Mid-40's, recently laid off from a Product Mgmt role with a background in Project Mgmt. Have had some close calls in my career but this is the first time I've been impacted. Currently on a 60-day notice where I can begin my job search while I transition off my work. At the end of that duration I will also receive a severance. I've reviewed and amended our budget to account for this new reality in the event I have an extended search.

I'm evaluating other internal opps, but have also begun my external search. I'm leveraging my network, resume updated, leveraging career services and recruiters, updating LinkedIn profile and receiving recommendations.

I'm interested in others stories for how you approached the job search, what actions did you take, and what would you recommend as I embark on this journey?

When I got laid off during Covid, I took the first job contract (finance/accounting) job that came my way. It wasn't temp to hire and I didn't want it to be...it was just a 6 month contract. At about month 5 I got a new full time role but I was glad to have the work in the middle.

I did have a 6 month pay/benefits continuation from the layoff so I wasn't necessarily starving but even to have the temp work to keep myself focused was helpful.

i work in construction / subcontracting.


I emailed and texted everyone i knew may need a skillset like mine. Then did nothing the rest of day. Next day I waited for responses and called everyone i knew that may know of someone that may need me.


had a job on day 2.


my recommendation is active communication rather than emails if you have a good network, a phone call is very impactful.

I did what Sims did. While applying to multiple jobs per day, I also worked with a temp agency to find something in the meantime to cover the bills. They placed me with Exxon, who ultimately ended up offering me a full time position. Doing temp work is doubly beneficial in that it helps pay bills, and opens doors for permanent placement.

Patience, grace and confidence. It might take time, might not, maybe its time to try another field that you are interested in. Watch costs and spending, it will happen, just trust your process.

Has happened twice in my almost 30 year career in Aerospace / Defense. Once very early in my career, and once recently after being with the same company for 24 years. It sucks, but it literally can be life changing in a positive way.

In my experience, if you liked your coworkers / job / company that you're being laid off from, the next gig may not be a place you find long term happiness. Part of it is you tend to settle when you are up against a severance pay window ending, but it also seems a little bit to me like a rebound relationship after a long-term relationship ends. Maybe that is just my head game experience. But in both my layoffs I started a new gig within 4-6 weeks, and both of those jobs just felt unfulfilling and I left them after about a year when I found truly awesome new roles / companies.

Being laid off is emotional, and no matter how confident you are, and no matter if you have always been the top performer, there is a period of emotional turmoil and self-doubt that follows it. In my experience, working through that during a one-year period at a less than dream job has been just what I needed so I could start my next gig in a much more positive head space.

Your mileage may vary, as they say. But best of luck to you! You will end up on the other end in a better place, so just have Faith!

Going through it now. Laid off Aug 29 after 17 years at company.

First week was okay….lots of good contacts and conversations.

Second week - reality set in….those conversations have gone quiet and anxiety is setting in

I'm taking the opportunity to look at other industries but being over 50 is going to make it difficult.

Got laid off once at a position that I thought I was going to love. But, I was a new employee, and everyone else had been there 20+ years. They "said" they wanted to start new ideas, etc, but what they really wanted was a continuation of the exact same policies and procedures they had been doing. It was of course a huge hit to my ego.

I could see it coming; I got laid off the last day of my 6 month probationary period, but I had a new job the next week.

Always keep networking, always keep your eyes open, and always be closing.

I have a side hustle I could do full time and make more money (which I'm using to fund another side hustle that is more lucrative); I always like to have options after that debacle.

But, of course, I could go get a teaching job (which I hate) any time I want due to having math and science endorsements.

AJ02 said:

---

Having been laid off twice, my embarrassment stemmed from:

a) they kept some people but not me, therefore I must not have been doing as good a job as them;

b) if they outsourced my role to a 3rd party company, that means my role was so easy anyone could do it;

c) if my role was eliminated, it meant my role didn't bring any value to the company to start with.

---

This is so spot on!

I don't understand the "after 60 days the job search begins'. I'm guessing you have another two months remaining at current gig.

Job search should start on Day 1 at every job. I don't believe in job hopping every year but I believe in keeping options.

I can't imagine any scenario where you are prohibited from searching for a job now. And I can't imagine any job worth your time that isn't willing to wait a month for you to finish contract.

birdman, you can begin searching for a new role immediately, it's just a little bit of lead time the company provides for you to transition your work as well as search for new roles. hope that helps.

I had a friend laid off from an accounting position in March. It was pretty obvious about a year before they were going to outsource her job to India. She took the severance pay and then unemployment. She said they'll call her back because she's the only one that knows how to do her job. I thought she was crazy but low and behold she goes back on Monday for more money and a better title.

AJ02 said:

---

Having been laid off twice, my embarrassment stemmed from:

a) they kept some people but not me, therefore I must not have been doing as good a job as them;

b) if they outsourced my role to a 3rd party company, that means my role was so easy anyone could do it;

c) if my role was eliminated, it meant my role didn't bring any value to the company to start with.

---

Another +1 to this!

Things I learned:

- Don't spend all day applying to jobs on linkedin. Most of these will go into a black hole and it's a waste of time. One time I spent several hours working my resume and cover letter for a brand new job posting, and the post was already taken down when I went to submit my application that evening.

- Learn how to network. I used to be terrible at this, but it makes a huge difference. Look for people you share something in common with at the companies you're targeting. Reach out....not to ask for a job, but to learn more about their role, their experience, and the company culture. Those conversations often open doors you'd never find scrolling job boards.

