If you were just laid off, here is what to do first, in order: file for unemployment, check your health coverage options and read any severance paperwork before you sign it. Once those are handled, map your runway, update your resume and start thinking about your next move. You do not have to do everything today.
A layoff is not a verdict on your skills. It is a business decision, and it happens to talented people every day. The World Economic Forum projects 170 million new roles will be created globally by 2030, so demand for capable people is not going away. More than 20,000 people have moved into new, better-paying careers through Merit America since 2018, with an average annual wage gain of $21,000, many of them right after a layoff.
This guide walks you through each step.
What should you do first after a layoff?
The first two days are about handling the urgent things, not solving everything at once. Three moves matter most.
File for unemployment. Apply as soon as possible through your state’s Department of Labor. Filing early matters because processing takes time, and the sooner you file, the sooner support can reach you. What you qualify for and how long it lasts depends on your state. Most states do not backdate benefits, so your eligibility clock starts the day you file.
Check your health coverage. If you had insurance through your employer, losing that coverage typically opens a limited special enrollment window to sign up for a new plan. Wait for the official paperwork from your former employer before making any decisions. Be cautious of anyone pressuring you to act quickly or asking for personal information.
Read anything before you sign it. You may receive separation or severance paperwork. Take the full time available to read it carefully. You do not have to sign on the spot. For anything significant, a qualified professional can help you understand what you are agreeing to. There is no advantage to signing fast.
How do you handle money after a layoff?
Money anxiety gets quieter when you can see the whole picture. Add up what you have coming in: your savings, your final paycheck, any severance and the unemployment support you filed for. That total is your runway. Knowing the actual number turns a vague fear into something you can plan around.
Then start with the easy cuts. You do not need to overhaul your whole life overnight. Begin with the subscriptions and extras you will not miss for a while. Small reductions stretch your runway and give you more time to be selective about what comes next rather than taking the first thing available.
The free Bounce Back guide includes a runway worksheet and a simple expense tracker so you can get this done in a few minutes.
How do you talk about a layoff on your resume and in interviews?
Keep it short, neutral and pointed at the future.
A layoff is one moment in a long working career. Do not give it more space than it deserves. A simple line on your resume covers it: “Role eliminated due to company restructuring.” Other neutral phrases work too: position eliminated, department consolidation, organizational changes. Any of those is enough.
In interviews, have one calm answer ready so the question does not catch you off guard. Name what happened in a single sentence, keep it completely blame-free and pivot to what you bring. Something like: “My role was cut when the company reorganized. I am now focused on moving into IT support, and I bring years of solving problems under pressure and keeping customers satisfied.” Once you have made the pivot, stop. Let the interviewer ask the next question.
A layoff is the company’s decision, not a reflection of your work. You can say it plainly and move on.
What careers can you move into without a degree?
Once your situation is stable, the bigger question usually surfaces: go back to the same kind of work, or build toward something better paid? Many people look back on a layoff as the push that finally moved them into a career they had always wanted but never had a reason to pursue.
The strongest options right now are hiring consistently, pay above $40,000 to start and can be entered with a certificate rather than a degree. For context, the median wage across all U.S. occupations was $49,500 in May 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Every career in the table below clears that. Merit America alumni have made these moves from retail, warehouse work, caregiving and food service. What carried over was never the job title. It was the skill underneath it.
| Career | Median annual pay (BLS, May 2024) | Job outlook through 2034 |
| IT Support | $60,340 | ~50,500 openings per year |
| Data Analytics | $112,590 | +34% growth |
| Cybersecurity | $124,910 | +29% growth |
| Project Management | $100,750 | +6% growth |
| Human Resources | $72,910 | +6% growth |
Median means half of workers earn more and half earn less. Entry roles typically start below these numbers and climb. If you are also thinking about whether technology could reshape your next field before you commit to it, our guide on whether AI will take your job is worth reading first.
How do you make the switch?
Once you have a direction, the next step is earning the credential that proves it.
Merit America’s career training programs are built for exactly this moment. You choose the career track that fits your background and goals. You complete the coursework part-time, around your life, so you do not have to stop working or stop taking care of your responsibilities. A dedicated career coach stays alongside you through the job search, not just through the coursework.
The program fee is $0 upfront. You pay after you land a career paying $40,000 or more. And the commitment is backed by the Merit America Guarantee: “If you complete the program and don’t land a career paying $40,000 or more within two years of your program end date, you may be eligible for a full refund.”
You can read exactly how it works, or if you want to know whether this is real before going further, see whether Merit America is legit.