If you get laid off, here's what you can do besides hunt for a job

• Getting laid off can feel awful. Yet, there are steps you can take to respond in a productive way.
• Helping someone else also offers structure and support during difficult job searches.
• Because tech like AI is evolving quickly, job seekers might also want to build their skills.

If you lose your job, it can feel like the end of the world.

The first thing to do is not to panic. The second is to come up with a plan of what should happen next.

Even though the overall job market is steady, it can still be tough for some desk workers to find a new role. That's because, in areas like tech, hiring has, at times, been sluggish.

More than one in four jobs in computer programming, for example, have disappeared in the past two years, according to news reports.

On top of that, thousands of federal workers have lost their jobs as part of the Trump Administration's efforts to remake the government, in part by slashing head count.

Dan Schawbel, managing partner at Workplace Intelligence, told Business Insider that because technology like artificial intelligence is evolving quickly, workers might need to build their skills. He said many workers won't be able to become overnight experts in areas like AI or large language models.

"There's a period of time when those getting laid off are going to have to invest in themselves to get those right skills to then pivot," Schawbel said.

There are other steps the newly unemployed can consider taking. One of them is seeing how you might help others.

Jennifer Schielke, the CEO of the staffing firm Summit Group Solutions and the author of "Leading for Impact," said that seeing what others might be going through can help the newly jobless size up their own problems.

"If you have time to volunteer, go do it," she told BI, adding, "Go get some encouragement by sitting alongside someone who has it worse than you do."

Volunteering can be one way to find gratitude and help navigate landing a new role, Schielke said.

While volunteering shouldn't replace other must-dos — like building up your skills, turning to your network to help you find a role, and beefing up your résumé — it could offer a respite from some of the stress accompanying a job search.

Many employers are taking longer to hire, meaning the hunt for what's next could be more protracted than many job seekers might like.

Schielke said that committing to doing some work for others can also help retain structure in one's schedule when work hours disappear.

"Your days still have meaning and purpose," she said, adding, "That's going to keep you upbeat."

Schielke said that beyond the intrinsic benefits, volunteering can give you something to talk about in a job interview when you're asked about the things you've done since your last role.

"This is really a time where you can show yourself as different by showcasing your character," she said.

Turn to your network for help

Outside of seeing how you might help others, there are other steps you can take if you're newly unemployed.

Schielke said it's important to have a sounding board to help you remain accountable, as getting laid off can be a shock. She pointed to the job cuts in the tech industry in recent years.

"I know a lot of people didn't think it would be them," she said. Having people you can talk through the situation with can help.

Schielke said that newly jobless people sometimes need to separate what they want from what they need. Job seekers who are inflexible and insist on remote work or attaining a certain salary might find it harder to get a new gig.

"There's a real reality check and maybe a piece of humble pie that has to be taken in," Schielke said.

She recommended considering how people in your network can help you look for something new. She added that networks are increasingly important as it becomes easier to apply for jobs with a few clicks. Plus, there are other hurdles, such as fake job postings.

"Being able to connect with a person or know someone who knows someone who can get your résumé in front of the right people is so important," Schielke said.

Set up metrics as if it's a job

Schielke said it can be helpful to set up metrics like you might for a job. That might mean contacting, say, five people in a day to set up a time to meet for coffee. It could also mean reviewing a certain number of job listings or sending a certain number of inquiries.

"I wouldn't dillydally in a market like this because it can take a long time," she said. "Get into the rhythm that you're used to in the workplace."

But Schielke reiterated the benefit of building in time to focus on others' needs. Giving a few hours, if you can, is an alternative to donating money — which might not be advisable without a paycheck.

"This might be a time where you can pay it forward with that life-on-life connection," Schielke said.

Do you have a story to share about your job hunt? Contact this reporter at tparadis@businessinsider.com.

An earlier version of this story appeared on July 26, 2024.