choose a direction

Decide whether you are returning to the same role, moving up, or shifting. Each path needs a different plan. Then start applying with focus rather than volume.

A layoff says more about a company's situation than about your value. Your next step is built on what you can prove.