You were laid off. Now what? This guide shows you exactly how to rebuild your resume, explain your layoff confidently, and land your next role in a market where 500,000+ tech workers are competing alongside you.
Getting laid off from a tech company hits different. One day you're shipping code, closing deals, or managing a product roadmap. The next, you're staring at a calendar full of canceled meetings and a Slack workspace you can no longer access.
If this happened to you recently, you're not alone. Over 500,000 tech workers have been laid off since 2022. Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Salesforce, and hundreds of startups have cut teams - sometimes entire divisions. The 2024-2025 wave has been particularly brutal, with AI reorganizations adding a new layer of uncertainty.
Here's the reality: your layoff isn't a career death sentence, but your resume strategy needs to change. The tactics that worked when tech was hiring aggressively don't work in a market flooded with experienced candidates. This guide covers exactly how to position yourself, what to say about your layoff, and how to stand out when every other applicant has a similar story.
The 2026 Tech Job Market: What You're Actually Facing
Before diving into resume tactics, let's be honest about the market you're entering.
The Numbers
Tech layoffs have fundamentally reshaped hiring dynamics. Major companies have cut headcount while simultaneously becoming more selective about new hires. The result: more candidates chasing fewer positions, with hiring processes that have become longer and more rigorous.
Average time-to-hire for senior tech roles has increased significantly. Companies that once moved from first interview to offer in two weeks now take six to eight weeks - or longer. Multiple interview rounds, take-home assignments, and panel presentations have become standard even for mid-level positions.
What This Means for Your Resume
In a competitive market, your resume has one job: get you past the initial screen and into a conversation. That means:
- ATS optimization matters more than ever (companies are flooded with applications)
- Generic resumes get ignored (you need role-specific targeting)
- Your layoff explanation must be tight (recruiters see hundreds of "laid off" candidates)
- Quantified achievements are non-negotiable (everyone claims they're "passionate" - numbers differentiate)
The good news: you're a tech professional. You understand systems, optimization, and iteration. Apply that mindset to your job search.
How to Explain Your Layoff on Your Resume
Let's address the elephant in the room: should you mention your layoff on your resume, and if so, how?
The Short Answer
Don't explicitly write "laid off" on your resume. Your resume is a marketing document, not a confessional. The layoff will come up in interviews - that's where you address it directly.
What to Write Instead
For your most recent position, simply list it with accurate dates. If you're currently unemployed, you have two options:
Option A: End date with no explanation
Senior Software Engineer | Stripe | 2021 - 2024
Clean and professional. The gap is apparent, but gaps are normalized in tech right now. No explanation needed on the resume itself.
Option B: Add context through a current entry
Software Engineer (Contract/Consulting) | Independent | 2024 - Present
- Building [type of project] using [relevant tech stack]
- Contributing to open-source projects in [area]
- Completed [certification] in [emerging technology]
This approach works if you've done any work since your layoff - freelance projects, consulting, open source contributions, or even substantial personal projects. It fills the gap and demonstrates continued technical activity.
What Never to Write
- "Position eliminated due to company restructuring" (sounds defensive)
- "Laid off as part of 10,000-person reduction" (draws attention to the negative)
- "Company went through difficult times" (vague and weak)
- Any language that sounds apologetic or explanatory
Your resume presents facts. Interpretation happens in the interview.
The Layoff Resume: Section by Section
Professional Summary
Your summary needs to accomplish three things: establish your expertise level, highlight your most relevant skills, and create urgency for the reader to keep going.
Weak summary (too common):
"Experienced software engineer seeking new opportunities after a recent layoff. Passionate about building great products and eager to contribute to a collaborative team."
This summary commits multiple sins: it leads with the layoff, uses empty adjectives ("passionate," "eager"), and says nothing specific about what you actually do well.
Strong summary:
"Staff Engineer with 8 years building distributed systems at scale. Led migration of Stripe's payment processing infrastructure to Kubernetes, reducing latency by 40% and saving $2M annually in compute costs. Deep expertise in Go, Python, and cloud-native architecture. Seeking a technical leadership role at a company solving hard infrastructure problems."
