How to handle a layoff gap, according to a career coach

By: Janice Mejías Avilés, Edited by: Marie Custodio Collazo

Published: June 11, 2025

In a May 2025 edX report, 52% of surveyed workers said they needed to start reskilling within the next six months just to keep their current jobs. For tech professionals, the pressure is even greater: 74% said they must upskill to stay employed.

Sometimes, knowing you should do something doesn't make it easier to start, especially if money, time, or confidence are barriers.

Holly Lee, a career coach and former global recruiting leader at Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, says today's hiring managers understand that layoffs happen. What matters now is how you use that time.

"Layoffs shock people's self-esteem. But you've got to be innovative and open-minded. Because when the market picks up and someone wants to hire you, they'll ask: 'What did you do during that time?' You can't say, 'I've been applying for thousands of jobs.' You need to show how you've stayed active."

— Holly Lee, career coach

Lee encourages laid-off workers to look at how their skills might transfer into new opportunities. "If people are laid off this year, I would look for alternatives to see what else they can do to integrate their skills into different things. I think this is a time for them to try something different."

5 steps to turn a layoff gap into a career move

Learn how to realistically fill a layoff gap and what hiring managers are looking for.

1. Start where you are.

If you're not sure what to do next, start with what's available to you: your time, your wifi connection, and your curiosity. "You don't have to figure everything out right now," says Lee. "Just focus on getting your foot in the door. Even if it is an entry-level position as a data analyst."

Look beyond your usual industry. Your skills might transfer to sectors you haven't considered.

2. Pick a skill that pays.

Instead of fixating on a job title, Lee suggests mastering one versatile, in-demand skill. According to edX's May 2025 survey, these top 10 stand out:

• Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and AI prompting
• Data analysis
• Executive leadership
• Software development and programming
• Project management
• Business intelligence tools and technology
• Cybersecurity
• Digital marketing
• Supply chain management
• Cloud computing

If you're not sure what's right for you, look at job postings that seek candidates with backgrounds similar to yours. Compare job listings and find common educational and skills requirements. Work backward from there.

3. Learn without spending a fortune.

In the edX survey, 46% of workers said they plan to spend more on training this year. Over half expect to invest $1,000 or more in upskilling or reskilling.

However, learning high-value skills doesn't always require a hefty investment. Lee suggests pursuing certifications to enhance your professional profile.

"I have advised every single one of my non-tech clients to get the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification," says Lee.

Other certificates and certifications you may consider include:

• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Data analytics
• Data structures
• C programming

edX offers an accessible starting point with flexible, affordable options like Executive Education, professional certificates, and short online courses from institutions like Harvard, MIT, Yale, Oxford, and the London School of Economics. Many are free to audit, with optional certificates starting at $50.

4. Build something while you learn.

Progress is proof. Don't wait until you "feel ready." Start building a portfolio site, a side project on GitHub, or a case study on something you've learned. It shows initiative, curiosity, and follow-through.

If you can't get paid work yet, Lee suggests volunteering your skills at a local organization.

Offer to redesign a website, build a dashboard, or run UX tests for a nonprofit or community site. Share your progress on LinkedIn or a blog. It doesn't have to be perfect. Use what you're learning in a course or program to develop a tangible project.

5. Own your story.

Eventually, someone will ask: "What have you been doing since your last role?"

Here's one way to frame it:

"After being laid off, I took time to upskill with an edX professional certificate in [topic] from [university]. I built [a project], collaborated on [a volunteer role], and I'm now ready to apply those skills in a full-time position."

This allows you to own the narrative.