On Friday afternoon, I texted an individual I coach.
"I see there were layoffs at your company. Are you safe?"
As I waited, I certainly hoped it was the case and that they were safe, but then again, it's a wild fucking world these days in corporate life, and I don't know if anyone is ever safe, ever.
"I'm good; some people on my team were affected, unfortunately, but yeah, I'm safe for now."
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I replied, "It's time to get you out."
For many people, they know the clock is ticking, and it becomes a race against time to see if you can resign and find a new job first before the layoffs ultimately get you.
The challenge for you is to make the decision before someone else makes the decision for you.
Waiting for the company to make the next move might feel like the safer option, but it gives the company complete control over what happens to you. They choose the date, the severance package, the message, and the moment your income stops. You are left reacting to a decision made by people who may barely know your name.
There are usually warning signs long before the calendar invite appears. Budgets tighten. Open positions quietly disappear. Leaders start using words like efficiency, prioritization, and restructuring. Projects get delayed. People leave and are not replaced. You can convince yourself that none of it applies to you, but pretending the smoke is not there will not prevent the fire from reaching your desk.
There is a major difference between searching for a job because you want to leave and searching because you have to leave.
This does not mean you should quit tomorrow without a plan. It means you should stop behaving like someone who has unlimited time. Update your resume. Start having conversations. Reconnect with people who know the quality of your work. Understand what the market values and where you might fit into it. Build options while you still have a paycheck, a title, and the ability to make decisions without panic sitting next to you.
There is a major difference between searching for a job because you want to leave and searching because you have to leave. When you want to leave, you can be selective. You can ask better questions, negotiate harder, and walk away from something that does not feel right. When you have to leave, every week without an offer makes the next opportunity look a little better than it actually is.
Proactive career decisions do not mean you have to make massive changes tomorrow; it means you need to get started in general. Sometimes the most proactive thing you can do is schedule one conversation this week. Apply for one role. Call one former colleague. Ask one person what they are seeing in the market. Small actions begin shifting control back in your direction before the company even realizes you are considering an exit.
You also have to stop confusing loyalty with surrender. You can appreciate the company, respect your manager, care about your team, and still recognize that the environment has changed. The company will make whatever decision it believes protects the business. You are allowed to make whatever decision protects your career and your family.
You may remain employed forever; you may have a calendar invite this week. The point is not to predict the exact date something bad might happen. The point is to create enough options that the date no longer has complete authority over what happens next.
You will not control every decision made about your career, but you can control whether you saw the decision coming and did something about it. Make the call. Start the search. Build the relationship. Give yourself somewhere to go before someone tells you that you can no longer stay. Your career will always contain uncertainty, but the next move should belong to you whenever possible.