This summary establishes seniority, names a recognizable company, quantifies impact, lists specific technologies, and states what you're looking for. The layoff isn't mentioned - it doesn't need to be.
Summary Templates by Role
For Software Engineers:
"[Level] Engineer with [X] years building [type of systems] at [scale indicator]. At [Company], [specific achievement with metrics]. Expert in [2-3 core technologies]. Seeking [type of role] where I can [specific contribution]."
For Product Managers:
"Product leader with [X] years driving [type of products] from concept to scale. At [Company], owned [product area] generating [$X revenue / X users / X metric]. Track record of [key PM skill]. Looking to lead [type of product] at a company focused on [domain]."
For Engineering Managers:
"Engineering leader with [X] years building and scaling teams. At [Company], grew [team/org] from [X] to [Y] engineers while delivering [major initiative]. Combines technical depth in [area] with proven ability to [leadership skill]. Seeking [type of role] at a company where [what matters to you]."
For Data Scientists/ML Engineers:
"ML Engineer with [X] years building production [type of models/systems]. At [Company], developed [specific system] that [quantified business impact]. Deep expertise in [frameworks/techniques]. Seeking [type of role] focused on [ML domain]."
For Designers:
"Product Designer with [X] years crafting [type of experiences] for [user type/scale]. At [Company], led design for [product area], improving [metric] by [X%]. Expert in [tools/methods]. Looking to join a team building [type of product] for [type of user]."
Experience Section
Your experience section is where you prove your summary isn't just talk. For tech professionals post-layoff, focus on these principles:
Lead with impact, not responsibilities. Everyone knows what a Senior Software Engineer does. What did you specifically accomplish?
Quantify relentlessly. Numbers cut through noise. Revenue generated, costs saved, performance improved, users served, team size, project scale - find metrics for everything.
Use the company's brand strategically. If you worked at a well-known company, that credibility transfers. Make sure the company name is prominent.
Show progression. If you were promoted or took on increasing scope, make that visible.
Example: Strong Experience Entry
Staff Software Engineer | Stripe | San Francisco, CA | 2021 - 2024
Technical lead for the Payment Infrastructure team (8 engineers) responsible for processing $500B+ in annual transactions.
- Architected and led migration from legacy monolith to Kubernetes-based microservices, reducing p99 latency from 450ms to 120ms
- Designed rate-limiting system handling 50,000 requests/second with 99.99% uptime SLA
- Reduced infrastructure costs by $2.1M annually through compute optimization and reserved instance strategy
- Mentored 4 engineers, with 2 promoted to senior level within 18 months
- Led incident response for 3 P0 outages, authored post-mortems that improved system reliability by 35%
Example: Weak Experience Entry (Don't Do This)
Staff Software Engineer | Stripe | 2021 - 2024
- Worked on payment infrastructure
- Built microservices using Kubernetes
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams
- Participated in on-call rotation
- Helped mentor junior engineers
Same role, completely different impact. The weak version could describe anyone. The strong version describes a specific, accomplished professional.
Skills Section
In a market flooded with candidates, your skills section serves two purposes: ATS keyword matching and quick-scan credibility.
Structure for maximum impact:
Languages: Python, Go, Java, TypeScript, SQL Infrastructure: Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform, AWS (EC2, EKS, Lambda, RDS), GCP Data: PostgreSQL, Redis, Kafka, Snowflake, Apache Spark Practices: CI/CD, System Design, Technical Leadership, Agile/Scrum
Pro tip: Mirror the job posting's exact terminology. If they say "Amazon Web Services," don't write "AWS" (or include both). ATS systems can be surprisingly literal.
What to include:
- Programming languages (with honest proficiency)
- Frameworks and tools you've used in production
- Cloud platforms and infrastructure
- Databases and data tools
- Methodologies and practices
- Certifications (if relevant and current)
What to exclude:
- Technologies you touched once five years ago
- Soft skills (these go in your summary or experience bullets)
- Obvious things ("Microsoft Office," "Email")
The "What I've Been Doing Since" Section
If you've been laid off for more than a few weeks, this section can strengthen your resume significantly. It shows you're not sitting idle - you're staying sharp, building, learning.
