The First 30 Days: A Week-by-Week Layoff Action Guide
Article index
- The First 30 Days
- Week One: Exhale
- Week Two: Evaluate
- Week Three: Equip
- Week Four: Execute
Losing your job is a life-changing event, a major transition characterized by emotions ranging from anger and denial to acceptance and hope. The impact of the emotional upheaval can be considerable, so it’s wise to allow yourself several days to vent, reflect and exhale before activating a job search.
That said, there are many things you'll need to do during the weeks after a layoff, some immediately and some later on. This article provides an action plan divided into four weeks to get you through the first 30 days of a layoff.

