---
name: layoff-first-72-hours
description: "Steady the first 72 hours after being laid off — the practical, financial, and emotional moves in the right order, before panic-applying to everything. Use when asked I just got laid off what do I do, help me after a layoff, I lost my job, or just got made redundant. Produces a calm first-days checklist (understand the severance/package, protect benefits and finances, secure references and contacts, file for support), what to negotiate before signing anything, an emotional-footing note, and a bridge into the job search — not a frantic same-day scramble. Not legal or financial advice."
---

# Layoff: First 72 Hours

A layoff is a shock, and the instinct is to either freeze or panic-apply to 100 jobs by nightfall. Neither helps. The first few days are for steadying yourself and handling the time-sensitive, high-value things — the severance terms, benefits continuity, references, and support you're entitled to — before the job search. This lays them out in a calm order.

## What This Skill Produces

- **A first-days checklist** — the practical moves in priority order, spread over days, not a same-day frenzy
- **Package review** — understanding the severance/redundancy terms, and what may be negotiable *before* you sign
- **Benefits & finances** — protecting health coverage, understanding final pay/accruals, and filing for any unemployment/support you're entitled to
- **Relationships to secure now** — references, recommendations, and contacts while goodwill is fresh
- **Emotional footing** — permission to feel it, and a note that your worth isn't the layoff
- **A bridge to the search** — how to transition into job-hunting from a steady base

## Required Inputs

Ask for these if not provided:
- **The situation** — when, whether there's a severance/package, and any documents to sign
- **Your finances** — runway, obligations, and how urgent income is
- **Benefits** — health coverage and anything tied to the job
- **Region** — affects support/unemployment and rights
- **Your state** — steady enough to plan, or in shock (pace accordingly)

## Framework: Steady First, Then The High-Value Moves

1. **Don't sign or panic-apply immediately.** Give yourself a beat. Severance documents can often wait a little, and rushed applications are weak ones.
2. **Understand (and maybe negotiate) the package.** Read the severance/redundancy terms; some elements (notice, payout, references, timing) may be negotiable — consider advice before signing anything binding.
3. **Protect benefits and cash flow.** Sort health coverage continuity, confirm final pay/accrued leave, and file for unemployment/support promptly (these have timelines).
4. **Secure relationships while warm.** Ask for references, LinkedIn recommendations, and keep contacts before people scatter — goodwill fades.
5. **Tend to your head.** A layoff is usually about the business, not your worth — build in support and routine before the search grind.
6. **Then bridge to the search.** Move into job-hunting from a steady, organized base — resume, targets, and outreach — rather than a frightened scramble.

## Output Format

### After the layoff: [severance?] · runway [x] · [region]

**First (don't rush):** don't sign or mass-apply today — steady first.
**Package:** review [severance/redundancy terms] · possibly negotiable: [notice/payout/references] — advice before signing.
**Protect:** health coverage [continuity] · final pay/accruals · file for [unemployment/support] (mind deadlines).
**Secure now:** references · recommendations · contacts.
**Your head:** [this is about the business; support + routine].
**Bridge to the search:** [resume · targets · outreach — from a steady base].

> Not legal or financial advice. For severance terms or benefits questions, consider a professional; check your region's support programs and deadlines.

## Quality Checks
- [ ] Discourages same-day panic (signing, mass-applying)
- [ ] Covers reviewing and possibly negotiating the package before signing
- [ ] Protects benefits/finances and flags support-filing deadlines
- [ ] Prompts securing references/contacts while goodwill is fresh
- [ ] Addresses the emotional footing
- [ ] Bridges into the search from a steady base; not legal/financial advice

## Anti-Patterns
- **Signing the severance immediately** without understanding/negotiating.
- **Panic-applying to everything** the same day.
- **Missing benefit continuity / support deadlines.**
- **Forgetting references** until contacts have scattered.
- **Ignoring the emotional hit** and burning out.

## Example Trigger Phrases
- "I just got laid off — what do I do first?"
- "Help me handle the first few days after losing my job."
- "Should I sign this severance agreement right away?"
- "I was made redundant — what am I entitled to and what do I sort out?"
- "How do I not panic after a layoff and do the right things?"