Option 1: Contract/Consulting Work
Software Engineering Consultant | Independent | 2024 - Present
- Architected data pipeline for Series A fintech startup, processing 1M+ daily transactions
- Built MVP for healthcare scheduling platform (React, Node.js, PostgreSQL)
- Technical advisor for 2 early-stage startups on system architecture decisions
Even informal consulting counts. If you've helped a friend's startup, advised on technical decisions, or done any paid project work, this is legitimate experience.
Option 2: Open Source & Technical Projects
Open Source Contributor & Technical Projects | 2024 - Present
- Active contributor to [Project Name], implementing [specific feature] (PRs merged: X)
- Built [personal project]: [brief description] using [tech stack] - [link if impressive]
- Completed AWS Solutions Architect certification (2024)
Open source contributions are particularly strong for engineering roles. They demonstrate you can collaborate with distributed teams, write production-quality code, and navigate real codebases.
Option 3: Upskilling & Certifications
Professional Development | 2024 - Present
- AWS Solutions Architect Professional certification (2024)
- Completed Stanford Machine Learning Specialization (Coursera)
- Built 3 ML projects applying transformer architectures to [domain]
For those pivoting into AI/ML or filling genuine skill gaps, formal learning carries weight - especially from recognized programs.
Addressing Company-Specific Layoffs
If you were laid off from a well-publicized mass layoff, recruiters likely already know the context. Here's how to think about positioning for specific situations:
Big Tech Layoffs (Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft)
Advantage: Everyone knows these layoffs weren't performance-based. There's no stigma.
Resume strategy: Lead with the company brand. "Senior Engineer at Google" still carries weight, regardless of how you departed. Focus your bullets on the scale and impact of your work.
Interview talking point: "Google reduced headcount by 12,000 as part of a strategic restructuring. My team was eliminated as the company shifted priorities toward AI initiatives. I'm proud of what we built - including [specific achievement]."
Startup Layoffs / Shutdowns
Challenge: If the company isn't well-known, you have less brand credibility to leverage. If the startup failed entirely, you need to frame it carefully.
Resume strategy: Emphasize the type of work and scale you operated at, not just the company name. If the startup had notable investors, funding, or metrics, include them.
Lead Backend Engineer | TechCo (YC W21, $15M Series A) | 2022 - 2024
- Built core API serving 50,000 daily active users across web and mobile platforms
- Sole engineer responsible for payments integration processing $2M monthly GMV
Interview talking point: "The company ultimately didn't find product-market fit, but I learned an enormous amount about building from zero to one. I personally shipped our entire payments integration. I've been heads-down consulting and working on open source since, and I'm looking for a role where I can apply those early-stage building skills at a more established company."
AI-Related Layoffs
Context: Many 2024-2025 layoffs have explicitly been about "refocusing on AI." If your role was cut for this reason, you can address it proactively.
Resume strategy: If you have any AI/ML experience or adjacent skills, emphasize them. If you've been upskilling in AI since the layoff, show it.
Interview talking point: "Salesforce reorganized several teams to consolidate around AI initiatives, and my team was one of the groups affected. Since then, I've completed a machine learning certification and built a couple of projects applying LLMs to enterprise use cases. I see this as a chance to grow in the direction the industry is heading."
