Just Laid Off? 4 Essential Post-layoff Steps to Take Right Now

Layoffs suck. They’re disruptive, stressful, and often unexpected...

They’re also an unfortunate reality in today’s job market. Especially in industries like tech, where volatility is kinda the norm nowadays (and that’s coming from an Ex-Tech Girlie). Even if you’re great at what you do, shifts in budgets, restructures, market conditions, and, let’s be honest, decisions driven by profit margins can leave you unexpectedly searching for your next opportunity.

Hi, I’m Tessa—and before becoming a Career Consultant, I became a member of the uncoveted-but-all-too-common club of employees who were laid off not once, but TWICE post-COVID, within the same year. During the holidays. (#ouch)

With over a decade of experience helping professionals navigate the job search with confidence, I've hired hundreds of employees, reviewed over 10,000 resumes, and partnered with leaders from new managers to C-suite executives.

And in my previous role as the sole Recruiter for a Series A Startup,

✔️ I launched a successful talent program
✔️ Doubled the size of the company
✔️ And designed efficient, equitable hiring practices that led to a 91%+ offer acceptance rate and a whopping 90%+ employee satisfaction score.

I basically “did everything right,” as it were, and still got caught in the layoff wave—sometimes, company priorities shift, and many of us find ourselves in the crossfire.

All of this to say, it can happen to anyone. That's why I coach my clients on a strategy I call "Job Attraction," where we focus on a multi-faceted, proactive approach that pivots from job searching to ➡️ job strategy.

I found my way up, and so will you.

How, you ask? With strategy, guidance, a little self-grace, patience, and a lot of faith…starting with these four steps….