What to do after a tech layoff: a calm 30-day plan

If you're wondering what to do after a tech layoff, do it in this order: handle the time-limited paperwork first (your severance agreement, health coverage and unemployment claim), then work out how many months of money you have, then write a short, calm explanation of the layoff, and only then build a search plan and refresh your interview skills. That sequence protects your deadlines and your savings before you spend energy on applications. A layoff is common in tech and is a business decision, not a verdict on you, so the goal for the first 30 days is steady progress, not speed.

This page is the hub for our "After a Layoff" guides. Each step below links to a detailed guide. Legal and benefit facts here were checked on official US government sources as of October 2026; they are general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice, and rules differ outside the US and from state to state.

What should I do first after a tech layoff?

In the first two or three days, focus on things that have a clock attached. Everything else can wait a week.

• Don't sign the severance agreement on day one. Read it, note the review deadline, and write down your questions. If you're 40 or older and the agreement waives age-discrimination claims, US law generally gives you at least 21 days to consider it (45 days in a group layoff) and 7 days to revoke after signing.
• File for unemployment insurance. The US Department of Labor says to contact your state's program as soon as possible after becoming unemployed. Each state sets its own rules.
• Decide how you'll keep health coverage. You usually have 60 days to elect COBRA and 60 days to pick a Marketplace plan after losing job-based coverage.
• If you're on a work visa, start the clock today. H-1B workers generally have up to 60 days, or until their authorized stay ends if sooner, to act.
• Save your own records. Keep copies of personal documents you're entitled to, such as pay stubs, your offer letter, benefits notices and the severance letter. Don't take company confidential files.

Our first week after a layoff checklist turns this into a day-by-day list with the official source for each deadline.

The first 30 days at a glance

Use this as a rough map, not a schedule you have to hit. If you need more time on one stage, take it.

Week 1: paperwork, benefits and deadlines

These are the US rules people most often ask about, each checked on the agency's own site as of October 2026. Your agreement, plan documents and state law can add to them.

• Severance is not required by federal law. The Department of Labor says severance is a matter of agreement between employer and employee. If you're offered it, it usually comes with a release of claims, so read what you're giving up.
• Advance notice. The federal WARN Act generally requires employers with 100 or more employees to give at least 60 calendar days' written notice of a plant closing or a mass layoff affecting 50 or more employees at one site. There are exceptions, and some states have their own laws (see the Department of Labor WARN overview).
• Final paycheck. Federal law doesn't require an immediate final paycheck, but some states do.
• Health coverage. COBRA generally applies to employers with 20 or more employees, can last up to 18 months after a job ends, and gives you 60 days to elect it. Losing job-based coverage also opens a 60-day Special Enrollment Period on HealthCare.gov.
• Retirement money. If a 401(k) is paid out to you rather than rolled over directly, the plan generally withholds 20%, and money you don't roll over within 60 days may be taxed and hit with a 10% additional tax if you're under 59½.

Two situations need their own guide: if you're negotiating terms, read our severance negotiation tips, and if your status depends on your job, read what to do if you're laid off on an H-1B.

Week 1 to 2: work out your money runway

Your runway, the number of months you can cover costs without a new paycheck, decides how picky you can be, whether contract work makes sense and how hard to push on severance. Work it out once, on one page.

1. Add up cash you can use: savings you're willing to spend, severance after tax, and payout of unused vacation if your employer or state provides it.
2. Estimate unemployment benefits using your state's own calculator or claim decision, not a guess. Whether severance delays or reduces benefits depends on your state.
3. List monthly costs, with health coverage as its own line, since COBRA premiums can be up to 102% of the plan's full cost.
4. Divide to get months of runway, and write the date it runs out.

If the answer is under four or five months, plan for a wider search from the start and read our guide to contract work after a layoff. Avoid cashing out a 401(k) to extend runway unless you've priced the withholding and tax first.

