Layoffs don’t usually happen in one moment.

There’s a period where something feels off.
Communication shifts. Priorities change. Decisions feel unclear.

Then there’s the moment it becomes official.
And everything that comes next.

Most people try to react at each stage as it happens.

That’s where things get harder than they need to be.

A layoff is not one event.
It’s a sequence.

And when you understand that, you can approach it differently.

Before a Layoff: When Something Feels Off

This is the stage most people ignore.

Not because they don’t notice it—but because they don’t want to overreact.

You might notice:

• less communication from leadership

• shifting responsibilities

• projects being paused or reassigned

• a general sense that something has changed

This is not the time to panic.

But it is the time to quietly prepare.

Focus on:

• securing access to important documents and work samples

• reviewing your financial position

• updating your resume while your experience is current

• identifying key contacts and references

You don’t need to do everything at once.

You need to start.

If you want a structured way to prepare without overreacting, I created a guide that walks through exactly what to secure, update, and think through before anything is official.

The Moment It Happens: What to Do First

When a layoff becomes official, the first few days matter more than most people expect.

This is where it’s easy to:

• react emotionally

• miss important details

• delay key decisions

Instead, your focus should be simple and controlled.

Priorities in the first week:

• understand your separation details clearly

• review any benefits, timelines, and documentation

• stabilize your immediate financial picture

• give yourself space before making big decisions

This is not the moment to rush into a full job search.

It’s the moment to get grounded.

Having a clear first-week plan makes a significant difference in how stable you feel moving forward.

Moving Forward: Structure Over Guesswork

Once the initial shock passes, the next phase begins.

This is where many people feel overwhelmed.

There are too many decisions:

• where to apply

• how to position yourself

• how to explain the transition

• how to stay consistent

Without structure, it becomes reactive.

With structure, it becomes manageable.

Focus on:

• updating your resume with clear positioning

• reaching out to your network intentionally

• building a simple, repeatable job search process

• maintaining momentum without burning out

Progress here doesn’t come from doing everything.

It comes from doing the right things consistently.

Why Thinking in Stages Changes Everything

Most advice treats layoffs as a single moment.

But when you separate it into:

• before

• immediately after

• moving forward

You remove a lot of the uncertainty.

You’re not guessing what to do next.
You already have a direction.

If You Want a Clear Plan for All Three Stages

If you prefer having everything laid out in one place, I’ve created a structured bundle that walks through:

• how to prepare before anything is official

• what to do in the first days after a layoff

• how to move forward with a clear plan

It’s designed to give you a practical, step-by-step approach for each stage—so you’re not figuring it out in the moment.

Final Thought

A layoff is not one moment.

It’s a sequence.

And when you prepare for the sequence, you stay in control of how you move through it.