Resume Templates for Tech Layoff Recovery
Template 1: Senior Individual Contributor (IC)
MARCUS JOHNSON
San Francisco, CA | marcus.johnson@email.com | (555) 123-4567
linkedin.com/in/marcusjohnson | github.com/marcusj
STAFF SOFTWARE ENGINEER
Building high-scale distributed systems in payments and infrastructure
Staff Engineer with 9 years designing systems that process billions of
transactions. At Stripe, led architecture for payment infrastructure
serving 500K+ businesses. Deep expertise in Go, distributed systems, and
cloud-native architecture. Seeking a technical leadership role at a
company solving complex infrastructure challenges.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Languages: Go, Python, Java, TypeScript, SQL
Infrastructure: Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform, AWS, GCP
Data: PostgreSQL, Redis, Kafka, DynamoDB, Snowflake
Practices: System Design, Technical Leadership, CI/CD, Observability
EXPERIENCE
Software Engineering Consultant | Independent | 2024 - Present
- Architecting payment system for Series B fintech (Go, PostgreSQL, Stripe)
- Technical advisor for 2 early-stage startups on distributed systems design
- Contributing to Kubernetes autoscaling project (3 PRs merged)
Staff Software Engineer | Stripe | San Francisco, CA | 2020 - 2024
- Technical lead for Payment Infrastructure team (8 engineers), responsible
for systems processing $500B+ annually
- Architected migration from monolith to microservices, reducing p99 latency
by 73% (450ms -> 120ms) and saving $2.1M in annual compute costs
- Designed rate-limiting system handling 50K requests/second at 99.99% uptime
- Led cross-functional initiative with Product and Compliance to launch
payment processing in 12 new countries
- Mentored 4 engineers; 2 promoted to senior level within 18 months
- Authored 15+ design docs; 3 became company-wide architectural standards
Senior Software Engineer | Uber | San Francisco, CA | 2017 - 2020
- Built real-time pricing engine calculating fares for 15M+ daily rides
- Reduced pricing service latency by 45% through caching optimization
- On-call lead for Tier-1 service; maintained 99.95% uptime SLA
- Promoted from Software Engineer II within 18 months
Software Engineer | Bloomberg | New York, NY | 2015 - 2017
- Developed trading analytics tools used by 2,000+ financial professionals
- Built real-time data pipeline processing 10M+ market events daily
EDUCATION
M.S. Computer Science | Carnegie Mellon University | 2015
B.S. Computer Science | University of Michigan | 2013
Template 2: Engineering Manager
SARAH OKONKWO
Seattle, WA | sarah.okonkwo@email.com | (555) 987-6543
linkedin.com/in/sarahokonkwo
ENGINEERING MANAGER
Building and scaling high-performing teams in cloud infrastructure
Engineering leader with 11 years in tech, including 5 years managing
teams up to 25 engineers. At Amazon, led Infrastructure team supporting
AWS services used by 100,000+ customers. Track record of building teams
from scratch, improving engineering velocity, and delivering complex
technical initiatives. Seeking a senior engineering leadership role.
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES
Team Building & Scaling | Technical Strategy | Cross-Functional Partnership
Performance Management | Incident Management | Agile Transformation
Cloud Architecture | Distributed Systems | Organizational Design
EXPERIENCE
Engineering Leadership Advisor | Independent | 2024 - Present
- Advising 3 growth-stage startups on engineering org design and hiring
- Coaching first-time engineering managers through leadership transition
- Writing technical leadership content (5,000+ newsletter subscribers)
Senior Engineering Manager | Amazon Web Services | Seattle, WA | 2019 - 2024
- Built and led Infrastructure team of 25 engineers across 3 locations
supporting services used by 100K+ AWS customers
- Grew team from 8 to 25 engineers over 3 years while maintaining <10%
attrition (vs. 18% org average)
- Delivered multi-year infrastructure modernization program, reducing
operational costs by $15M annually
- Established engineering hiring bar; conducted 200+ interviews, built
interviewer training program adopted by 5 peer teams
- Partnered with Product to define 3-year technical roadmap; secured
$8M headcount investment from VP leadership
- Managed $4M annual infrastructure budget; identified $1.2M in savings
through Reserved Instance optimization
Engineering Manager | Microsoft | Seattle, WA | 2016 - 2019
- Led Azure Storage team of 12 engineers building block blob infrastructure
- Shipped 3 major features used by 50K+ Azure customers
- Improved team sprint velocity by 35% through process improvements
- Promoted from Senior Software Engineer to Engineering Manager
Senior Software Engineer | Microsoft | Seattle, WA | 2013 - 2016
- Built distributed storage systems handling petabytes of customer data
- Designed replication protocol improving data durability by 99.999%
EDUCATION
M.S. Computer Science | University of Washington | 2013
B.S. Computer Science | Georgia Tech | 2011
CERTIFICATIONS
AWS Solutions Architect Professional | 2022
Template 3: Product Manager
DAVID CHEN
New York, NY | david.chen@email.com | (555) 246-8135
linkedin.com/in/davidchen-pm
SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGER
Consumer product leader with expertise in growth and monetization
Product leader with 8 years building consumer products at scale. At Meta,
owned Instagram Shopping features generating $200M+ annual revenue. Track
record of 0-to-1 product launches and growth optimization. Combining
analytical rigor with deep user empathy to build products people love.
