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Why It Matters

“The layoff isn’t the failure — staying stuck in it is.””

Layoffs happen, even to top performers. Market shifts, leadership changes, or funding issues can pull the rug out from under anyone — and when it does, the hardest part isn’t just financial. It’s emotional, social, and deeply tied to your identity.

But this can also be a turning point — if you know how to move forward with clarity instead of panic.

What to Do First (and What to Ignore)

  • Take the emotion seriously — but don’t let it own the next steps

  • Don’t race to update your résumé before you reflect

  • Avoid reactionary job searches — you’ll shrink your range

  • Don’t fall into shame or silence — this happens to everyone

Start by grounding yourself in facts:

  • What are your financial runways?
  • Who are 5 people you can speak to today?
  • What part of your past role do you want more (or less) of?

Mistakes to Avoid

  •  Panic applying

  • Going silent on your network

  • Letting bitterness shape your story

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How to Use This Moment Strategically

Layoffs create space. Use it to:

  • Reposition your narrative with intention

  • Reconnect with dormant contacts

  • Reevaluate what success looks like — and how much control you want over it

  • Explore advisory, fractional, or interim work while you plan long-term

This isn’t downtime. It’s prep time.

When You’re the One Delivering the News

If you’re letting others go, do it like a leader:

  • Be clear, not cold

  • Offer transition support before it’s asked

  • Stay available — not just for legal, but emotional clarity

  • Remember: how you treat people on the way out echoes louder than anything you did while they were inside

But none of that happens if you’re in panic mode. Preparation gives you agency.

What Great Looks Like

  • A layoff handled with structure, empathy, and direction — whether you’re receiving it or delivering it
  • A leader who uses the shift as fuel, not failure
  • A story reframed before it calcifies

TL;DR: Proactive Interviewing = Strategic Readiness

  • Start slow: clarity beats panic

  • Connect, don’t retreat

  • Use the moment to reframe, not just react

  • What you do next becomes your new narrative

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