What to Do Right After a Layoff: Your Essential Next Steps and Why They Matter

Before you exit, gather a complete layoff checklist to make this transition smoother. These documents can help support job applications, claim unemployment benefits, and ease your next move:

• A formal termination letter from HR

• Details of your severance package, if any

• Your last few pay stubs

• COBRA or health insurance continuation paperwork

• A reference letter from your manager or team lead

• Copies of performance reviews

• Contact info of colleagues for networking

• Access to key work samples for your portfolio

Why this matters: These documents are critical to prove employment history, benefits eligibility, and your value in past roles.

Your job search after a layoff doesn’t have to be frantic. Instead, it should be focused and fulfilling. Decide what roles you want first, and then apply all possible job-hunting tools- smart job boards, Job Match Pro, and alumni networks.

Keep daily goals in check, like applying for 3 to 4 positions or meeting one new person to keep the momentum going. Reopen channels with old connections who may be in hiring positions presently. Do not hesitate to ask them to put your application on hold for a couple of openings.

It's time to reflect, narrow down your search, and pursue jobs that truly align with your long-term aspirations.

Honesty and professionalism are a very good approach when asking for a referral. You can also get in touch with your former colleagues or managers and let them know about your situation of being laid off via email or LinkedIn.

Cold emails are powerful tools during a job search after layoff.

Yes, you can, and should, mention a layoff on resume when explaining career gaps. Employers understand that layoffs happen. The key is to frame it honestly and focus on what you did during the gap.

For example, under your last role, you might say:

“Position ended due to company-wide layoffs in [Month, Year].”

Then, use the gap period to your advantage: add any freelance work, certifications, or projects. This keeps your resume ATS-friendly and human-friendly at the same time.

It’s one of the most dreaded questions, but you can answer it with confidence. Just stick to the facts when asked:

“My position was impacted because of a company-wide restructuring. I loved my time there and am very much looking forward to meeting new challenges that relate well to my skill set and future inclinations.”

Keep it short and positive, and quickly pivot toward your transferable skills on resume and what you bring to the table. Interviewers want to see how you handle adversity, this is your moment to show strengths.

Answering the question "Why were you laid off" is hard to answer but with this statement you can easily answer it:

Yes, layoffs hurt - emotionally, financially, and mentally. But they also free you. Layoffs can pave paths for people toward more rewarding jobs, often better paid with more work-life balance. 

It's a time of reassessing priorities, opening for career pivots, and stretching beyond certain boundaries. Consider it a chance to finally pursue that career you’ve always wanted or upskill for roles that were once out of reach.

Avoid sounding apologetic. Use simple language like:

“I was laid off due to organizational changes. I’m now looking for the next role where I can apply my skills and continue growing.”

It’s honest, professional, and forward-looking, and that’s exactly what hiring managers want.

Being laid off can feel monumental, but the right steps taken quickly can ease the transition.

After a layoff, the last thing you need is to feel lost in a sea of job listings that don’t match your skills or goals. Endless scrolling on job search sites isn't the most effective strategy to find your next job.

The truth of a layoff has been bitter for those who have gone through it. But it's not the end of your story. It is just one hard-story pause before another narrative of meaning is written.

When you are past that initial shock of reality, begin walking forward with deliberate intent-laying the foundation for an even stronger and more pronounced expression of self.

Be it updating resumes or working on those connections, or learning something new, every step you take is one step towards your brighter future. Your job will never define your worth; rather, the capacity, resilience, and mindset you develop will. So, breathe, lean on your loved ones, and believe that the next chapter does hold promise. 

Opportunities aren’t always going to pop up as we expect, but they will show up when we are ready. You’ve got this.