What to Do Right Now If You’re Worried About Losing Your Job
Calm the panic. Secure your future.
👋 This is Part 2 of the Recession Survival Series. It’s all about helping you prepare—not panic—when the economy gets shaky.
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First: Take a Breath.
If you’re here, it probably means something feels, or is, off at work.
Maybe your hours got cut.
Maybe your overtime was taken away.
Maybe your company’s doing layoffs.
Maybe it’s just that weird tension in the air.
I’ve been there.
That pit-in-your-stomach feeling? It's real. But you’re not powerless.
This guide will show you how to calm the chaos, prep your plan, and buy yourself some breathing room—before anything actually happens.
Step 1: Make Your "If It Happens" Plan
You don’t have to know exactly what’s coming to start preparing.
In fact, I highly suggest you remain prepared.
Ask yourself:
If I lost my job tomorrow, what would I need to survive the next 30–60 days?
Who would I reach out to?
Where could I trim expenses—just temporarily?
Example:
One of my readers, Mark, built what he called his “Bridge Plan.”
He listed every source of possible income (old clients, gig work, even selling his bike), then figured out which bills could be paused or reduced.
He didn’t need the plan—but having it calmed his brain down immediately.
Step 2: Update Your Resume (Today, Not Later)
The best time to update your resume is before you need it.
No one wants to polish bullet points while panicking.
Here’s how to make it fast and painless:
Keep it to one or two pages max.
If you have a lot of experience, just include your last 2–3 roles and link to your LinkedIn for the rest.
Focus on results, not job duties. (Think: “Increased retention by 25%” instead of “Handled customer complaints.”)
Tailor the headline to the kind of job you want next.
🧠 Real talk: recruiters don’t need your full work history going back to college. Give them your most relevant work, and make it easy to scan.
Not sure where to start?
Paid subscribers get my Resume Revamp Checklist—a simple guide that takes the stress out of it.
Step 3: Start Talking—Quietly
You don’t need to post “I’m open to work” on LinkedIn (recruiters told me to NOT do that).
But now’s the time to start planting seeds.
Try this:
Reconnect with past coworkers, clients, or mentors. Send a simple check-in message.
Join a Slack group, Facebook group, or industry Discord—just to listen and engage.
Ask one trusted person for a reference now, while things are calm.
Example:
Sarah messaged 10 people she hadn’t talked to in a year with a simple “Hey! Just checking in. Hope life’s good—let me know how you’re doing.”
Two of them had job leads by the end of the week.
Step 4: Build a Bridge Income Plan
If your job ended tomorrow, what’s your emergency backup?
Not long-term. Just something to get you through 1–3 months.
This could include:
Freelancing or consulting in your current field
Gig work (delivery, tutoring, virtual assistant tasks)
Selling something you already own or create
Temporary or part-time roles in recession-resilient industries
The goal isn’t to replace your salary—it’s to buy yourself time.
Step 5: Anchor Your Mental Health
Job fear hits hard.
It messes with your sleep, your confidence, and your executive function.
Create a short list of grounding actions that help you feel in control, even when things are shaky.
Here are mine:
5-minute walks with my dog
A checklist of “small wins” to complete each day
Journaling what I can control (and letting the rest go)
What helps you feel grounded? Put it somewhere visible.
You're Not Powerless. You're Preparing.
You might not be able to control what happens at work—but you can control how ready you are. And that’s what this post is about.
You don’t need to panic. You just need a plan.
What’s Next in the Recession Survival Series?
Coming up next:
Stock Up Without Breaking the Bank: Smart Pantry Building on $10/Week
Grow Your Own Greens: Food Security on a Sunny Windowsill
Lower Your Bills Without Calling Customer Service
Make a Community Wealth Plan (Because We Get Through This Together)
What to Say When You Can’t Afford Something (Without Shame or Excuses)
How to Mentally Survive a Recession (Without Turning Off Your Humanity)
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Thank you to all my Pathfinder Advocates who financially support my work.
Each post in this series has a bonus pack just for you.
The bonus pack for this post includes:
Resume Revamp Checklist – My step-by-step guide to quickly polish and personalize your resume
Recession-Proof Side Hustles Guide – A list of flexible, low-barrier options you can start building before you need them