PRODUCT SKILLS
Product Strategy | Growth & Monetization | A/B Testing & Experimentation
User Research | SQL & Data Analysis | Cross-Functional Leadership
Consumer Apps | E-commerce | Creator Economy
EXPERIENCE
Product Consultant | Independent | 2024 - Present
- Product strategy advisor for 2 Series A consumer startups
- Leading discovery for social commerce feature (target: $5M ARR)
- Completed Reforge Growth Series program
Senior Product Manager | Meta (Instagram) | New York, NY | 2020 - 2024
- Owned Instagram Shopping product suite generating $200M+ annual GMV
- Launched native checkout flow, increasing purchase conversion by 34%
- Led cross-functional team of 15 (engineering, design, data science,
content) through 3 major product launches
- Designed creator commerce features adopted by 50K+ creator shops
- Built experimentation framework running 100+ A/B tests annually
- Partnered with Policy and Legal to navigate commerce regulations
across 25 countries
Product Manager | Spotify | New York, NY | 2017 - 2020
- Owned podcast discovery, growing weekly podcast listeners from 2M to 8M
- Launched personalized podcast recommendations (20% of discovery traffic)
- Shipped 5 major features across iOS, Android, and web platforms
- Promoted from Associate PM within 18 months
Associate Product Manager | Google (APM Program) | Mountain View, CA | 2015 - 2017
- Built internal tools improving sales team efficiency by 25%
- Rotated through Search and Cloud organizations
EDUCATION
MBA | Harvard Business School | 2015
B.A. Economics | Yale University | 2011
Template 4: Data Scientist / ML Engineer
JENNIFER PARK
San Francisco, CA | jennifer.park@email.com | (555) 369-2580
linkedin.com/in/jenniferpark-ml | github.com/jpark-ml
MACHINE LEARNING ENGINEER
Building production ML systems for personalization and recommendations
ML Engineer with 7 years building recommendation systems at scale. At
Netflix, developed personalization models serving 200M+ users, driving
$50M+ annual retention impact. Deep expertise in deep learning,
recommendation systems, and ML infrastructure. Seeking ML/AI role at
a company pushing boundaries in applied machine learning.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
ML/AI: PyTorch, TensorFlow, Transformers, RecSys, NLP, Computer Vision
Languages: Python, Scala, SQL, Java
Infrastructure: Spark, Kubeflow, MLflow, AWS SageMaker, Databricks
Data: Snowflake, Redshift, Kafka, Airflow
EXPERIENCE
ML Engineering Consultant | Independent | 2024 - Present
- Building recommendation system for e-commerce startup (projected 15% GMV lift)
- Fine-tuning LLMs for enterprise search application
- Completed Stanford CS224N (NLP with Deep Learning) - top 5% of cohort
Senior Machine Learning Engineer | Netflix | Los Gatos, CA | 2020 - 2024
- Built personalization models serving 200M+ users across 190 countries
- Developed two-tower recommendation model improving CTR by 12%, driving
estimated $50M+ annual retention impact
- Designed real-time inference pipeline handling 1M+ predictions/second
at p99 latency under 50ms
- Led ML platform migration to Kubeflow, reducing model deployment time
from 2 weeks to 2 days
- Mentored 3 junior ML engineers; all promoted within 2 years
- Published internal research on cold-start recommendations (adopted by
2 peer teams)
Machine Learning Engineer | Airbnb | San Francisco, CA | 2017 - 2020
- Built search ranking models improving booking conversion by 8%
- Developed pricing recommendation system for 4M+ hosts
- Created feature store reducing feature engineering time by 60%
Data Scientist | Facebook | Menlo Park, CA | 2015 - 2017
- Built models predicting ad relevance for News Feed ads
- Designed A/B testing framework for ML experiments
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Computer Science (Machine Learning) | Stanford University | 2015
B.S. Computer Science | MIT | 2010
PUBLICATIONS
"Scalable Two-Tower Models for Recommendation" - RecSys 2023
"Cold-Start Recommendations via Transfer Learning" - Internal Netflix Tech Blog
The Interview: How to Talk About Your Layoff
Your resume got you in the door. Now you need to nail the layoff conversation.
