Just been laid off? What to do next

The first 72 hours

Don't sign anything today. Whatever you've been handed can wait until you've read it properly and slept on it.
Get everything in writing. If something was said in the meeting, ask for it in an email.
Note the dates. Your notice period, your last day and when your final payment lands. Put them somewhere you'll see them.
Decide who needs to know, and tell them on your terms. The people closest to you first. Everyone else can wait until you know what you want to say.
Take one day off the problem. Not to pretend it hasn't happened, but because you'll think more clearly afterwards.

The first two weeks

Read the package properly before you sign. If any figure, date or clause is unclear, get it checked by someone qualified to check it.
Ask for a written reference now. People are at their most generous in the first few weeks, and a few lines in writing now saves chasing later.
Line up two or three people who will say good things about you. Ask them now, tell them what you're aiming for, and keep them posted.
Money first, job search second. Work out your runway: what's coming in, what's going out, and how many months that gives you. Know that number before you apply for anything.
Decide what you'll say, and keep it to two lines. Something like: "My role was made redundant in a restructure. I'm taking a few weeks to work out the right next step."

What you're entitled to

What you're owed depends on where you work and what your contract says, so I won't try to summarise it here. The official sources are clear and kept up to date: Citizens Information for Ireland and GOV.UK for the UK. Anywhere else, start with your national employment authority.

What not to do

Fire off applications in week one.
Take the first thing offered out of panic.
Disappear from your network.
Rewrite your CV before you know what you want.
Treat this as a verdict on you. It was a decision about a role.

When you're ready for more than a checklist

This page is the short version, enough to get you through this week. The Layoff Field Guide is the full version, written for exactly this situation, and it takes each of these steps further when you have the head space for it.

When a conversation helps

The Discovery Session is free: 30 minutes, online, and not a sales call. You tell me where things stand and we work out what would help most. If what you need is a recruiter, a solicitor or a rest, I'll say so.

Book a free Discovery Session

When you are ready to look forward, the Landing the next role track is redundancy coaching built for this, whether you were caught in a round of tech layoffs or a quiet restructure. Online, or in person in Dublin.

The Next Move: Landing the next role

Six sessions over twelve weeks.

Your story, your CV and LinkedIn, interviews and the offer, and a written 90 day plan.

€1,200 for the programme: €200 a session, or two payments of €600.

If your company is offering outplacement support, I can be that support.

If you are looking by choice rather than after a layoff, there is a page for that.

Questions people ask

Should I sign the severance agreement straight away?

No. Read it, take the time you are given, and get it checked if anything is unclear. Signing quickly rarely gets you anything you would not get by signing next week.

How long does it take to find a job after being laid off?

It depends on your field, your level and the market, so be wary of anyone who gives you a single number. What shortens it is knowing what you are looking for before you start, and using your network rather than only job boards. Plan your money for longer than you expect.

What do I say on LinkedIn?

Nothing, until you are ready. When you are, a short, factual post works: your role was made redundant, what you are proud of, and what you are looking for next. You do not owe anyone the full story.

Should I tell people I was laid off?

Yes, when you are ready, and in your own words. Being laid off is common and says very little about you, and a lot of good roles come through someone who knew you were looking. Keep it to your two lines and move on to what you want next.

Is it worth getting a coach after redundancy?

Not always. If you know what you want and the market wants it, a good CV and your network may be enough. A career coach after redundancy is worth it when you are not sure what comes next, you have not looked for a job in years, or you want someone outside the situation to think it through with.

Can my employer pay for outplacement coaching?

Often, yes. Some employers include outplacement support in a redundancy package, and others will fund it if you ask, ideally before you sign. There is more on the For organisations page.

What if I don't want to go back to the same kind of job?

That is common, and worth taking seriously rather than acting on straight away. Give yourself time to work out what you actually want before you apply for anything different. It is exactly the kind of question we can work through together.

The Values Finder is a 20 minute exercise if you want to work out what you actually want before you start applying.

My newsletter, Stuff that MattRs, sends one useful thing a week while you work this out.

Just been laid off? Here's what to do this week, and what can wait.