POV: you’re about to get laid off — here are the warning signs

POV: Get laid off with me

The email dropped at 9:42am.
From my manager. HR was cc’d. If you know, you know.

I didn’t even have to open it. The second you see HR on a meeting invite, it’s over. Your stomach drops, your heart rate spikes, but you still click—because what else are you gonna do?

Ten minutes later I was logged off everything. Company Slack, email, the whole thing. That’s it.

No dramatic exit. No movie moment. Just “thanks for your time,” and suddenly you’re staring at your laptop screen like… now what?

Red flags you’re about to get laid off

Okay real talk… looking back, there were signs. I was just too busy being stressed about deadlines to connect the dots.

If you’re seeing these red flags at work, it might mean layoffs are coming. Maybe start updating that résumé just in case.

The obvious signs you’re about to get laid off:

• Hiring freezes (especially when they phrase it as “being more strategic about growth”)
• Your team keeps getting “restructured” every few months
• They keep talking about “doing more with less” like it’s inspirational
• Leadership keeps having “all-hands” meetings that say nothing but somehow make everyone more anxious
• Your manager starts acting weird in 1:1s—either overly reassuring or weirdly distant

The sneaky layoff warnings:

• They suddenly care about “documenting processes” (aka making sure they can replace you)
• Your access to certain systems gets “updated” (downgraded)
• Projects you were leading get handed to other people “to balance workload”
• They start asking you to train other people on your tasks (sus)
• The company Slack goes quiet—like eerily quiet
• Leadership starts using words like “rightsizing,” “optimization,” or “strategic realignment” (corporate for “we’re about to yeet some of y’all”)

The vibe check fails:

• Your gut keeps telling you something’s wrong, but you can’t put your finger on it
• The energy in meetings feels forced
• People are being extra nice to you (sometimes guilt makes people weird)
• Your work bestie who usually knows everything suddenly knows nothing
• HR starts popping up in random meetings they’ve never been in before

The red flag psychological ones:

• They give you a random good performance review right before (guilt management)
• Suddenly there’s talk about “new directions” for the company
• Your manager keeps asking if you’re “happy” here (they’re preparing)
• They start emphasizing how much they “value” you (compensation for what’s coming)

Listen, even if you spot these, there’s not always much you can do. Sometimes layoffs happen regardless. But at least you won’t be completely blindsided. And honestly? If you’re seeing multiple red flags, it might be time to start looking anyway because the vibes are already ruined.

This isn't the 2008 recession bestie

Here’s the deal. Like if you got laid off, people whispered about whether you were actually bad at your job.

But we’re not playing that game anymore.

Literally everyone has a layoff story now. Your bestie from college? Laid off. That person you follow on TikTok? Laid off. Probably half your group chat has been through it.

Whole departments disappear overnight. Brilliant people wake up to “HR wants to chat” emails and suddenly they’re unemployed.

So no, this isn’t a you problem. This is just how work works now. Job security is a myth, and companies will drop you the second their numbers look sus.

The stigma? Dead. We buried it.

Welcome to your villain era (aka unemployment)

Life after getting laid off is actually unhinged.

There's no roadmap.

No linear progression from point A to point B.

It's just pure chaos energy.

Some days you’re giving main character vibes—sleeping until noon, taking long walks, finally reading that book you’ve been putting off. You’re like, wow, I forgot what it feels like to not be burnt out.

Other days you’re spiraling at 2am, doom-scrolling job boards like you’re swiping on dating apps. Applying to random jobs you don’t even want just to make the anxiety shut up.

The side quests are wild:

• Becoming obsessed with cleaning (suddenly your bathroom has never been more spotless)
• Starting seventeen different creative projects
• Learning to make pasta from scratch because time is fake now
• Having a full mental breakdown in Target over whether you can afford name-brand cereal
• Updating your LinkedIn headline 47 times like it’s your finsta bio

It’s giving chaos era—and honestly? Sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

The job market is a scam and we all know it

Here’s where it gets really spicy: trying to find a new job is absolutely broken.

You send your résumé into the void. Silence.
You nail an interview. Ghosted.
The same job gets reposted every two weeks like they’re trolling you.
Half the listings are fake anyway… just companies pretending they’re hiring to look busy.

And then—the audacity—these platforms want you to pay them while you’re literally unemployed.

$80 a month. To see who stalked your profile? To apply to jobs that probably aren’t real anyway? That’s grocery money. That’s therapy money. That’s “keeping my mental health intact” money.

Don’t even get me started on the “career coaches” sliding into your DMs charging $3k to “optimize your personal brand.” Bestie, I’m unemployed. The only thing I need optimized is my bank account.

It’s giving predatory behavior, and we’re not here for it.

