If you’ve just been laid off from a PR or communications agency, here’s what I want you to know first: this is not a verdict on your talent, your dedication, or your future. Layoffs in our industry are almost always about economics, consolidation, or restructuring. They’re not about you.

I’ve coached many PR professionals through exactly this moment over the past 18 years. And what I’ve learned is that how you respond in the first few weeks matters far more than the fact that it happened.

The First 48 Hours After Being Laid Off

Give yourself permission to feel whatever you’re feeling. Shock, anger, relief, fear: Whatever you’re feeling is legitimate. You don’t have to update your LinkedIn or start networking today. (In fact, I’d encourage you not to. Your energy right now is probably not the energy you want to bring to a professional conversation.)

Take care of the practical things: understand your severance, sort out your health insurance, make sure you have copies of any work samples you’ll need. But don’t start the job hunt yet.

The First Two Weeks

This is when most people make a mistake: they panic-apply to every open position they can find. I get it: The urgency feels real. But here’s the thing: when you apply from a place of desperation, you tend to attract roles that aren’t actually right for you.

Instead, use this time to get clear. Ask yourself some honest questions:

What did I actually love about my last role? And what drained me? (These are different questions.)

What kind of leadership environment brings out my best work? Did I have that in my last position?

If I could design my ideal next chapter, what would it look like?

This isn’t navel-gazing. This is strategic. The clearer you are on what you want, the more effectively you can pursue it, and the more confidently you’ll come across in interviews.

The Networking Mindset Shift

Here’s what drives me nuts about traditional networking advice: it treats relationships as transactions. “Reach out to everyone you know and ask if they’re hiring.” No. Please don’t.

Instead, think about the five or ten people in your professional life whose judgment you genuinely trust. Reach out to them not to ask for a job, but to ask for a conversation. Tell them you’re in transition and you’re trying to get clear on your next move. Ask what they’re seeing in the market. Ask what they’d do if they were in your shoes.

These conversations will help you in two ways: you’ll get real intelligence about opportunities, and you’ll practice talking about yourself in a way that feels authentic rather than desperate.

Consider What Got You Here And What Will Get You There

A layoff can be a signal, not that you failed, but that it’s time to invest in your growth as a leader. I’ve seen many PR professionals use this moment to finally address the leadership skills they’d been meaning to develop: executive presence, managing up, leading through uncertainty, having difficult conversations.

Executive coaching isn’t just for people in executive roles. It’s for anyone who wants to lead more effectively, and who recognizes that the skills that got them to this point aren’t necessarily the skills that will get them where they want to go.

If you’re in transition and want to use this time to become a stronger leader, I’d be glad to talk. I offer a complimentary consultation to explore whether coaching might be right for you at this moment.

You’re going to get through this. The question is: who do you want to be on the other side?

If you’ve been laid off, sometimes the most important thing is having someone in your corner who understands both this industry and the human side of leading through it. If you want to talk about your options, your next steps, your energy, or just getting through it, it’s my honor to offer you a complimentary session. Now’s not the time to be shy!:

https://calendly.com/jacobscomm/complimentary-session?month=2026-01

Sad businesswoman with box of her belongings leaving the office after being fired from her job.