#jobsearchtips

feature directly through the LinkedIn Help Center instructions.

How to Enable "Open to Work"

1. Tap your profile photo and open your Profile card.
2. Tap the Open to button in your introduction section at the top.
3. Select Finding a new job.
4. Fill in your preferred job titles, locations, start date, and work type (remote, hybrid, or on-site).
5. Choose your visibility setting and tap Save.

Choose Your Visibility

• Recruiters only: Hides the badge from public view and attempts to keep it private from your current employer, while showing up for people using LinkedIn Recruiter.
• All LinkedIn members: Places a green #OpenToWork photo frame around your profile picture so anyone on the platform can see you are looking.

I have had over 20 tech related jobs over 30 years in tech related positions including FTE, contract and consulting since 1998. I have worked in 2 major tech hubs, worked for startups, small, mid, large and international corporations over the years. I have also had multiple other positions I voluntarily left for other positions, volunteered for layoffs, been laid off when I was on STD and after my partner had a massive stroke. I've been through almost all scenarios that are possible.

This is my second time with Cigna. I was contract between 2020 to 2021 and FTE from 2021 to the 2022 layoffs. I was rehired as a contractor in 2024 and converted again in 2026. I have had a career spanning almost 30 years and have been laid off or have had my contract ended over 20 times. I've learned many things over 30 years

First of all, no one is safe. It doesn't matter if you're the SME in your team. It doesn't matter if letting you go severely impacts your team. Sometimes it's personal, meaning that a group that has been working together over a long period of time will protect each other and find new positions within the company well before everyone else is even aware that job eliminations are happening.

No one should EVER assume you are safe. You should aways have an updated resume, a portfolio of work and a plan in place just in case a recession is happening. Make a plan to upgrade your skills if it's needed via unemployment services. Gather the documents you need to prove you need an upgrade. That will keep you in unemployment benefits well past when they lapse and will frequently pay for your tuition and school expenses. I rode out the 2008 great recession that way. I've also found that LinkedIn seems to work best. Nearly all my.positions came vis LinkedIn. Unfortunately, it only works if you're willing to have a paid account.

I do not recommend doing a profile picture (especially if you're disabled, an older woman, fat, etc. A esume with changes designed to obscure your age for the mature crowd especially. For women, change your profile name to something that screeners cannot use to guess your gender. When I adopted this approach back in 2019, my applications, LinkedIn mail or other approach landed me zero interviews for 9 months. After I instituted those changed, I had HR folks seeking me out and replies to jobs I applied for.

Do not count on receiving severance. Out of 20+ positions, Cigna is the only job I have ever had that paid out more than 6 weeks. Most do a month or nothing.

Immediately file for unemployment and fight it if you're denied. Many states will find for you if you have to appeal. I know this because I've lived in multiple states and had to file appeals. I've never lost one. In many states you can collect unemployment benefits and severance, even if you voluntarily took a retirement package. Fighting costs you nothing but some time and a bit of effort.

Year end housekeeping is coming.

Every time I ask about job hunting, someone tells me to get active on LinkedIn. I've tried using it, but I haven't seen any results, and sending messages to strangers feels awkward, to put it mildly. I don't want to spend all my time pretending to network if it doesn't lead anywhere. Has anyone had real success finding work through the site?

Looking to strike a more positive note on what is in our control....

1. Update accounts to you personal email

• Health
• Fidelity

1. Get all documents you need from the system

• Paystubs, end of year tax forms
• Vacation balance screenshots
• Employee Performance Reviews
• Any other personal documentation like 1-1 notes

1. Get prepared financially

• Start cutting expenses (if not already doing so)
• Have cash available for expenses - would say as much as 6 months - 1 year - market is terrible

1. Get prepared for what is next

• Get resume ready, start applying NOW
• Get your LinkedIn ready
• Get list of contacts from your coworkers who can be references, maybe able to get you referrals - start networking - that is the way most folks get a job

And most importantly take care of yourself

1. You are important, you matter to your loved ones - to the company you are a row in the employee database to delete at will
2. This is not your fault, the company has made a bet on AI infrastructure and there is nothing you can/could have done to avoid this
3. Your performance is NOT a factor - superstars with Exceeds/Outstanding have already been let go
4. Everything is temporary and a phase, tomorrow will be better - keep up your spirits

If you have any other positive suggestions please do add them to help everyone through this difficult phase

Has anyone who was let go in February had success in finding new work? If so, do you have any pointers or resources you found useful?

