The thought of getting laid off is unsettling. Having your primary source of income no longer available is one of the most vulnerable feelings you can have. How will you pay rent, mortgage, car loan, insurance, food, clothes, and other bills. No job is 100% safe, not even federal jobs. Have you ever thought of what to do if you get laid off?

I’ve been laid off once and I will never forget the feeling when I received the news. I felt hopeless. I thought that I wasn’t good enough. I reflected everything that I may have done wrong and questioned if any of those contributed to me being laid off. I was worried about all my obligations and financial responsibilities. How would I get by?

Luckily, I found a job very quickly but vowed that I would be more prepared if and when this happens again. Recently, with the news of federal layoffs and company layoffs in the spotlight, I find myself potentially in this situation again. As a federal employee, each day is an unknown. The days of federal jobs having stability is out the door.

Unemployment ticked up slightly, prices of goods are higher, and talks of recession is back in the spotlight. But fear not! Like I said, I vowed that I would be prepared if and when the notion of being laid would happen again. If I were to experience a layoff again, here’s what I would do.

1. Don’t panic! Panicking does no good for your situation. Stay calm but take time to process
2. Get an official letter from your work stating that you’ve been laid off. If for any reason anyone contests this, you will have proof.
3. If you need health insurance, determine if you want to continue health insurance through COBRA or other provider such as ACA. If you go with COBRA, you will be paying the entire cost that your employer was contributing towards plus your portion. ACA premiums are calculated based on a number of factors to include income. If you are laid off, you won’t have income so you may be qualified for subsidies.
4. File for unemployment. Unemployment differs state by state but typically unemployment compensation goes up to 26 weeks approximately 6 months. This will help you financially until you are able to find a new job.
5. Update your resume. While it’s fresh in your mind, update your resume with significant work details that will stand out.
6. Update your social media accounts reflecting that your are looking for new opportunities. Connect with colleagues past and present.
7. Last but not least, don’t give up! No matter how many opportunities you don’t get call backs, second interviews, or no response at all, don’t give up trying to find a job. It will take time.

Do you have any idea of what to do if you get laid off? Do we need to remind ourselves that our jobs are not 100% secure? Do you have contingency plans if and when you are laid off? It’s not something you want to think about especially if you like your job, like the people you work with, and believe that your employer is doing good things. However, the reality is that layoffs are a part of our lives and we have to be prepared for it. Being laid off is not the end of the world, it is the start of a new chapter. Being prepared and knowing what to do if you get laid off will get you through it more confidently. If you are interested in following my journey and their journey, follow them on Instagram and email subscribe to get alerts of latest posts or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.