The 30-Second Layoff Explanation
You need a crisp, confident, forward-looking explanation. Practice it until it sounds natural, not rehearsed.
The formula:
"[Company] went through [brief context]. My [team/role/division] was affected. I'm proud of what I accomplished there, especially [specific achievement]. I've used this time to [productive activity], and I'm excited about [this opportunity] because [specific reason]."
Example - Mass layoff at major company:
"Google conducted a significant workforce reduction in early 2024 as part of restructuring around AI initiatives. My team in Cloud was affected. I'm really proud of the infrastructure work I led there - particularly the migration that saved $3M annually. Since then, I've been consulting on similar problems and deepening my ML skills. I'm excited about this role because you're solving exactly the kind of distributed systems challenges I love."
Example - Startup shutdown:
"Unfortunately, the company wasn't able to find sustainable product-market fit and shut down earlier this year. It was a tough outcome, but I learned an enormous amount about building from zero - I personally shipped our entire payments integration. I've been heads-down consulting and working on open source since, and I'm looking for a role where I can apply those early-stage building skills at a more established company."
Example - AI-related restructuring:
"Salesforce reorganized several teams to consolidate around AI initiatives, and my team was one of the groups affected. Since then, I've completed a machine learning certification and built a couple of projects applying LLMs to enterprise use cases. I see this as a chance to grow in the direction the industry is heading."
Questions You'll Get and How to Answer Them
"What happened at [Company]?"
Keep it factual, brief, and blame-free. Never badmouth your former employer.
"The company went through a significant restructuring - they reduced headcount by about 15%. My team was eliminated as part of that. These decisions were made at the executive level, and while it was disappointing, I understand companies need to adapt."
"Why do you think you were included in the layoff?"
Tricky question. Don't get defensive. Don't speculate about politics or unfairness.
"The reductions were based on business priorities rather than individual performance. My last performance review was 'exceeds expectations,' and I was actually in line for promotion before the restructuring was announced. I can provide references from my manager and peers who can speak to my contributions."
"What have you been doing since?"
This is your chance to show you've been productive, not paralyzed.
"I've been treating this time strategically. I've taken on a couple of consulting projects with startups, which has been a great way to stay sharp and work on different types of problems. I've also used the time to finally complete my AWS Solutions Architect certification, which I'd been putting off. And honestly, I've been thoughtful about my job search - I'm not just looking for any role, I'm looking for the right fit."
"How do we know you won't leave / get laid off again?"
Layoffs are outside your control. Focus on what is in your control.
"I can't predict the macroeconomic environment, but I can tell you I'm looking for a company where I can make a long-term commitment. That's why I'm being selective in my search. What excites me about this role is [specific reason], and I see a path to growing here over several years."
Optimizing for ATS in a Flooded Market
When companies receive 500+ applications for a single role, ATS filtering becomes aggressive. Here's how to get through.
