What do you do if you're facing a layoff in software development?

I highly recommend hiring a professional to help you rewrite your resume. You want to identify the new jobs positions and industries you are targeting before engaging. You should also update your LinkedIn during this process. Focus on your target audience, an HR recruiter will only know buzz words while the hiring manager is the person you want to impress during the interview.

It is quite an important and obvious step, after loosing a job, the best strategy to update the resume is to find a template that is simple and easy yo read. The simple template will also increase your chances of going through applicant tracking system as well.

Expanding your network is crucial during a layoff. For instance, when I faced a layoff in software development, I reached out to former colleagues and mentors. Through networking, I learned about unadvertised job openings and received personal referrals. Active participation in online communities also led to valuable leads and advice, ultimately helping me secure a new role aligned with my career goals.

It would be effective to be active on LinkedIn, so that recruiters and other hiring managers can contact you as soon as they can. In this way they can know that you are active in marketplace and are seriously looking for a new career.

Learning new skills is a powerful strategy during a layoff. When I encountered a similar situation, I used the opportunity to enroll in online courses and workshops. By enhancing my skills in emerging technologies like machine learning and cloud computing, I diversified my expertise and made myself more marketable to potential employers. This proactive approach not only boosted my confidence but also opened up new career avenues that aligned with my interests and goals.

As we know that it can be a bit difficult and hectic to find a new job, because finding a new job itself is a job. So, in order to better utilise time, best thing to do is to learn something new that always looked scary to you.

Applying for jobs is a critical step in navigating a layoff. After updating my resume and networking extensively, I began applying for positions that aligned with my skills and career aspirations. Leveraging online job portals and my professional connections, I tailored each application to highlight my relevant experience and achievements. Additionally, I utilized interview preparation resources to sharpen my presentation and communication skills. This proactive approach ultimately led to several promising job opportunities and helped me transition smoothly to a new role in software development.

One of the good strategy while applying for job can be creating a excel sheet and adding the name of the organisation and application status. In this way you can track your progress as job seeker and you can also improve yourself by the passage of time as well.

Negotiation is a skill, it depends upon your worth in the market and what the organisation is willing to pay. It also includes the other benefits such as work from home etc. It would be best to conduct an in-depth research about the organisation so that you can arrive a specific salary range, that organisation is willing to pay.

Don't assume you're going to be laid off. You shouldn't fear layoffs since that would be bad for your mental health, financial health and other types of health. Fear may even cause what you are trying to avoid. Instead of trying to "time the market" with layoffs, live below your means and always be competitive. If you cannot live below your means due to obligations, you can still be competitive in your field. Between your lines of credit, HELOC, worker protections (unemployment) and severance you should have two years of runway. Extend this runway by taking a survival job if you are let go. Always be aware of current trends and technology.