92,000 tech workers laid off — and it's only April
Just laid off? Start here.
A free, four-phase toolkit for the 2026 layoff. Calculate your runway, decode your rejections, pivot into an AI-era role, and apply with a stack hiring managers actually take seriously. No email gate. No upsell.
Phase 1: Stabilize
· Days 0–3Numbers first, feelings second (we'll get to those). Calculate runway, decide on health insurance, negotiate what's still on the table, and avoid the agreement clauses that cost people thousands.
Phase 2: Audit
· Days 4–10Find out where you actually stand. What's your AI-displacement risk? Which adjacent roles are realistic from where you are, given the skills you already have?
Phase 3: Rebuild
· Days 11–25Close the skill gap with a day-by-day plan. Not a 12-week course. Not a $5k bootcamp. A focused 30-day sprint that ends with a portfolio artifact you can put in front of hiring managers.
Phase 4: Apply
· Days 26+Now ship. The 2026 application stack: AI-augmented resume that doesn't trip the ATS-2.0 detectors, cover letter that doesn't read like ChatGPT, mock interview pack with the 'how would you use AI' question hiring managers now expect — and a way to decode the silent rejections so you can iterate, not spiral.
Resume Optimizer
Tailor your resume to any job description with keyword optimization and ATS-friendly formatting.
Cover Letter Generator
A 250-350 word cover letter that does NOT sound like generic AI output.
Interview Question Generator
Mock interview pack with answer frameworks, follow-up probes, and the 2026 'how would you use AI' question.
Rejection Decoder
When applications go silent, paste the JD + resume + rejection email. Get the verdict, keyword-gap score, and top 3 fixes.
The full playbook in long-form
The narrative version of everything above — the 4-phase framework explained, with case studies, concrete examples, and the why behind each move.
Read: How to Survive an AI LayoffFrequently asked
I just got laid off. What do I actually do in the next hour?
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Three things, in this order: (1) request a written copy of any severance offer and your separation agreement before you sign anything, (2) run the Day-1 Triage Wizard to see your runway and the COBRA-vs-marketplace decision, (3) tell two trusted people. Networking can wait until tomorrow. Cash, health insurance, and a calm conversation come first.
Should I sign the separation agreement they handed me?
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Not yet. If you're 40 or older, federal OWBPA law gives you 21 days to consider it (45 if it's a group layoff) and 7 days to revoke after signing. Even under 40, you almost always have negotiating room — extended healthcare, additional severance weeks, a clean reference letter, equity acceleration. Read the Day-1 Triage Wizard's red-flags section before you sign.
Is COBRA or the ACA marketplace better?
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It depends on plan price, prescription continuity, deductibles you've already met, and whether your state has expanded marketplace subsidies. The Triage Wizard gives you the decision for your specific numbers. Note: a layoff triggers a 60-day Special Enrollment Period for the marketplace, so you have time to decide.
How long will it take me to find a new job?
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Q1 2026 data shows the average tech worker is taking 6–9 months to land a comparable role, though specialists in AI-adjacent roles (agentic AI, AI ops, AI product) are landing in 8–12 weeks. Use the Pivot Path Scorer to see which adjacent roles cut your timeline.
I keep getting rejected without any feedback. What's wrong?
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Usually one of three things: an ATS keyword mismatch (the most common — you're being filtered before a human sees you), a 'ghost listing' that was never going to be filled, or a resume that reads as AI-generated to 2026 ATS systems. The Rejection Decoder tells you which.
Should I learn to code? Become a prompt engineer?
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Probably not, on both counts. 'Prompt engineer' consolidated from a job title into a skill embedded in other roles in 2026. And learning to code from zero in 30 days isn't a realistic pivot for most people. The Pivot Path Scorer maps your existing skills to adjacent AI-era roles that don't require starting over.
How do you make money? Are these tools really free?
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Yes, all the tools on this page are free. We monetize through paid 'Vaults' for specific professions (real estate, accounting, contractors) — those are entirely separate from the layoff toolkit and we don't gate any of this behind email capture.
Layoff terms, in plain English
The terms you'll see in your separation agreement and on phone calls with HR.
- Severance
- Pay continued after termination, usually offered in exchange for signing a separation agreement releasing the employer from claims. Standard at large companies; not legally required in most US states.
- WARN Act
- Federal law requiring 60 days' notice for mass layoffs at companies with 100+ employees. Several states (CA, NY, NJ, IL, others) have stricter mini-WARN rules. Violations entitle workers to back pay.
- OWBPA
- Older Workers Benefit Protection Act. If you're 40+, the employer must give you 21 days (45 for group layoffs) to review a release of age-discrimination claims, plus a 7-day revocation window after signing.
- COBRA
- Federal law letting you continue employer health insurance for up to 18 months after layoff — but you pay the full premium, often 3-5× what you used to pay. You have 60 days to elect, and election can be retroactive.
- Marketplace SEP
- Special Enrollment Period. A layoff triggers a 60-day window to enroll in an ACA marketplace plan outside of open enrollment. Often cheaper than COBRA and may qualify for premium subsidies.
- Ghost job
- A posting that's never going to be filled — collected for talent pipelines, market research, or visa requirements. Estimated 20–30% of public US tech postings in 2026.
Nothing on this page is legal, financial, or medical advice. The Layoff Center is a free toolkit built by the AI Career Lab to help workers navigate the 2026 reset.