Unfortunately, a lot of people who will end up impacted by Verizon layoffs and start their job search in earnest are in for a terribly unpleasant surprise, even shock!
Working at Verizon doesn't automatically qualify you for a great new gig. It's corporate work that relies on a system within which many people are involved to generate the final output.
Verizon's reputation in the external world is not as great as you might think.
Verizon resume accomplishments don't mean much to people outside Telecom.
Telecom Industry hiring is slowing.
The New Jersey employment market will be flooded with people with similar skill sets making it hard to differentiate yourself from ~15,000+ other people out on the streets looking for work at the same time.
Verizon pays well and there's a good chance that wherever your next job is your compensation including benefits will be significantly less.
Corporate management and occupational jobs like what you had at Verizon will be harder to come by as time goes on due to companies automating via AI functions (e.g., Finance, Accounting, Legal, Marketing, Operations, etc) that previously needed to be performed by human resources.
Your next position after Verizon is likely to be in a different industry and possibly in a totally new job function. Prepare yourself mentally as you'll need to be flexible if you want to continue to work.
Your Verizon personal network will be vitually meaningless in your emploment search as people you thought were your friends and allies will forget you quickly. Too many others will be worried about their own job situations and those who remain at Verizon will be too busy trying to pick up the pieces of the cutback aftermath.
Verizon is firing you and you will never be welcomed back. Forget about returning to Verizon at a later time as it's over no matter how personally invested you've been to VZ over the years. Put VZ in the rearview mirror and move on to your next position.
Verizon will not be providing you with personal recommendations. You'll be directed to an automated employment verification system using VZ's company code which anyone looking to hire you will need to access.
Verizon severance will go quickly. Immediately review and cutback on your discretionary spending. Avoid the temptation to draw on your 401k as you'll need to pay taxes and anything you draw out at a time you can least afford to and it will take you years to recover against retirement savings.
Leaving Verizon employment you're going to be very self confident, however you'll soon experience periods of self doubt and discouragement as you go thru the job search process. Hang in there as this is a normal part of looking for a job.
The Job Search procees has drastically changed since you went to work for Verizon. Take the time to learn how to effectively search for a job using the latest techniques and approaches.
Verizon job skills are not necessarily transferable to other lines of work. You're going to need to invest time and effort into developing new skills to make yourself marketable.
Your post-Verizon job search will likely take time. The average search has been ~five months so yours could longer or shorter depending on many factors including how diligently you pursue your search.
If you choose to continue to work in Corporate America post-Verizon you will go thru layoffs again.
You no longer work for Verizon. Your job is to find a job.
Verizon's DEI policies are not practiced by many external employers (& rightfully so as everyone should be treated equally) and as such you're going to need to secure a new job based on your personal merits and abilities. If you're older don't worry as there are companies that will hire later career workers. If you're younger make sure you shed any thoughts of job entitlement and have a willingness to work hard to please your employer.
After leaving Verizon you will no longer have a structured routine. Do your best to maintain a daily routine and continue doing the other aspects of your life (i.e., attending church, volunteering, socializing, etc.). Above all do not allow yourself to withdraw and become isolated.
Being a Verizon Employee is no longer a part of your identity. Recognize that there are other more important aspects that make you who you are (i.e., relationship with God & family, values and beliefs, personality, interests, etc.).
You will eventually get thru this period of your life and forget about Verizon. Yes, this will be a time of personal challenge, but you will emerge stronger having personally grown thru the experience.
Leaving Verizon is an excellent time to reevaluate what you want out of the remainder of your life. For some it may be the opportune time to retire, while for others they may choose to reposition themselves with a new career (e.g., entrepreneurship, taking up a trade, Non-profits, ministry, other?). If you still need to work don't allow yourself to quit the workforce prematurely.
Verizon is just a company. Many people mistakenly worship at the throne of the company when in reality as a human organization it will eventually fail everyone that is part of working there. Remember, the Lord has a plan for your life and he will guide and direct your steps when you trust Him (Proverbs 3:5-6).