Mid-40's, recently laid off from a Product Mgmt role with a background in Project Mgmt. Have had some close calls in my career but this is the first time I've been impacted. Currently on a 60-day notice where I can begin my job search while I transition off my work. At the end of that duration I will also receive a severance. I've reviewed and amended our budget to account for this new reality in the event I have an extended search.

I'm evaluating other internal opps, but have also begun my external search. I'm leveraging my network, resume updated, leveraging career services and recruiters, updating LinkedIn profile and receiving recommendations.

I'm interested in others stories for how you approached the job search, what actions did you take, and what would you recommend as I embark on this journey?

When I got laid off during Covid, I took the first job contract (finance/accounting) job that came my way. It wasn't temp to hire and I didn't want it to be...it was just a 6 month contract. At about month 5 I got a new full time role but I was glad to have the work in the middle.

I did have a 6 month pay/benefits continuation from the layoff so I wasn't necessarily starving but even to have the temp work to keep myself focused was helpful.

i work in construction / subcontracting.


I emailed and texted everyone i knew may need a skillset like mine. Then did nothing the rest of day. Next day I waited for responses and called everyone i knew that may know of someone that may need me.


had a job on day 2.


my recommendation is active communication rather than emails if you have a good network, a phone call is very impactful.

I did what Sims did. While applying to multiple jobs per day, I also worked with a temp agency to find something in the meantime to cover the bills. They placed me with Exxon, who ultimately ended up offering me a full time position. Doing temp work is doubly beneficial in that it helps pay bills, and opens doors for permanent placement.

Patience, grace and confidence. It might take time, might not, maybe its time to try another field that you are interested in. Watch costs and spending, it will happen, just trust your process.

Has happened twice in my almost 30 year career in Aerospace / Defense. Once very early in my career, and once recently after being with the same company for 24 years. It sucks, but it literally can be life changing in a positive way.

In my experience, if you liked your coworkers / job / company that you're being laid off from, the next gig may not be a place you find long term happiness. Part of it is you tend to settle when you are up against a severance pay window ending, but it also seems a little bit to me like a rebound relationship after a long-term relationship ends. Maybe that is just my head game experience. But in both my layoffs I started a new gig within 4-6 weeks, and both of those jobs just felt unfulfilling and I left them after about a year when I found truly awesome new roles / companies.

Being laid off is emotional, and no matter how confident you are, and no matter if you have always been the top performer, there is a period of emotional turmoil and self-doubt that follows it. In my experience, working through that during a one-year period at a less than dream job has been just what I needed so I could start my next gig in a much more positive head space.

Your mileage may vary, as they say. But best of luck to you! You will end up on the other end in a better place, so just have Faith!

Going through it now. Laid off Aug 29 after 17 years at company.

First week was okay….lots of good contacts and conversations.

Second week - reality set in….those conversations have gone quiet and anxiety is setting in

I'm taking the opportunity to look at other industries but being over 50 is going to make it difficult.

Got laid off once at a position that I thought I was going to love. But, I was a new employee, and everyone else had been there 20+ years. They "said" they wanted to start new ideas, etc, but what they really wanted was a continuation of the exact same policies and procedures they had been doing. It was of course a huge hit to my ego.

I could see it coming; I got laid off the last day of my 6 month probationary period, but I had a new job the next week.

Always keep networking, always keep your eyes open, and always be closing.

I have a side hustle I could do full time and make more money (which I'm using to fund another side hustle that is more lucrative); I always like to have options after that debacle.

But, of course, I could go get a teaching job (which I hate) any time I want due to having math and science endorsements.

AJ02 said:

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Having been laid off twice, my embarrassment stemmed from:

a) they kept some people but not me, therefore I must not have been doing as good a job as them;

b) if they outsourced my role to a 3rd party company, that means my role was so easy anyone could do it;

c) if my role was eliminated, it meant my role didn't bring any value to the company to start with.

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This is so spot on!

I don't understand the "after 60 days the job search begins'. I'm guessing you have another two months remaining at current gig.

Job search should start on Day 1 at every job. I don't believe in job hopping every year but I believe in keeping options.

I can't imagine any scenario where you are prohibited from searching for a job now. And I can't imagine any job worth your time that isn't willing to wait a month for you to finish contract.

birdman, you can begin searching for a new role immediately, it's just a little bit of lead time the company provides for you to transition your work as well as search for new roles. hope that helps.