3 things to do as soon as you hear layoff rumors

When layoff rumors hit the office, I tell my clients to do these 3 steps right away.

Author

stephanie laurent
March 29, 2026

Hi everyone!

Are you enjoying the beginning of Autumn like me🍂, or Spring like most people🌱? I always feel like my mindset shifts every time the seasons change , and it’s always an opportunity for a fresh restart!

Having said that, I know that this time of the year where layoffs are looming, hence the number of questions I have got on this topic since February..

It’s no secret that more and more people are starting to feel nervous about their roles.

It can happen to anyone.

It happened to me. So I know exactly how it feels

But instead of waiting and hoping for the best, I’m glad to see that many are actually trying to get ahead of the curve. They want to be proactive rather than reactive.

If you belong to this group, keep reading.

When you start sensing that your position might be at risk, it’s often because you’ve heard or suspected conversations about declining budgets, reorganizations, freezes in hiring, or simply fewer projects on the horizon.

The first reaction is often: fingers crossed, it wont be me…🤞

Personally, I’m just not comfortable with that idea.

If you know me, you know that I like to be proactive, and I encourage my clients to be also. We need to control what we can.

Nothing you do to strengthen your career will ever be wasted anyways

 

Do this in 3 steps:

Step 1: Have a look at your situation objectively

  • How central is my role to the organization’s priorities?

  • Are the projects I am working on aligned with the company’s strategic direction?

  • Are similar roles being reduced elsewhere in the company or industry? 

This exercise is important because you may be at the heart of the business, and there’s no reason you should be worried about. But if you aren’t, then you can start acting more strategically.

 

Step 2: Be strategic INTERNALLY and EXTERNALLY:

Internally: work on your visibility

Make sure your contributions are visible and understood.

  • communicate your results

  • participate in cross-team initiatives

  • position yourself as someone who help solving problems

 

Externally: prepare your options

At the same time, start preparing externally.

  • Update your CV.

  • Refine your LinkedIn profile.

  • Reconnect with people in your network.

Layoff or not, you will never regret investing time in them.

Step 3: Map your transferable skills

Then, ask yourself a simple question:

If my role disappeared tomorrow, where else could my skills be useful?

Think about other roles, industries, or functions where your capabilities could apply.

This doesn’t mean you are planning to leave. It simply gives you options, and options reduce anxiety.

In any case, act early rather than react late. S

Trust me, sky’s the limit for those who are are proactive AND opportunistic!

DM if that’s something you want to talk about. Write a message

Take care

Steph.