How to spot layoff signals early

It doesn’t matter if we work at Google, Amazon, or Meta.
It doesn’t matter if we’re a Director, an Engineer, or an Analyst.
The truth is, no job is fully safe.

We’re 11 months into 2025, and we’ve all seen the wave of layoffs across industries. But here’s something we’ve noticed: most layoffs don’t happen overnight. The signs are there quiet, subtle, and easy to ignore.

Take Nori’s story for example. She was a senior analyst at a top tech firm when 80% of her team was laid off. But she made it through because she acted early.

She noticed that while her team’s projects were slowing down, another department was hiring fast.
She updated her resume, prepared for an internal pivot, and spoke to her manager:

“Where do you see the business heading?”
“Where can I add more value long-term?”
“Would it make sense for me to explore this internal role?”

Don’t wait for a “layoff email” to remind you to act.
If you sense shifts in your company, this is the moment to get proactive not reactive.

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Within weeks, Nori transitioned to a new team. Three weeks later, her old team was gone.

Layoffs aren’t random. They’re planned, budgeted, and approved weeks (sometimes months) in advance. But the warning signs are visible if we’re paying attention.

So let’s reflect:

• Is our team being deprioritized?
• Are new roles opening in other departments?
• Is leadership suddenly quieter?
• Are decisions skipping our team entirely?

These aren’t just signals. They’re early opportunities to act.

Talk to your manager. Stay curious about where the business is going. Keep your resume updated.
Have a Plan B, even if Plan A feels secure.

Just 1 month left for 2026, don’t carry uncertainty into the new year. Start preparing now.

The cost of waiting is always higher than the cost of being ready.