Trying not to get discouraged but it’s feeling impossible in this market

As someone who was let go from another company, here are a couple of things I'd tell my younger self:

• Take some time to process everything that happened and what it means to you financially
• It's almost impossible not to speculate why YOU. Whether there was a specific reason or not, it doesn't matter anymore
• Connect to that ex-Nike linkedin group. I heard good things
• Once it is all said and done, avoid coming back to this site

You'll feel the urge to state your opinion, and share something like "see, I knew this was going to break!". As someone who actually did this, I only regret my decision of doing so, because it took me longer to move on from being let go.

I have seen d-mb decisions that had to be rolled back later on. I'm sure Nike has done some d-mb stuff that will have to be undone. But, if I were you, stop checking this site if you no longer work here. I've only found helpful to know when these reorgs would happen so I can start prepping my resume/interviews in the event that I am cut off.

have a great one

There is no Future at FIS, Cognizant, or Zensar, so there is no reason to work hard or look for advancement.

There is no point in straining yourself to train your replacement. Just do the least that you can do to get by and nothing more.

It is time to do the absolute minimum required to not get fired so that you can continue receiving your paycheck while spending all of your time looking for another job that actually has a future.

It is no secret that Bank will have another round of layoffs in Q2, just by everything I’ve been hearing, end of April seems to be the target date.

Reading previous post on what happened back on Jan 28, don’t be in office that day, as you will be escorted out and laptop confiscated. Start taking certification courses NOW, because you won’t have access to Guild to register for more during the 60 day window. If you register now and do get impacted in a few weeks, USAA still has to cover the course(s). Send all your accomplishments, year end reviews and resume to your personal email, redeem all your recognition points because again you won’t have access to do it once they take your laptop.

More importantly, take your PTO, but use the floating holiday and volunteer hours first, as those are not paid out to you. With phase 2 of the “how we work” bank reorg, look to the person to your left and right, very good chance one of them will be impacted in the next 6-8 weeks.

Trim Ryan posted about it. Others have mentioned it. If your role is even remotely tagged to Transformation and/or CO - find a new job asap. You WILL get Rif'd. It's not a question of if but a question of when. Save yourselves the mental agony of getting access cut off in a matter of less than an hour. The ignominy....get out. LIterally...to anywhere else.

Best piece of advice that I can give. Do yourself and your mental health a favor - don't wait till the last minute.

Best advice I can give: look now, not later. Searching while you have a job puts you in a way better position. You can be pickier, you're not desperate. Don't wait until it's too late.

I was the author of the maybe layoffs thread last year where everyone mentioned that I was trolling. https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1jmakfz6x

I was impacted, but in good spirits now since it took me a couple of months to find another role. I am giving my perspective and guidance to those who maybe affected next month.

If something feels off start applying immediately to other jobs, that is what help me achieve a faster turnaround in this job market. Those who got poor performance reviews out of nowhere with little to no warning helped me understand that except for family, no one is to be trusted.

When you are in the call with HR remain calm say that you will look over the severance package and leave. You'll have a few days to sign it with a clear head. Always have your keys, wallet, phone, and other with you at all time.

If applicable look at your state unemployment laws for additional income, but do watch how much taxes are withheld.

If you get a job offer, take it then keep applying for other roles or better yet apply internally once in so you get a job that matches your skill set. I REPEAT TAKE IT!

Get your medical checkups now! FSA used it.

You will get a message from old teammates about your status, but this is not a checkup. It is a check to see where you end up and some will be jealous to hear where you end up.

Trust your gut.

for typical roles? anyone with experience? axed today.

any tips on what to do or not as i start the search?

it seems that everything posted on linkedin gets 1000 applications. feels impossible.

godspeed.

How safe is a new job opening now?

the title says it all. I was given a good severance and a 2 months grace period (!!) though. Looking internally for roles but also bracing for external. No theme for my post, just wanted to put that out there.

Curious how many are already looking elsewhere. It is so miserable here. Thank you, new leadership team. You can't even last a year at your previous places of employment. Come to Terrordata and in record time you will either fire really good people or successfully run off the rest. Cheers to nothing.

There are two types of people at Xerox: (1) those coasting to retirement who are likely 55 and older who don't need another job, and (2) those with a career ahead of them.

If you are in group (1) then congrats on your upcoming retirement, it's likely to happen within the next year.

