2025 is off to a rocky start as companies across industries and geographies begin plans of job cuts in the months ahead.

Layoffs in Silicon Valley and on Wall Street have dominated the headlines so far, especially since the corporate world is heading into performance review season.

And while, statistically, in the US tech sector, only about 2,500 workers were laid off last month – compared to the 34,000 job cuts reported in January 2024 – the spate of retrenchment in 2025 appears to show no sign of abating.

On a macro scale, the rationale of most organisations swinging the axe is to streamline operations, cut costs and ride on the benefits of AI-driven productivity.

But behind every report, there are real people who end up losing their livelihood. So, what can employees do if they find themselves laid off?

A practical step-by-step guide after a layoff

“First, ask HR for a layoff letter,” said Vivian Tu, CEO and founder of Your Rich BFF Media, who has built a name sharing financial advice on social media. “This is a document on a company letterhead that says you were let go because of reasons beyond your control, not because you were a bad employee.

“This is going to help with your job hunt,” Vivian said.

“Two, investigate a severance package. See if your company is willing to give you some money to make ends meet while you’re hunting for a new job,” she said.

“This can be hit or miss depending on where you work, but a good rule of thumb is to ask for four weeks of severance pay for every year you’ve worked at the firm.

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“Three, register for unemployment as soon as possible. Keep in mind your eligibility, how much you’ll receive, and how long you’ll be covered for is largely dependent on where you live, so make sure to search Department of Labour, unemployment benefits, and then your city and state. Odds are good you’ll be able to apply online,” Vivian advised.

“And last, before you get back to job hunting, give yourself a second to grieve,” she said.

“When you lose your job, it may feel like you’re losing your identity, you’re going to feel sad, and that’s normal and OK.

This isn’t the end of your career. You’ve got better things coming.”

Validate your feelings but don’t lose sight of your future

This sentiment is shared by Suman Kher, a Mumbai-based executive coach and founder of Soft Skills Studio.

“It’s normal to feel a range of emotions on being laid off – anger, sadness, frustration, even betrayal,” Suman said.

“Allow yourself to process these feelings and don’t suppress them. Give yourself permission to validate your feelings. Prioritise your emotional health over financial – especially at such a time.”

As laid-off workers process the meaning of their ordeal, they also shouldn’t lose sight of their goals and future.

Instead of wallowing in the present for too long, try to look forward.

“Think of this as an opportunity to pursue your dream job or career. Think of all your future plans, think about that dream startup,” she said.

“This could also be a great time to upskill yourself. This could also boost your self-esteem and help fill hours in the day. There are tons of free resources like YouTube where you can learn through video tutorials. Your new skills might end up opening new avenues for you.”

Don’t burn bridges after a layoff

As for Brandon Bouier, a manager at Google Cloud Consulting, while experiencing a layoff stings, one should remember not to take it personally.

“The world is small. The tech world is even smaller. A layoff is the ultimate, ‘it’s not personal, it’s just business,’ move,” Brandon advised.

You were laid off, not fired. There’s a difference.

“So don’t take it as a personal attack and lash out at your colleagues, your boss, or your employer.

“You never know where you – or they – will end up in the future. You never know who knows who. The person you insult as you leave your current job could be the person who determines if you get your next job,” he said.

“Don’t let the situation get you so heated that you burn bridges.”