Last updated: October 10, 2026

After a layoff: your first week

A layoff is a lot at once. This page puts the first steps in order and points to the official source for each. It organises information. It does not decide whether you qualify for anything, and each program has its own rules.

The short version

• Start with the two things that have deadlines: unemployment insurance and health coverage.
• Then write down what you did and what came of it, so your resume and your interview answers are easy.
• Then set a weekly plan you can keep.

Your first week

1. Read what you were given. Collect the letters and documents from your employer and note any dates in them. If something asks you to give up rights, take the time to understand it before you sign, and ask someone who can advise you.
2. Look up unemployment insurance in your state. Each state runs its own program, so your state's website is the best source on who can apply and how. CareerOneStop's unemployment benefits finder takes you to your state's page.
3. Decide how to keep health coverage. Losing job-based coverage can qualify you for a Special Enrollment Period on HealthCare.gov: you can qualify if you lost coverage in the past 60 days or expect to lose it in the next 60. Many employers with 20 or more employees must offer COBRA continuation coverage, which usually lasts up to 18 months, usually at the full premium, and you have 60 days to enroll; see the Department of Labor's COBRA page.
4. Check whether advance notice applied. Federal law requires advance written notice for some plant closings and mass layoffs at larger employers, and many layoffs are not covered. The Department of Labor's WARN Act page links to a worker's guide, and some states have their own rules.
5. Make a simple money list. Write down the fixed costs you must pay each month and the money you expect to arrive. It is the number that sets how long you can search without pressure.
6. Write down your last role. List what you did, what you worked on and any result you can state truthfully. It becomes your resume and your answer to "tell me about your last job".
7. Tell a few people. A short message to former colleagues and friends: what you do, what you are looking for, and one specific way they could help.

Then build a week you can keep

• Job-search planner: choose "Recently laid off" and set your hours.
• Explaining a layoff in interviews
• Rebuilding a routine and finding peers

What the market looks like

Our October 2026 snapshot has 335,906 open postings from 7,678 employers. Median listed pay is $162,500, and 37.8% of postings list a pay range. See the industry pages for four industries, and the data hub for your metro area or state. These are listed postings, not a promise of how fast a search goes.

If it feels heavy

Losing a job is stressful, and feeling worn down is common. If you feel overwhelmed or hopeless, you can call or text 988, the free 24/7 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US.

Official sources checked October 2026. Rules change and differ by state and plan, so confirm details on the official page before you act. Track your applications and find jobs that fit in Second Summit (free during beta).

Browse open jobs by role and city, with the pay employers list and who is hiring.