If you are in group (2) then I really hope you have your resume up to date, and are at a minimum exploring opportunities. Make connections to recruiters and other companies who are in your area, or who offer remote work if that's something you do. It can never hurt to get your name out there, even if it's simply to practice the interview process if you've spent most of the last couple decades at Xerox.

Group (2) might have years left, or days, you really never know. It's much easier to find a job when you have a job, than have to be under the stress of interviewing when you have no income or healthcare.

And no matter what, keeping your skills up to date is up to you. Xerox is unlikely to invest in you, but if you can find skill sets that compliment what you already know, or better yet help Xerox so you can justify continuing to build up those skill sets, then go for it!

Good luck to everybody tomorrow. I have a feeling that it is not going to be that large, but we'll continue to see these targeted reductions throughout the year.

I know people are panicking right about now, but I've been preparing for this for a few months and submitting applications. I got 3-4 interviews per month and I got two offers in that time. Granted, the pay wasn't high enough to get me to say yes, but if I was jobless at the time, it would have been an easy yes. So there are jobs out there, just be persistent.

Start job hunting, no matter what Saks or Neiman Marcus store you are working at. it’s over, total liquidation in every store sooner or later. It’s over.

You get to work remote PLUS level up a job grade!

Maybe all the downvoting and “you’re crazy” commenting people trolling us will listen. This is easily the 8th time this site has accurately reported when layoffs would occur. It’s not to panic people. It’s to help us prepare. Prepare for transitioning, finances, prepare resumes, start looking at job market. While some may already be doing that, many have a wild fear of change and don’t.

Please let this be your wake up call. You need to be plugged in to your network, expanding it, strengthening it. You need to be touching your resume every couple weeks.

How are people doing? Have you been able to find a job? How long did it take you to find a job after being laid-off and in what field did you find a job (sale, marketing, engineering, management, retail, etc.)?

• Nurse
• Electrician
• Plumber
• HVAC technician
• Automotive technician
• Carpenter
• Welder
• Pipefitter
• Millwright
• Firefighter
• Police officer
• Paramedic
• Physical therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Speech therapist

Im way out of my comfort zone since ive been at this sh-t hole too long. Anyone have suggestions on decent places to consider? Ive heard going through some sites like linkedin arent really reliable

This is the moment to get resumes cleaned up and profiles refreshed. The job market is already crowded, and it is only going to get tougher once more cuts hit. I have started reaching out to old contacts because waiting is risky. It's much better to be prepared now than scramble later.

1. Always Be “Market-Ready”

Job security in tech no longer comes from tenure—it comes from readiness.
• Update your resume every 3–6 months, even if you’re happy
• Keep a running list of accomplishments with metrics (your “brag doc”)
• Take occasional recruiter calls to understand your market value

Think of this as maintenance, not job hopping.

⸻

1. Build Transferable, Layoff-Resistant Skills

Roles disappear faster than skills.
• Stay close to revenue, customers, or measurable cost savings
• Cross-skill across functions (ex: product + data, engineering + cloud, ops + automation)
• Prioritize tools and platforms used broadly across the industry

Ask yourself: If my job vanished tomorrow, what skill would still be in demand?

⸻

1. Network Before You Need It

Most roles are filled through people, not postings.
• Reconnect with former colleagues regularly
• Be helpful without asking for anything in return
• Stay lightly visible on LinkedIn by commenting and sharing insights

Networking works best when it’s ongoing—not urgent.

⸻

1. Learn to Read Early Warning Signs

Layoffs rarely come without signals.
Common red flags include:
• Hiring freezes or denied backfills
• “Efficiency,” “realignment,” or “focus on core priorities” language
• Sudden leadership changes or org reshuffles
• Increased consultant or vendor presence

When multiple signs appear, quietly accelerate your search.

⸻

1. Maintain a Financial Safety Net

A financial cushion gives you leverage and calm.
• Aim for 3–6 months of expenses if possible
• Avoid lifestyle inflation after bonuses or raises
• Treat severance as a bonus, not a plan

Money buys time. Time buys better decisions.

⸻

1. Separate Identity From Employer

Even great companies lay off great people.
• Layoffs are usually about timing and macro conditions, not performance
• Your career is a portfolio, not a single company bet
• Measure success by skills gained and impact delivered, not titles held

⸻

1. Adopt the Right Mindset
   • Loyalty should be to your career, not a logo
   • Staying prepared is not disloyal—it’s responsible
   • Mobility is the new stability

⸻

Bottom Line

Surviving mass tech layoffs means always being ready to move—even when you don’t plan to.
Those who fare best are not the most loyal, but the most prepared, adaptable, and connected.