Keyword Optimization
Extract keywords from the job posting. Read the posting carefully and identify:
- Required technologies (exact names and versions)
- Required skills (in their exact phrasing)
- Experience level language ("senior," "staff," "lead")
- Industry-specific terms
Mirror their language exactly. If they say "Amazon Web Services," include both "Amazon Web Services" and "AWS." If they say "CI/CD pipelines," don't just write "continuous integration."
Formatting for ATS
Do:
- Use standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills)
- Submit as PDF unless Word is specifically requested
- Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman)
- Include dates in consistent format (Month Year or Year only)
Don't:
- Use tables, columns, or complex layouts
- Include images, icons, or graphics
- Use headers or footers for important information
- Get creative with section names ("My Journey" instead of "Experience")
The "Layoff Era" ATS Reality
Here's something important: ATS systems don't penalize employment gaps as harshly as you might think. The bigger risk is human screeners who see hundreds of resumes and make snap judgments.
Your goal: get through the ATS intact, then make sure your resume's first impression to a human is strong. That means leading with impact, not dates.
Job Search Strategy Beyond the Resume
Your resume is one piece of the puzzle. In a competitive market, you need a multi-pronged approach.
Reactivate Your Network
Most jobs - especially at senior levels - are filled through referrals. Your former colleagues from the company that laid you off are your most valuable asset.
Week 1 actions:
- Message 5-10 former colleagues on LinkedIn
- Let them know you're open to opportunities
- Ask who's hiring (not for job leads directly - for information)
- Offer to help them with anything they need
Ongoing:
- Engage thoughtfully on LinkedIn (comment on others' posts)
- Reach out to former managers for reference conversations
- Attend industry meetups and events (yes, in person)
Consider Contract Work
Full-time roles are competitive. Contract and consulting positions often have faster hiring cycles and less competition.
Benefits:
- Income while you search for the right permanent role
- Resume gap filler ("Currently consulting...")
- Access to companies that might convert you to full-time
- Exposure to different tech stacks and problems
Target Companies Strategically
Not all companies are equally competitive. Consider:
Growing companies outside traditional tech hubs. Remote-friendly companies in non-coastal cities often have less competition for senior talent.
Non-tech companies building tech. Banks, healthcare companies, manufacturers, and retailers are all hiring engineers - often with less competition than FAANG.
Well-funded but smaller startups. Series B-D companies often have budget to hire senior people but less brand recognition to attract massive application volumes.
Your 30-Day Action Plan
Week 1: Foundation
- Update resume using templates in this guide
- Update LinkedIn headline and About section
- Request recommendations from 3 former colleagues
- Make list of 20 target companies
- Set up job alerts on LinkedIn, Indeed, and Levels.fyi
Week 2: Outreach
- Reach out to 10 former colleagues
- Apply to 10-15 roles (tailoring resume for each)
- Identify 3-5 people at target companies for informational chats
- Start one certifcation or technical project
Week 3: Acceleration
- Follow up on applications from Week 2
- Apply to 10-15 more roles
- Complete informational interviews
- Continue certification/project work
- Practice your layoff explanation out loud (seriously)
Week 4: Optimization
- Review application data - which roles are getting responses?
- Adjust resume based on feedback and results
- Apply to 10-15 more roles
- Expand network outreach
- Consider contract opportunities if pipeline is slow
The Mindset Shift
Getting laid off shakes your professional identity. You went from "Senior Engineer at Stripe" to "unemployed." That transition is genuinely difficult, and it's okay to acknowledge it.
But here's what's true: you are still the person who built that system, led that team, shipped that product. Your skills didn't disappear when your badge stopped working. Your accomplishments aren't erased because the company made a business decision.
The market is tough. The process takes longer than it should. Rejection is part of the game.
But you've already done something most people never do - you built a career in tech. You have skills that companies desperately need. The question isn't whether you'll find your next role. It's which one you'll choose.
Now go update that resume.
Resume Studio AI helps laid-off tech professionals create targeted, ATS-optimized resumes in minutes. Upload your information and generate a resume tailored to your target role - so you can spend less time formatting and more time landing interviews.