The first 24 hours. The first weekend. The first Monday. Honest steps before any strategy starts.

Guides in this section

1. 01
   COBRA vs ACA marketplace: which to choose after a layoff →

   For most people, the ACA marketplace beats COBRA after a layoff. COBRA preserves your exact plan but costs full price plus 2%, often $700 to $2,000 a month. The ACA marketplace counts your now-low income for subsidies, dropping premiums sharply. COBRA wins when you are mid-treatment, have hit your deductible, or have very specific provider needs. Decide within 60 days.

2. 02
   How to explain why you left your last job →

   One short, honest, neutral sentence. For a layoff: My role was eliminated as part of a reduction. For a firing: The fit was not right and we ended the relationship. For a resignation: I left to look for something better aligned, which is what I am doing now. Then stop talking. The trap is over-explaining, which signals to a hiring manager that something is wrong.

3. 03
   How to file for unemployment after a layoff →

   File for unemployment the day you are laid off, not the week after. Most states start the one-week waiting period at filing, so every day of delay is a day of lost income. You file with your state's unemployment office, online in most cases, and you can file even if you have severance. The whole process takes about thirty minutes.

4. 04
   How to negotiate severance after a layoff →

   Severance is negotiable more often than people think. The length of pay, the COBRA subsidy, extended equipment access, the reference policy, and transition support are all routinely adjustable. The cause of separation usually is not. Make one consolidated, professional ask in writing within the review window. The phrase that works is some version of: I appreciate the offer; here is what would let me sign.

5. 05
   How to tell your family you got laid off →

   Tell your partner first, the same day, with the facts and the runway. Tell your kids in plain language without the words I lost. Tell your parents and siblings when you are ready, not before. The instinct to have a plan in place before you say anything is real and counterproductive. The plan can be built together, and most of the people who love you would rather know now.

6. 06
   Should you announce your layoff on LinkedIn? →

   Sometimes. A public layoff post helps people whose next role will come from network signal — sales, marketing, recruiting, consulting, and certain tech functions. It usually does not help people in conservative industries, regulated roles, executive searches at the C-suite, or anyone running a quiet search. If you do post, lead with what you're looking for, not with the loss.

7. 07
   Should you sign your severance agreement immediately? →

   Almost always, no. Federal law gives you 21 days to review most severance agreements, and 45 days for group layoffs. The pressure to sign quickly is a tactic that benefits the company, not you. Take 48 hours at minimum. Read every line, look for the release of claims and any non-compete language, and get a lawyer to review it if the package is large or unusual.

8. 08
   The first Monday after a layoff: what to actually do →

   The first Monday is not the day to build a routine, write a resume, or apply to jobs. It is the day to do three small things: confirm unemployment is filed, write down what you actually liked about the job, and open one new tab toward a possible next role. That is the entire plan. The real search starts later in the week.

9. 09
   What to do the first 24 hours after a layoff →

   The first 24 hours after a layoff are for stabilising, not strategising. File for unemployment today, because most states start the waiting week at filing. Read your separation paperwork once, slowly. Tell two or three people who will not panic. Don't make any large financial or career decisions yet. The search can begin in a few days.

10. 10
    What to do the first weekend after a layoff →

    Almost nothing strategic. The first weekend after a layoff is not the right time to write a resume, build a plan, or start applying. Sleep more than you think you need. See people who already know. Do something physical. Do not announce, decide, or sign anything. The second Monday is harder than the first one — saving energy for it is the work.