Laid Off in Tech? What to Do in the First Two Weeks

Being laid off in tech is a shock, even when you saw it coming. One day you have a team, a Slack and a calendar; the next, access is gone and you're wondering what to do first. This is a plan for the first two weeks: what to sort out before anything else, the questions to ask about your exit, how to talk about the layoff, and how to restart your search without panic.

Days 1–2: breathe, then secure the basics

You don't need to start applying today. You do need to avoid decisions you'll regret.

Don't sign anything on the spot. If you're handed a separation agreement, ask how long you have to review it. Taking a few days, or getting advice, is normal.
Don't post in anger. A public post about your employer written in the first hour tends to follow you. If you want to announce the layoff, wait until you can do it calmly.
Save what is yours. Your own payslips, contract, bonus or equity documents, and performance reviews addressed to you, if you still have access. Don't copy company code, documents or customer data; that can cause real problems.
Collect contacts. Personal emails or LinkedIn profiles of colleagues you'd like to stay in touch with, before the internal directory disappears.
Tell the people close to you. It's easier with support.

Days 2–4: the paperwork questions

Rules on notice, severance, benefits and permits differ a lot by country and change over time, so treat this as a list of questions, not answers. Check official sources in your country, and for anything significant, ask an employment lawyer or accountant.

Questions to ask HR or check in your documents:

When is my last working day, and when is my final pay?
Is there severance, how is it calculated, and what are its conditions?
What happens to unused holiday?
Am I on notice or garden leave, and can I start a new job during it?
When do health insurance and other benefits end?
What happens to my equity or stock options, and is there a deadline to exercise them?
Can I get a letter confirming my role, dates and that the exit was a layoff?
When and how do I return equipment?
If my residence or work permit depends on this job, what deadlines apply now? This one is urgent; check it with the immigration authority or a lawyer straight away.

Also check whether your country has unemployment benefits or job-seeker registration, and whether there's a deadline to apply.

Days 3–5: your layoff story

Every interviewer will ask why you left. Prepare two or three calm, factual sentences and practise them out loud:

"My role was part of a company-wide reduction in [month]. The [team/product] was cut. I'm proud of what I shipped there, including [one result], and I'm now looking for a [role] where I can [what you want to do next]."

Keep it short, don't criticise the company, and move on to what you're looking for. Layoffs are common in tech, and recruiters are used to hearing about them.

Days 5–8: get your search ready

Decide what you're looking for. Two or three role titles, your level, and where you can work: remote from your region, specific cities, or both.
Update your CV and LinkedIn. Add your most recent role with results while details are fresh. Prepare a version for each role type; our guide on tailoring your CV to a job posting keeps this quick.
Build a target list. Twenty or thirty companies you'd genuinely like to work for, with links to their careers pages. See how to build a target company list.
Set up alerts. Save searches for your titles and locations so new roles come to you. Our guide to job alerts without the noise helps keep them relevant.
Work out your runway. How many months your savings and any severance cover. It tells you how picky you can afford to be.

Days 8–14: reach out to your network

A word from someone inside can get your application read sooner, and people are usually glad to help after a layoff. Send short, specific messages. Some templates:

To a former colleague:

"Hi [name], as you may have heard, my role at [company] was cut last week. I'm looking for [role] roles, remote in Europe or in [city]. If you hear of anything, or know someone I should talk to, I'd really appreciate it."

To someone at a target company:

"Hi [name], I'm a [role] and I've been following [company]'s work on [topic]. I saw the [job title] opening and I'm applying. Would you be open to a 15-minute chat about the team?"

To a former manager, asking for a reference:

"Hi [name], I'm starting to interview after the layoff. Would you be willing to be a reference? I can send you a short summary of what we worked on together."

Then start applying to your best matches. Aim for a steady pace you can keep for weeks, not a burst of fifty applications in two days.

What comes after

Two weeks in, you should have your paperwork understood, a story you're comfortable with, your materials ready, alerts running and the first applications out. From there, a structure helps; our 30-day job search plan picks up from exactly this point. And be kind to yourself. A layoff is a business decision, not a judgement of your work.

When you're ready to restart, Hot Jobs can take care of the checking: it watches the career pages of 390+ tech companies every 30 minutes, plus two remote boards, and sends new roles matching your titles and locations to Telegram, and on day one you get up to 5 matching jobs that are open right now. €3, paid once. Connect the bot