What's your best advice for handling the uncertainty of a potential layoff?

start hunting girl. And I’m sorry

stay optimistic. I sort of had a similar situation and everything turned out fine for me. Somethings happen for a reason

Yiiish…I hate the waiting! I know it stinks but do try your best to stay in the ‘present’. You still have a job to do and having been on both sides of the fence during layoffs, your performance now is under more scrutiny than you can imagine.

However, when you get home after work, polish up that resume and get it out there. Don’t be caught at the 11th hour hoping they pick you to stay.
And if they do lay you off, take anything that is not nailed down.

tea and biscuts, and a good book :) don’t be too worried, everything will be fine Marina

hard liquor

Plan on it happening and do everything you can to ensure a smooth transition now. Who knows, even if it doesn’t happen, you may find something better in the meantime!

And hang in there, I’ve been there many times. It’s no fun.

Plan for the worst, hope for the best. Look in to your options, know where you stand if it happens and where you would go from there and how.
Even if it all works out ok, at least you’ll have the added knowledge of alternatives and options out there for you :)

Start looking for a new job. Even if you don’t get laid off, the fact that it’s a possibility probably doesn’t bode that well for the company at large.

jballou is right. If, as you suspect, your position with your current company is that tenuous it may be time to go anyway. Do you really want to stay if you’re not valued? Circulate the resume and get on the phone, just don’t get caught flat footed if they want you gone. Good luck.

Thanks, all. It is weirdly comforting (because I would not wish ill on anyone else) to hear how many have been through it.

Job hunting. Check. (Sadly, the layoffs are sort of industry wide so there is not much out there to find.) Plan for the worst, hope for the best. Check. Try to stay positive. Check. (Although I am on and off with being successful at that.) Believe it could turn out fine. Check. (In fact, I am having to deal with the fact that my “If it happens . . .” plan is sort of appealing, and I may be disappointed if it doesn’t!)

Thanks for the support. This is a great collective.

dont worry about it—if and when the day comes, embrace it as a “beginning” and not the end. yeah, you’ll be out of a job and yes it is uncomfortable, but the off time propels your resourcefulness into high gear and you swim upstream with a a little more stamina than the others.

in other words: great time to start your own enterprise. all you have to have is vision, determination and a “witty invention.” what makes sense to you, but sounds crazy to others is the answer. in the 1970s, a chicago cop bought a multi-dwelling across from wrigley field for $30,000. his partners thought he was insane. wrigley field neighborhood during the ‘70s was just a hangout for illicit deals and other houliganish acts. but apparently he had a vision and now the property is worth millions. next time you watch a cubs game in chicago, check out the very un-cheap seats atop that $30,000 investment.

Just remember Marina, when one door closes another one opens. Think positive but prepare for the worst case scenario (at least in your mind) and remember that you are (obviously) a very intelligent woman and good things are bound to head your way no matter the outcome. We are thinking of you…

my nerves are wracking as well? I think you should do what you would do in a relationship with an eminent unkown end. Whatever that may be.

How’s this for strange? At the exact moment I read your question, I was eating a fortune cookie. The fortune was: “When one door shuts, another opens”. I bequeath it to you.

The very best time to look for a job is when you are employed. Start now.

The worst part is the financial part because changing jobs is a part of life. Know what it costs you to meet your monthly nut and then stash enough away for 3 months in a separate account that you never touch. Then if a layoff comes you will have the time to find a job you like instead of taking the 1st thing that comes along and if the layoff is just temp you won’t be stressed about bills

Pray hard, reach out to your network of friends and jump ship if it starts taking in water.