October’s Layoff Headlines: What to Do the Week You’re Let Go

by | Oct 21, 2026

Kroger. HubSpot. Netflix. Hasbro. FICO. The October 2026 layoff list keeps growing, and several of the biggest cuts this month were labeled AI-driven by trackers. One tracker counted more than 332,000 jobs affected by announced layoffs in 2026 through mid-October, ahead of the same point last year.

Behind every number is a person who walked out of a meeting with their badge deactivated and a knot in their stomach. If that’s you right now, this is for you.

The first 48 hours: don’t decide anything big

Shock makes us want to act fast. Fire off a LinkedIn rant. Accept the first offer. Tell everyone, or tell no one. Slow down. Give yourself two days to breathe before you make any major moves.

The first week: protect the basics

  • Read your separation paperwork carefully before you sign. Severance terms, health insurance end dates, and any non-compete language matter.
  • File for unemployment right away. It’s not charity; you paid into it.
  • Write down your wins while they’re fresh: projects, numbers, the problems you solved. That’s your résumé raw material.
  • Look at your money honestly. How many months can you cover? Knowing the number is less scary than guessing.

The first month: rebuild your identity, not just your résumé

For many of us, work is who we are. Losing a job can feel like losing yourself, and that grief is real. Keep a routine: wake up at the same time, get dressed, move your body, and give your search set hours instead of 14 anxious hours a day.

Tell the people close to you what you need. Many partners want to help but end up asking “Any luck today?” every night. It’s okay to say, “I’ll update you on Fridays.”

Ask the bigger question

Sometimes a layoff is the push toward the work you were meant to do. Is there a career change, a certification, or a business you’ve been putting off? A career coach can help you tell the difference between running away and running toward.

You don’t have to figure this out alone

Book a free discovery call with a Life Coaching Today career coach: Find a Coach.

📕 Red Flags: A Woman’s Survival Guide to Dating in the Manosphere by Georgia Ann Hunter Jones and Kiddada Asmara Grey. Get your copy here.

Just Ask Maxx is a Master Relationship Coach, Master Hypnotherapist, Certified NLP Practitioner and Certified Divorce Mediator with Life Coaching Today. Email justaskmaxx@gmail.com or call 215-888-5362.

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