Initially, when writing this piece, being laid off was a concept that I only knew from books. Being laid off now is a reality that I’m experiencing firsthand. After having lost my job, I have faced all those issues that I am discussing here: What next? Should I look for a new full-time position? Should I create a business of my own? And how will my future career pan out?
Handling layoffs is something that is unavoidable in the field of technology, where changes in market requirements and the economics of the business cause a reduction in the workforce. In case you or your loved ones have been through the process of layoffs, the following is the best strategy to deal with this unfortunate incident.
Give Yourself Time to Process the Layoff
Finding out you’ve been laid off can seem quite personal, especially when you have no doubt that it was nothing personal. Feel free to let yourself be mad, disappointed, or unsure before jumping into the job hunt process full-time.
Unfortunately for you, layoffs are most common in the early part of the year or Q4 of the year. Obviously, businesses are not going to be hiring during this time, but an increase in jobs does occur in late January. Being laid off and having a very uncertain holiday season is difficult, but try to find the positive aspects of your life and spend time with family and friends who can relate to what you’re going through.
Get Your Finances in Order
After getting laid off, assessing your financial situation is one of the important things you need to do for stability. Assess how much money you have in savings, your expenditures, and any severance or unemployment that you can access. Determine which costs should be trimmed down to save money.
At the same time, think about how you could earn additional income from different sources. Creating video content through platforms like YouTube will not only be fulfilling but profitable in the long run through advertising or sponsorship. Moreover, another thing you could try doing is selling digital content like e-books or creating podcasts and courses online related to what you know.
I launched HoffsTech in 2015, and I planned to make online courses as a secondary income. I have created over 25 courses on Pluralsight, Dometrain, and LinkedIn, and I make enough to cover my expenses. Having multiple streams of income has helped me manage my career effectively. I am able to take the time to review jobs, and I only take jobs where I know I could make a difference.
Diversifying income streams not only cushions financial pressures but also opens new avenues for long-term growth.
Decide What You Want Next
Layoffs present an opportunity for reassessment of career plans and making sure that these plans match your interests and talents. You should think about whether you want to continue working in the same sector or try your luck in another position or sector. Also, you can think about what part of the job you previously had that made you happy and in which aspects you were restrained at work. You can also pay attention to some trends like AI and green technologies and make sure that your competencies are compatible with those trends.
Understand the 2026 Tech Job Market
If you’re seeking employment after layoffs in 2026, keep in mind that things have changed compared to the hiring boom seen just a few years back. Competition is high, and recruiters are being more careful in selecting applicants. Job openings in software development continue to be lower than those prior to the pandemic but are starting to slowly recover from last year. However, not all roles are recovering equally. The majority of positions added recently are more senior and require a range of skills associated with AI, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, etc.
This does not mean that there are no possibilities for job searching. On the contrary, in accordance with the Robert Half survey, 78% of technology leaders plan to hire more employees in the second part of 2026. However, the process of getting a job might be harder than it was in the past. Therefore, when applying for jobs, you need to focus on those roles that fit your background and identify the necessary skills required from candidates. You should also contact your former colleagues and other members of your professional network. Moreover, you need to be able to effectively demonstrate what value you will add to a future team.
Define Your Target Role
As you prepare to begin job searching, be sure to spend some time clarifying exactly what you want in an opportunity. It can be very easy to get into the habit of applying for any job that is even slightly related, particularly if you feel pressure to find a job.
Consider carefully:
- What kind of job do I want?
- What did I like most about my previous position?
- What would I rather not do in my next position?
- Am I looking for something in line with my current career path or am I willing to move in a new direction?
Other considerations might include salary, flexibility with work arrangements, company size, potential for career development, and skill-building.
Update Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile
Now that you have figured out the exact kind of position you are going to apply for, it is time to tailor both your resume and LinkedIn profile. For your resume, keep in mind that it should have a simple format to be easily scanned by the applicant tracking system (ATS). The sections should have appropriate names, and keywords should be used. Make sure that your accomplishments get highlighted rather than just the job responsibilities, and then tailor your resume to fit the job openings that you are applying to. As far as your LinkedIn profile is concerned, make sure that it is in such a way that whoever sees it gets to know what it is that you do and what kind of positions you qualify for. Include an appropriate heading, edit your About section, add skills and achievements in the Experience section, and let yourself be contacted by recruiters through appropriate settings.
Reconnect with Your Network
Your professional network can be invaluable in helping you find new opportunities. Reach out to former colleagues, mentors, and industry contacts to let them know you’re seeking your next role.
Strategies:
- LinkedIn: Update your profile to reflect your most recent achievements and post about your job search (if you feel comfortable doing so).
- Meetups and Events: Attend local or virtual industry meetups to expand your connections.
- Alumni Networks: Leverage alumni associations or previous employer networks for job leads.
Don’t message 50 strangers asking for referrals. Start with former coworkers, managers, people you’ve mentored, conference contacts, community members, and people who already know the quality of your work.
Build the Skills Employers Need Now
The tech industry evolves rapidly, and staying competitive often requires continuous learning. Use your downtime to sharpen existing skills or acquire new ones.
Resources:
- Online Platforms: Websites like Pluralsight, Dometrain, and LinkedIn Learning offer affordable courses in programming, project management, and more.
- Certifications: Consider certifications like AWS, Google Cloud, or Scrum Master to boost your resume.
- Community Projects: Look out for hackathons or coding meetups (e.g., via Meetup.com) where open-source contributions are often encouraged.
Create a Sustainable Job-Search Routine
Job searching can easily become a full-time job of its own. It’s important to make sure you have created a schedule that will be realistic and won’t take all of your waking hours to scroll through numerous job websites. Block out time for finding opportunities, applying for jobs, networking, and prepping for interviews. In addition, use AI technology such as ChatGPT to save yourself from performing some of the tedious tasks. For instance, I utilize ChatGPT for finding jobs according to certain criteria and getting my daily email with a list of opportunities that I am interested in, rather than scrolling through job boards each day. Thus, you may develop your own schedule based on the type of job, salary level, preferred location, ability to work remotely, and any other factors that you might consider important for you.
Consider Contracting, Consulting, or Other Income Streams
Consider alternative career paths if traditional full-time roles are not immediately available. Some of your options include:
- Freelancing: Platforms like Upwork and Toptal connect tech professionals with project-based work.
- Consulting: Offer expertise to smaller companies or startups on a short-term basis.
- Entrepreneurship: Use your skills to launch a side hustle or startup idea.
I won’t pretend that getting laid off is a gift. It isn’t. But it can force you to think about questions you may have been putting off while you were busy working. What do you want next? What kind of work do you want to be doing? And what would make the next stage of your career better than the last one?
Know When to Ask for Help
Job searching doesn’t always have to be a solo task. If you’ve been looking for jobs for many months and haven’t received any interviews yet, if you have a hard time determining what type of position you should aim for, or if you have successfully gone through interviews but haven’t received any offers, it might be high time that you sought some external opinions. You may try reaching out to past managers, mentors, trusted colleagues, or people from your network who will provide you with constructive criticism and insights into things you may have missed out on. Career coaching is another way of helping you clarify your goals and analyze your job search strategies.
Not sure what comes next after a layoff?
If you’re struggling to figure out your next career move, my 6-week career coaching program can help you define your goals, create a strategy, and move forward with a clear plan.