The stuff no one talks about (the really real part)

All the motivation posts are lying to you. “This is a blessing in disguise!” “The universe has bigger plans!” “Everything happens for a reason!”

Okay but… that’s not what it feels like when you’re living it.

What being laid off actually feels like:

• Losing your entire routine and realizing how much you relied on it
• Checking your bank account like it’s your screen time (terrifying)
• Having to explain what happened to literally everyone
• Some days feeling free and excited, other days completely paralyzed
• Questioning your entire identity because apparently you are your job???

Here’s the thing no one prepares you for: losing your job doesn’t just mess with your money. It messes with your whole sense of self.

Like, who even are you without your Slack status, your work bestie, your stupid company laptop? It’s an identity crisis wrapped in financial stress wrapped in imposter syndrome.

Very fun. 10/10 experience. Highly recommend.

You're in good company

Plot twist: getting laid off is basically a shared trauma experience now.

Someone posts “just got laid off” and the comments turn into a support group:
“Literally same.”
“Ugh, me too last month.”
“Want me to send you the jobs I’ve been bookmarking?”

That’s what this actually is. Not an individual failure. Not a private shame spiral. A collective experience of navigating a broken system.

And honestly? There’s something kind of beautiful about how some of us are out here being brutally honest, saying things that never used to be okay to say—because it’s the truth.

FAQs: Layoff warning signs

What signs should I look for if I’m about to be laid off?

The most reliable signs you're about to get laid off include sudden requests to document your processes, HR appearing in unexpected meetings, your manager asking if you're "happy" at work, and leadership using euphemisms like "rightsizing" or "strategic realignment." Trust your gut—if multiple warning signs align, start preparing your exit strategy.

How far in advance do layoff warning signs appear?

Layoff warning signs usually appear 2–8 weeks before an announcement, but some subtle indicators can show up months earlier. Things like hiring freezes, vague “strategic realignment” language, or leadership changes often appear well before the layoffs themselves.

What to do if you think you’ll be laid off

If you’re seeing warning signs, here’s how to protect yourself:

1. Update your résumé and LinkedIn quietly.
2. Reach out to your network before you need a new job.
3. Review your finances and benefits so you’re not blindsided.
4. Don’t spend money on panic purchases.

Should I confront my manager if I see these signs?

You should not directly confront your manager if you see layoff warning signs. Confrontation rarely changes the outcome and may even accelerate the process. A better approach is to maintain professional performance while quietly preparing: update your résumé, network, and check your finances.

Can spotting these signs help me prevent getting laid off?

Spotting layoff warning signs usually won’t prevent the layoff itself, but it can help you prepare. Early awareness gives you time to get financially ready, strengthen your professional profile, and emotionally brace for potential changes.

What if I see signs but nothing happens?

If you see layoff warning signs but nothing happens, it may be a false alarm. However, in many cases, the same signs reappear later. It’s still smart to treat red flags as a signal to update your résumé, explore options, and prepare.

How reliable are these warning signs?

Layoff warning signs are not 100% reliable, but when multiple signs line up—especially five or more—the likelihood of layoffs increases significantly. The more patterns you notice, the stronger the signal.

Should I start job searching immediately if I see these signs?

Yes, you should start preparing for a job search if you see layoff warning signs. Begin by updating your résumé and reconnecting with your network. Be discreet at first, but take early steps so you’re not caught off guard.

What’s the difference between layoffs and firings in terms of warning signs?

The difference between layoffs and firings comes down to scale and cause. Layoffs usually involve company-wide signs like restructuring or budget cuts, while firings are performance-related and often follow individual warnings, feedback, or a performance plan.

How do I know if it’s just company growing pains v. layoff preparation?

The difference between growing pains and layoff preparation is in how leadership communicates. Growing companies tend to speak with optimism about the future, while layoff prep often comes with vague language, reduced transparency, and terms like “rightsizing” or “optimization.”

Are layoffs the same as being fired?

Nope. Layoffs are about the company: budget cuts, “restructuring,” or “rightsizing.” Firings are about individual performance, usually after a performance improvement plan or negative reviews. If you got laid off, it’s not about you failing—it’s about the company’s numbers. 

The actual bottom line

Getting laid off sucks. It’s sudden, unfair, and it feels personal even when it’s not.

But it’s also not the end of your story. It’s a plot twist you didn’t ask for—but plot twists don’t have to be bad.

Your path isn’t going to be a straight line. It’s going to be messy and nonlinear and probably involve way too many mental breakdowns in public places. But that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.

It just means you’re human.

So if you just joined the “got laid off” club—welcome. The group chat is chaotic, but we’re all here for each other.

And honestly? We’re probably going to figure this out together. Especially now that we’ve got Jema.