Career Coaching After a Layoff

You got laid off. Now what?

First, breathe. A layoff is a business decision, not a verdict on you. That's easy to say and hard to feel, so here's where I'm coming from: I've been laid off more than once. I know the strange quiet of that first Monday. I used to think a layoff meant I wasn't good enough. It usually isn't about that, and it wasn't for me.

I'm Mike Leighty, founder and head coach of Long Game Career Coaching. I've led teams at Cisco, Adobe and Nike, and I've been through restructures from the inside. Layoff coaching here is practical and calm. We get your footing back, then we get you moving.

The first two weeks matter

The days right after a layoff set the tone for the whole search. Before you fire off a hundred applications, we slow down just enough to do the right things in the right order:

• Read your separation terms carefully and know your deadlines (for legal or financial questions, talk to an attorney or financial professional)
• Set a realistic runway and weekly rhythm
• Decide what you actually want next, instead of grabbing the first trail you see
• Tell your network the right way, with a clear and confident ask

How to explain a layoff (without flinching)

Hiring managers have seen plenty of layoffs. What they want is a short, honest answer and a confident pivot to what you bring. We'll write and rehearse your version until it's two sentences, true and calm. Then we'll practice the follow-up questions so nothing catches you off guard.

Training Camp: built for this moment

Training Camp ($1,500) is a focused, short-term intensive for exactly this situation. Founding Member Training Camp is $1,200 for the first 25 clients. Together we'll work on:

• Your target: role, level and companies worth chasing
• Your story: resume, LinkedIn and the layoff answer, all telling the same story
• Your search plan: outreach, referrals and a weekly scorecard you control
• Your interviews: practice that sounds like you, not a script

If you want support beyond the intensive, Career Conditioning keeps you sharp. Base ($79/mo) is group coaching, Build ($249/mo) adds a monthly 1:1, and Peak ($599/mo) adds more frequent 1:1s plus interview, offer and negotiation support.

Outplacement, recruiters and a coach: what's the difference?

Outplacement is often a generic program your former employer pays for. Recruiters are paid by the hiring company to fill a role. A coach works for you. If you already have outplacement, use it. Coaching can sit alongside it and make it personal.

Clear boundaries

Coaching is not therapy, legal advice or financial advice. If the layoff is weighing heavily on your mental health, please lean on a licensed professional too. And no coach can guarantee a job. What you'll get here is a steady partner, a real plan and honest feedback.

Questions, answered