Week 2: write your layoff story once

You'll be asked why you left in nearly every first-round screen. Write the answer once, keep it to two sentences, and then stop rewriting it. A good version states the fact, adds a scope marker if it's true (a whole team, a percentage of the company), and turns to what you want next. Here's an example we wrote:

"My role was cut in a company-wide reduction in September that closed the payments team. I'd just shipped our fraud-scoring rewrite, and I'm looking for a backend role where I can own a system like that end to end."

For the full method, read how to explain a layoff in an interview; for ready-made versions by situation, see our "why were you laid off?" answer bank. Then update your profile using our guide to Open to Work after a layoff.

Weeks 2 to 4: build the search and refresh your interview skills

Most people send applications too early and practice too late. A better order is: decide on one or two target role types, list the companies, ask for referrals, and practice out loud in parallel so you're ready when the first screen lands.

• Plan: a 30-60-90 day job search plan with weekly targets.
• Referrals: how to ask for a referral after a layoff, with message templates.
• Practice: start with a 2 to 4 week ramp back into interviewing, then the coding interview refresher or the system design refresher.

Practicing out loud matters more than reading. The free AI mock interview runs in your browser with nothing to install, and CoPilot Interview's desktop Mock Interview builds questions from your résumé and the job description, then scores each spoken answer out of 10 with what to fix.

How do I look after myself during a layoff job search?

A job search after a layoff is often longer than people expect, and the hard weeks tend to arrive after the first round of applications goes quiet. Treat the search like a job with hours: a fixed start, a fixed stop and at least one day a week off. Keep one small skill habit going, stay in contact with two or three people who aren't part of the search, and track inputs you control (applications, conversations, practice sessions) rather than replies you don't. Our guides on staying sharp while job hunting and job search burnout after a layoff go further. If the stress becomes more than you can manage, talk to someone you trust or a professional.

Guides for after a layoff

Every guide in this series, grouped by stage:

• Paperwork and money: First week after a layoff checklist, Severance negotiation tips, Laid off on an H-1B: what to do, Contract work after a layoff
• Your story: How to explain a layoff in an interview, "Why were you laid off?" sample answers, How to explain a gap after a layoff, Open to Work on LinkedIn after a layoff
• The search: Job search plan after a layoff, How to ask for referrals after a layoff, Tech layoffs 2026 statistics
• Interview prep: Getting back into interviewing after a break, Coding interview refresher, System design refresher, Behavioral interview stories after a layoff, Interview questions after a layoff
• Offers and wellbeing: Salary negotiation after a layoff, How to stay sharp while job hunting, Job search burnout after a layoff

Earlier guides that fit alongside these: using an AI interview assistant in a post-layoff search and explaining a career gap.

FAQ

What should I do in the first 24 hours after a tech layoff?

Don't sign anything yet. Read the severance agreement and note its review deadline, file for unemployment with the state where you worked, note your health coverage end date, and save copies of personal documents like pay stubs and benefits notices. If you're on a work visa, write down your last day of employment, because your grace period runs from there.

How long does it take to find a job after a tech layoff?

It varies widely by role, level, location and the market at the time, so be wary of any single number. Plan your money for a longer search than you hope for, and track the inputs you control each week, such as applications, referral conversations and practice sessions.

Should I take a break before job hunting after a layoff?

A few days to a week is reasonable for most people, but handle the deadline items first: severance review, unemployment, health coverage and any visa timeline. After that, a short, planned break can help you start the search with a clearer head.

Do I have to tell interviewers I was laid off?

You should be truthful if asked why you left, and many employers verify employment dates. A short, factual two-sentence answer is enough. A layoff is a common business decision, and most interviewers simply want to hear it stated calmly before moving on.

Can I get unemployment if I received severance?

It depends on your state. Some states delay or reduce benefits while severance is paid and others don't. File as soon as possible and report the severance as your state asks; the state agency will decide.

Is this legal advice?

No. This is general information checked on official US government sources as of October 2026. For your specific situation, read the official pages linked here or talk to an employment lawyer, tax professional or immigration attorney.