Your role is impacted.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee, a glance out the window at the colors of the sky. Another almost-spring dawn, with the morning traffic starting in the background. You grab your laptop while the bread is toasting, thinking to yourself, “I have so many meetings today, let me start checking my emails.”

You try to log in. Nothing. You try again, probably mistyped the password. You try once more...now you’re sure it’s right. Still nothing.

You sip your coffee and think, “I need to find the contact for IT support somewhere…” and bam, you start understanding..."Wait, wait a second, it can’t be…No, I don’t think so. I mean, just yesterday I spoke with my manager, we aligned on all projects for the next three months."

The smell of something burning, you rush to take the bread out of the toaster.

You open your personal email on your phone. Between travel newsletters, online shopping confirmations, and notifications, one subject line stands out clearly (in uppercase): “IMPORTANT: TEAM CHANGES – YOUR ROLE IS IMPACTED.”

Impacted. That’s the only word you can process. Like a giant punch to the stomach. You open the email and start reading the typical corporate jargon. It was a difficult decision, separation agreement, click here for mental health resources. None of it makes sense. What changed from yesterday afternoon to today?

Before you even realize it, the identity you knew is gone. You are no longer what you do. The system of people, initiatives, and routines that surrounded you? Gone. And financial security, in one of the worst economic moments in history? Vanished.

Shame, loneliness, terror, shock. Your stomach and entire body in full alert mode.

When you talk to people, some treat you like a victim, some tell you this will lead to something positive in the future, some have already sent you 5 job links in a desperate attempt to fix things. There are the “I told you so” types, the ones who always knew layoffs were coming. And then there are those who stayed behind, battling survivor’s guilt every day, terrified they’ll be next.

Meanwhile, you can’t even process that this is how it ended. Why? You don’t know who you are anymore, even less what you want. All you know is that you have to act, now. Because bills don’t stop.

Your first layoff is something you never forget. It’s the deep grief of a professional dream dying.

What now?

• Allow yourself to be angry, disappointed, disillusioned.
• Complain, vent, let it all out. Name your emotions.
• Surround yourself with people who understand and don’t judge you.
• Tell those around you what you need: sometimes it’s just presence, not advice or job referrals.
• Check your rights and local laws, and if possible, consult a lawyer.
• Never make quick decisions or sign anything out of anger.
• Plan with your finances, get support from your partner, your family.
• Start outlining a timeline to figure out what’s next for you.
• And in the meantime, take care of yourself every single day.

If you skip all of this and jump straight into wild job application mode, every rejection will feel personal. You’ll get a distorted view of your worth and reinforce negative emotions.

After a tsunami, you need to clear away the debris. Then, with an open space in front of you, you can plan and rebuild, stronger than before, with a system designed to withstand as much of the uncontrollable as possible.

If you want to talk about it, you can apply on my website or DM me on LinkedIn for a special coaching plan for those who have just lost their jobs. I have 2 spots available per month for a fraction of my regular price.

Job hunting sucks, for everyone. But it’s not something you have to do alone, especially when you can team up with someone who has experienced both sides.

If you're looking for someone who can explain the perspective of recruiters and hiring managers (and uncover all those dynamics you’ll never read about on social media)...I’m your insider.

10 years in recruitment across 2 countries, expat, and an internationally certified career coach.

Visit my LinkedIn profile or click the link to access my website: robertabasilicoaching.com