With so many tech companies laying off employees, along with other layoffs, it might be time to find a new job. If you’ve been laid off or you expect to be, it’s a good idea to start the process now. No matter what industry you work in, it’s smart to be prepared for a potential layoff.

Recently, Meta announced they will cut 11,000 jobs, while Twitter cuts around 3,700, and Amazon is cutting around 10,000 employees. Many other tech companies are laying off employees, too. Let’s look at some of the things you can do if you’ve been laid off, to find your next job.

5 Steps to Help You Find Your Next Job

1. Know What the Immediate Future Looks Like

Before your layoff kicks in and you’re jobless, it’s a good idea to figure out what the immediate future will look like. What will the layoff mean for the coming weeks and for your benefits, such as health insurance?

You also want to know the details of your severance package and if there will be any career counseling or job search help from your current company. Get the information you need as soon as possible, so you know how to move forward.

2. Take Care of the Immediate Needs First

Make sure you file for unemployment, get extended health insurance coverage, if available and needed, and make adjustments to your household budget first. Before you actually start looking for a new job, you need to know what the weeks following a layoff look like. Address your immediate needs first, so you can focus on finding your next job.

3. Update Your Resume

The next step in the process is to update your resume. Cover letters are not usually requested any more, so you can just focus on the CV. Make sure it’s up-to-date and make sure you update all your social media profiles, especially LinkedIn, as well. It’s common for companies to check at least your professional social media accounts.

4. Start Searching for a New Job

While you can certainly start with the most common job search tools, such as online websites, you also want to tap into your network. Reach out to friends, professional colleagues, and anybody that might know of an opening that fits your abilities.

Let the people in your network know you’re looking for a new job and you might just be surprised at what comes up. You should also research any companies you might want to work for and definitely reach out to professional recruiters. Your company may need to layoff staff, but others are absolutely hiring.

5. Stay Positive and Honest About Your Situation

Layoffs are common, especially right now, so don’t try to hide this from potential employers. If you are invited for an interview, be honest about what happened and how you are using this as an opportunity to take on a new challenge.

As you go through these big life changes, make sure you stay positive and keep things in perspective. It can be difficult when you find out you are going to be laid off. However, it’s not the end of the world and it might just lead to a better role that you enjoy more than your old one.