How I Landed a Six-Figure Job in Six Weeks After a Layoff

If you are looking for a new job, you're probably asking two things: what do I apply for, and how do I stay sane while I do it?

I had to answer both after my own layoff. Here's what happened, and how it became The Reset Framework.

The layoff I saw coming

I had been at my company for over three years. I loved it. I was comfortable in my role. But I could see change coming, so I started asking myself a question before anyone asked it for me: if I get laid off, what do I want next?

Then the layoffs started and I was not immune.

What I did differently

I noticed pretty quickly that I was handling it differently from my peers. I was open about being laid off, I knew it wasn't my performance, it was the direction the company was going, at least telling myself that is helped me sleep at night.

The other thing that helped was keeping a schedule.

I treated my layoff like a job. I kept my schedule as though I was still working. My kid went to daycare (fortunately I had a severance package) and I used my waking hours to network, apply for jobs, go to conferences, work out, and have a cocktail by a pool.

Eight hours a day

I applied for jobs all day, I’m talking eight hours a day. I tracked every application, every person I talked to, and what I said in each one. That record mattered later, because when the interviews came, I could remember who I was talking to and what I had said. I was consistent.

Being laid off also meant my calendar was open. Companies want to see how you handle stress, if an interview runs long, traffic, a last-minute reschedule. I had room for all of it, so I could stay clear-headed and look calm under pressure.

Negotiate early

When the offers came, this was my favorite part. Everything is on the table: money, flexibility, sign-on bonuses, work-life balance. Say it upfront, so when you start everyone is aligned and there are no surprises.

After I accepted, I took two weeks off. I relaxed, refreshed my wardrobe, and started the new job excited. From the start of my search to a six-figure job: six weeks.

The Reset Framework

The Reset Framework is a three-step job search process: Recovery (decide which roles to target), Reflection (turn your experience into a resume that stands out), and Redesign (build a system to apply, interview, and answer recruiters consistently).

Recovery. What did you do at your last job that you enjoyed and want to do again? Which skills do you want to lean on? That tells you what to apply for.

Reflection. Take those skills and put them into a resume you refine for each job. Get specific about how you describe your experience, so you stand out from the AI slop.

Redesign. Keep your list of jobs, what you said, and who you talked to somewhere you can reach it. That way you can take a recruiter's call from anywhere and answer the same way every time, instead of playing phone tag and falling down the list of candidates.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do first when I start a job search? Get clear on which skills you enjoyed at your last job and want to use next, then target roles around them.

How do I stay organized while applying for jobs? Track every application, who you talked to, and what you said, so you answer recruiters consistently.

How do I stay sane during a job search? Treat it like a job: set a schedule, apply in focused blocks, and leave time open for last-minute interview changes.

Can I negotiate during interviews? Yes. Money, flexibility, sign-on bonuses, and work-life balance can all be raised upfront.

Want to work through it together?

On Monday, October 5, 8 to 9 PM CT, I'm running a virtual workshop that walks you through all three steps. You'll leave with your target roles, a resume that stands out, and a plan for recruiter conversations. You can stay anonymous. Registration closes Monday, September 28: Register here!