What to Do When Layoffs Are Happening Around You

What to Do When Layoffs Are Happening Around You

As of 2025, layoffs are not isolated events—they’re shaping the professional landscape. Major employers like Meta, Microsoft, Google, HP, Grubhub, Autodesk, and Shell have all implemented workforce reductions. Across industries, even high-performing professionals are beginning to ask:

“Is my job secure?” “If my role is affected, what would I do next?” “How do I prepare without panicking?”

These are smart questions—and the time to act is before you need to. At OSPP Career Coaching, we help professionals build resilience and readiness in times of uncertainty. If layoffs are happening around you—or even if they’re not yet but feel imminent—this guide will help you respond strategically.

1. Assess the Landscape Without Panic

Layoffs trigger a range of emotions: fear, confusion, frustration, guilt. These feelings are valid—but decisions based on panic can cloud judgment. Step one is to gather facts, not assumptions.

Key Questions to Consider:

  • Are the layoffs company-wide or role-specific?

  • Is your team part of a core business function—or a cost center?

  • Are new hires still being made in other departments?

  • What are leadership’s stated goals for the next 6–12 months?

Practical Action:

  • Start reading company updates (internal or public) more carefully. Look for patterns: language around “efficiencies,” “restructuring,” or “reallocating resources” can signal pending changes.

  • Use trusted news sources or tools like Crunchbase and Glassdoor to monitor layoffs in your industry or organization.

At OSPP, we help our clients analyze these signals to assess risk and determine whether to stay the course, reposition internally, or start exploring outside options.

2. Update Your Resume and LinkedIn Before You Need Them

Most professionals only update their resume when they’re actively job searching. By then, it’s often rushed and reactive. The reality is: your professional materials should evolve as your career evolves.

Why It Matters:

  • Recruiters spend under 8 seconds on the average resume. Every word counts.

  • LinkedIn is used by over 87% of hiring managers to vet or discover candidates.

  • Many leadership roles are sourced directly through online profiles.

Practical Action:

  • Add recent projects, performance metrics, or new responsibilities to your resume.

  • On LinkedIn, go beyond job titles—write a headline that conveys your expertise, not just your current role (e.g., “Strategic Finance Leader | SaaS Growth | Cross-Border M&A”).

  • Include a strong, searchable “About” section with 3–4 core strengths.

At OSPP, we don’t just edit resumes—we completely rewrite and reframe your professional narrative. Our writing and coaching services are customized to each client’s field, seniority level, and goals, ensuring your materials stand out.

3. Build Financial Readiness for Greater Career Flexibility

Layoffs often come with little warning. Financial planning allows you to make thoughtful, strategic decisions rather than desperate ones.

Practical Action:

  • Emergency Fund: If possible, set aside 3–6 months of essential living expenses.

  • Understand Benefits: Know your company’s severance, healthcare extension (COBRA), and outplacement options.

  • Job Search Timeline: On average, professionals take 2–5 months to land a new role. Higher-level roles may take longer.

OSPP Career Coaching helps clients prepare financially by:

  • Structuring career transition timelines

  • Exploring short-term consulting or freelance options

  • Strategizing job search budgeting and income replacement planning

Financial clarity gives you choice—and confidence.

4. Initiate Career-Focused Conversations With Leadership

Silence can be mistaken for disengagement. Don’t wait to have conversations with your manager until a performance review or an unexpected meeting.

Talking Points to Try:

  • “I’m invested in the company’s success and want to ensure I’m aligned with upcoming priorities. What areas are most critical right now?”

  • “I’d like to take on more responsibility. Are there upcoming initiatives where I can be of greater value?”

  • “How do you see my role evolving over the next 6–12 months?”

Why This Matters:

  • You gain clarity on how your work is being perceived

  • You position yourself as a proactive contributor

  • You open the door to internal mobility, stretch assignments, or leadership opportunities

Through OSPP coaching, we help you craft the right questions, read between the lines in leadership language, and advocate for yourself with professionalism.

5. Invest in Strategic Networking—Not Just Job Hunting

When layoffs begin, it’s easy to retreat. But the most successful professionals double down on relationships—not applications.

Practical Action:

  • Reconnect with 5–10 former colleagues, mentors, or peers. Ask how they’re doing, and offer value before asking for help.

  • Identify 2–3 people in your ideal company or industry and engage with their LinkedIn content, then reach out with a personal note.

  • Attend relevant virtual or in-person events—even casual engagement can lead to unexpected opportunities.

Why It Works:

  • Referred candidates are 4x more likely to be hired

  • Hiring managers remember value-driven conversations—not generic applications

OSPP provides scripts, outreach strategies, and follow-up plans to help you build and activate a meaningful professional network—whether you’re job searching or just expanding your influence.

6. Align Your Skills With the Market of Tomorrow

Layoffs aren’t just about cutting costs—they’re about restructuring for the future. If your skill set doesn’t align with where the company is headed, you may be at greater risk.

Key Trends in 2025:

  • Increased investment in AI and automation (e.g., Autodesk’s restructure to fund AI roles)

  • Demand for cross-functional leadership, adaptability, and digital literacy

  • Emphasis on skills over titles (skills-based hiring is growing rapidly)

Practical Action:

  • Identify one skill or tool to develop in the next 30–60 days (e.g., data storytelling, AI fundamentals, leadership certification)

  • Choose a reputable platform (LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, edX) and commit to completion

  • Add it to your resume, LinkedIn, and career conversations

OSPP coaches help clients select the right upskilling strategy, integrate new skills into their personal brand, and communicate relevance to hiring managers.

7. Don’t Overlook Your Mental Well-being

Even if you haven’t been laid off, the emotional impact of layoffs can weigh heavily. From “survivor’s guilt” to burnout, job insecurity takes a toll.

Practical Action:

  • Establish a daily routine that includes boundaries from work-related stress

  • Limit exposure to layoff news if it’s causing anxiety

  • Talk to a coach or therapist to process the emotional weight and stay grounded

At OSPP, our holistic coaching approach includes mindset tools, resilience strategies, and accountability support to help clients move forward with clarity and confidence—even in uncertainty.

Why Professionals Trust OSPP Career Coaching

Professionals across industries—from finance and tech to healthcare and education—turn to us during high-stakes transitions because we offer:

✅ Custom, professionally written resumes and LinkedIn profiles
✅ Career coaching that combines strategic planning and mindset support
✅ Networking and personal branding strategies that open doors
✅ Interview preparation, job search systems, and salary negotiation coaching

We don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. We partner with every client to create personalized solutions that align with their values, experience, and goals.

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