Noble07 said:

---

AJ02 said:

---

Having been laid off twice, my embarrassment stemmed from:

a) they kept some people but not me, therefore I must not have been doing as good a job as them;

b) if they outsourced my role to a 3rd party company, that means my role was so easy anyone could do it;

c) if my role was eliminated, it meant my role didn't bring any value to the company to start with.

---

Another +1 to this!

Things I learned:

- Don't spend all day applying to jobs on linkedin. Most of these will go into a black hole and it's a waste of time. One time I spent several hours working my resume and cover letter for a brand new job posting, and the post was already taken down when I went to submit my application that evening.

- Learn how to network. I used to be terrible at this, but it makes a huge difference. Look for people you share something in common with at the companies you're targeting. Reach out....not to ask for a job, but to learn more about their role, their experience, and the company culture. Those conversations often open doors you'd never find scrolling job boards.

---

Your mistake was spending hours tailoring your resume and cover letter to the job. Cover letters are dead, no one reads them anymore. You dont need to include one, and if you insist on including one, just have a generic version ready to go.

Have a few different versions of your resume highlighting different parts of your experience. Use whichever resume corresponds to the job the best. In this market, after utilizing your network, you have to mass apply.

evestor1 said:

---

i work in construction / subcontracting.


I emailed and texted everyone i knew may need a skillset like mine. Then did nothing the rest of day. Next day I waited for responses and called everyone i knew that may know of someone that may need me.


had a job on day 2.


my recommendation is active communication rather than emails if you have a good network, a phone call is very impactful.

---

who do you work for now? are you looking for anyone?

I am in Subcontracts and my project is about to pull the plug because Exxon has pushed back FID so many times.

any help appreciated. Thanks

RogerFurlong said:

---

I had a friend laid off from an accounting position in March. It was pretty obvious about a year before they were going to outsource her job to India. She took the severance pay and then unemployment. She said they'll call her back because she's the only one that knows how to do her job. I thought she was crazy but lo and behold she goes back on Monday for more money and a better title.

---

Friend was laid off and the company offered some of the employees a few weeks of contract work. My friend said no, but they expected people to take it, most did. He was already interviewing with other companies, laid off Monday, got another job offer that same Friday.

Employers really are scumbags sometimes.

I'm in my 50's. If I am ever cut, it's game over. No one would ever hire me.

Lowe's, Spec's and Home Depot at $15 an hour is all a late career MBA is worth.

The Chicken Ranch said:

---

I'm in my 50's. If I am ever cut, it's game over. No one would ever hire me.

Lowe's, Spec's and Home Depot at $15 an hour is all a late career MBA is worth.

---

Unfortunately this is true. Once you are over about 45 you have to make your own opportunities, almost no one will hire you.

So make your own opportunity.

Exactly! Have a Plan B.

I'm closing the gap to mid 50's and likely to be laid off early 2026 due to the company I work for being acquired. While this thread is giving me little to no confidence, I'm holding out hope that my skill set is still marketable no matter my age. However, this is only my second "job" in over 27 years so having to go through the gauntlet of looking is a little scary.

I'm already brainstorming paths to take if I get the notice in 3-4 months. I'd suggest reaching out to all your contacts. Think long and hard about who to talk to. I received a call last week from someone I would not have thought of but that call has led me to a potential option I can pursue if the lay off does come. It's a difficult path though not knowing if you'll survive the acquisition while also knowing you probably won't.

Hire someone, not AI, to write your resume. I used Jim Shelley (he posts on here). I casually look, but know I'll need an exit plan is things go south before I am 60. So, I'm starting to look harder. I'd like to work until I'm 65.

Network, network, network! That's the key.

I appreciate the votes of confidence for us proven performers that are over 50, but it is daunting, extremely daunting, to find a comparable role at this age.

I appreciate the vote of confidence!

Maybe I'm an idealist that truly doesn't like to discount people for anything other than not being right for a role or team. I've hired people before, and I couldn't imagine saying no to someone in their 50s, if they were a better candidate than someone in their 30s or 40s. Is it bias, threatening for a younger manager, perceived baggage? With all that being said, I would start being hesitant of someone in their 50s-60s, if I was hiring for a role with tools and software that was made post-2010.

500,000ags said:

---

Maybe I'm an idealist that truly doesn't like to discount people for anything other than not being right for a role or team. I've hired people before, and I couldn't imagine saying no to someone in their 50s, if they were a better candidate than someone in their 30s or 40s. Is it bias, threatening for a younger manager, perceived baggage? With all that being said, I would start being hesitant of someone in their 50s-60s, if I was hiring for a role with tools and software that was made post-2010.

---

My philosophy when hiring is to find someone smarter and better than me…. It only makes my job easier if I have those type people….I don't feel threatened by these folks at all… when they say they eventually want my job I just smile and say be careful what you wish for!

If someone 50+ has the skills and adaptability you need it really doesn't matter how old they are.

If it still does matter to an employer it's because they are doing risk mitigation due to the fact they are mentally going through the exercise of firing them and the age discrimination issues that come after.

That's just lazy. If they aren't good at the job and don't train, document it and fire them.

With that being said, if you're interviewing at 55+ and introducing yourself to people via resumes, you didn't do as much as you could have for the past decade and a half networking and making a name for yourself. I know my situation better than I know anyone else's so I'll use myself as an example.

If my employer went out of business today, I've got trusted relationships at large M&A firms who know lots of private companies that I could talk to. I'm very close to a couple different banks that lend to companies that do what we do. I know insurance brokers who cover the industry. All of our competitors know who I am and our largest suppliers the same. Your network at that point in your career should be your resume. Your resume is just something they should need after the offer is extended to check an HR box. That's not to say the resume can't be the introduction, that's just a different, harder path.

I agree! Glad you see it.