Don’t expect a new job opening until April or later. No be one is hiring.

I’ve been looking for another job for months now, partly as a precaution and partly because I really need a change. But it’s incredibly depressing out there. I’ve been genuinely trying, and I’ve managed to land a grand total of one interview. Has anyone had better luck?

When someone submits a resume today, they have the abysmally low 0.4% chance of actually getting the job, per Business Insider.

Thanks to Trump for letting h1b visa workers to compete against the American workers.

I was making $135,000 as a Project Manager at Fiserv and will be starting my new job on Monday for a competitor making $150,000 to do THE SAME JOB! It's no secret that Fiserv sc--ws you with their below-market merit increases and bonuses but they also pay well below scale. It's VERY hard to find something at this time of year but I anticipate the job market will open back up by mid-January so start looking now.

My company is hiring but I would not recommend anyone from Verizon for any position. They all have the wrong mentality.

I know how easy it is to worry, but all that is doing is ki-ling yourself.

Instead just keep focusing on what you can control in the job and preparing for if you need to find a new one. Get your resume ready, spend 20 mins a week practicing interviewing questions, spend another 10 mins a week looking for new jobs, etc.

Your worry won’t change the outcome one either way. I know it is easier said than down, but try to capture your thoughts and change them when worry comes.

Good advice from @c7+1kama8na2.

in anticipation of any possible layoffs, i've just updated my resume. I used some resume writer from texas on Fiverr. Has anyone done the same just incase we encounter obstacles in our way and the company falls off the Cliff ?

Former V Teamer here. I severed back in '23. I landed a new job after 3 months as a call center director. The call center I run has doubled in size over the past two years. In my experience, its very eye opening that so many qualified workers are just not good at interviewing. Its so important to answer the interview question with a specific situation, describe the actions you took, cover the outcome, and to be succinct. The job market it ROUGH and even getting an interview is challenging.....so when you do get an interview, you have to knock it outta the park. My advice is to practice, look up Ted Talks or YouTube videos around how to interview. Go to your interview with copies of your resume and cover letter. If attending the interview remotely, have those digitally that you can offer up to the interviewer.

Pro tip-at the end of the interview they typically ask if you have any questions. This is a key opportunity that many people miss on. Ask them what their ideal candidate is, ask them what challenges a new hire will face, ask them how a new hire can set themselves up for success. Make them think of you in that role, show them you are prepared to hit the ground running. I know it seems small, but its small stuff like this that can set you apart from the candidate pool. I remember not getting my first AD job I went after at Verizon. When I got feedback from my director, she said it came down to the formatting of my resume. I was shocked by this feedback, then it hit me...IT WAS THAT CLOSE. Its about standing out in every possible way. Hope this helps someone!

Did you get any offers with at least comparable pay yet? I'm having no issue landing offers, but the pay is ridiculously low every single time. Is it just me, or is this how it is currently?

Where is everyone applying? I know most people are already looking, since no one’s crazy enough to just wait and see if their number comes up, but the listings I see are honestly discouraging. There are so few openings compared to how many of us will soon be out there searching. Are people branching into other industries too? Is there anywhere that’s actually hiring where our skills translate well?

https://buc-ees.com/careers/

that points to something much bigger than offshoring or AI being used as a cover for headcount reduction and bigger payouts at the top. It suggests the business is shrinking and bracing for possible economic trouble ahead. Of course, we can’t jump to conclusions about the broader economy just yet, but it does feel smarter to start looking for something more stable now, rather than risk waiting until the job market gets even tougher.

Probably doesn’t help that hiring managers and recruiters use services that look at and summarize FB, Instagram posts, etc., and company-identified boards like this one, to not only get a sense of personal characteristics of applicants, but the culture from where they are/came.

It’s already super competitive marketplace for jobs in this industry. And it’s only going to get worse. No company using one of these services is going to hire anyone with F5 on their resume based on the comments here. Too many competitors will have applied for the same job without this baggage. And AI tools specific to this task will only make this sort of information more accessible.

Remove F5 from your resume if you can. Or, hope that the sh-t-posting stops - probably unlikely as humans are their own worst enemy when cornered, or laid off.

So, a round of applause for all the sh-t-posters. While they practice their freedom of speech, accomplishing nothing to change anything with F5 for the better, they are making it impossible for all of us to find another job if laid off.

Good luck out there. You’re going to need it - based on the comments here.