And while there are aspects of teaching that I would definitely love (one of my favorite parts of my job is teaching others how to do new things and seeing the lightbulb turn on), the other parts I knew I wasn’t suited for. Let’s just say patience is not my forte. And kids need lots of patience. But maybe you have always considered a career in the classroom. Or you are looking at what work you can find in the meantime while you assess your other career options.

But for whatever reason, something such as a pro/con list or to-do list just feels amazing to write. Why can't I get that same satisfaction through journaling like so many others?

If you are a new grad trying to break into your first role, or someone who has lost their job because a company tried to have AI replace your work, it might feel particularly dire right now. You may be wondering if you need to make an entire career pivot, or if the degree you just got was worth the cost.

Getting laid off is hard enough. Getting laid off because someone in a different country, or a robot, took your job hits harder. It would be different if they didn't need the work at all, but apparently they do; they just don't value you enough to do it. Message received. That turmoil can cause you to reassess what you are even doing with your life now that your chosen career path could be at risk from outsourcing or automation.

There are two types of people with student loans: people who just graduated and do not know what is in store for them, and those who have gone into the real world and now understand the weight of what student loans can do to a person. Hopefully neither is you, and you have just stumbled onto this article by accident. But chances are, you came across this in a furious Google search with terms like “student loans laid off” and are not sure what you are supposed to do now.

Not to mention, I had worked my way up and spent the last 10 years learning the ins and outs of everything we did. I couldn't seriously be thinking of throwing all of that effort away to start somewhere new, could I? In the end, I did make the leap. And now, looking back, it was the best decision I have made for my career, as I went to a company with a positive growth outlook that is actually serious about investing in an employee's career growth.

Did you notice this guide says prepare, not what to do? That word choice is deliberate, and it is the whole point. When you still have a paycheck, you hold the one advantage nobody scrambling after a layoff has, which is time. You can study the market calmly, see where your skills actually fit, and close your gaps before you ever need to send a single application.