Getting laid off is jarring. Before you jump into applications, take a breath. Orbit is designed to support you through this.
First: take care of yourself
This is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation. You didn't fail. Companies make business decisions that aren't about you.
- Do a mood check-in. Be honest about how you're feeling. There's no wrong answer.
- Try the breathing exercise. Tools > Wellness > Exercises. Four minutes can reset your nervous system.
- Set your career stage. Go to Settings > Preferences > Career Stage and select "Laid Off." This adjusts Orbit's tone to be supportive and momentum-focused.
Then: set up your search
- Set up Runway. Go to Tools > Runway and enter your savings, monthly expenses, and any severance. Knowing your financial runway reduces anxiety.
- Add 5 target jobs. Don't apply yet — just save them. Having a pipeline makes the search feel real and manageable.
- Add 3 contacts. Former coworkers, managers who liked your work, friends in the industry. These are your warmest leads.
Your first week
- Apply to 3-5 jobs (quality over quantity)
- Reach out to 2-3 contacts
- Check the dashboard daily
- Do mood check-ins — your emotional data matters
What Orbit does for you
- Reminds you to follow up so opportunities don't slip away
- Tracks your pace so you know if you're doing enough (or too much)
- Monitors your wellbeing and suggests breaks when you're pushing too hard
- Prepares you for interviews automatically when you reach that stage
You've got this. The fact that you're organizing your search is already a sign you'll land well.