October Job Cuts Hit 22-Year High: How to Prepare Now

October job cuts hit their highest level for the month in 22 years, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas data reported by CNBC. You cannot afford to wait until a reorganisation touches your team to review your career footing. Taking practical steps right now keeps you ahead of sudden market shifts.

Audit your resume before you need it

Most professionals leave their resume untouched until they are forced to apply for work under stress. Pull up your document today and convert passive job descriptions into concrete evidence of impact.

Lead with the result, not the task. Instead of writing "Responsible for weekly client reporting and analytics reviews," rewrite the bullet to read: "Standardised weekly client reporting across eight key accounts, reducing data discrepancies and cutting delivery time by two full business days." If you struggle to translate daily responsibilities into punchy accomplishments, use a tool like Destava's AI career manager to convert raw notes on your projects into clean statements.

Keep a running work log. Open a plain document and jot down one project win, client compliment, or process improvement at the end of every week. When you need to update your resume, you will have exact facts ready instead of relying on memory.

Keep your network warm without sounding desperate

Reaching out to contacts only when you are unemployed feels transactional. Build natural goodwill today by engaging with former colleagues and peers while your situation is stable.

Send low-friction check-ins. Reach out to former teammates with specific observations rather than broad requests for calls. For example: "Saw that your team rolled out the new customer onboarding portal last week. Great execution on the user interface—hope you and the team are doing well."

Stay visible on LinkedIn. Consistent public presence ensures recruiters and hiring managers think of you before a role goes live. You do not need to write long essays; leaving two thoughtful comments on industry posts each day creates sustained presence.

Ask for informational catch-ups. If you want to learn about health in another department or company, invite a peer for a focused conversation. Ask concrete questions such as: "What are the top two operational priorities your division is focusing on heading into next quarter?"

Practical steps to protect you from industry volatility

Preparing for job market shifts requires both career agility and financial discipline. Small, consistent adjustments reduce the pressure if sudden changes occur.

• Map your adjacent roles. Look at job postings in related fields to identify overlap with your current strengths. If you work in account management, notice where customer success or operations require identical problem-solving skills so your options remain broad.
• Review your monthly burn rate. Audit non-essential subscriptions and commit fixed sums into a dedicated reserve fund. A clean baseline gives you the runway to negotiate firmly rather than accepting the first offer that appears.
• Keep application assets organised. Ensure your portfolio links, references, and core resumes are consolidated in one folder. Knowing your materials are aligned and current gives you confidence no matter how the broader market moves.

Start today by opening a plain document and writing down one accomplishment from this week. That single habit puts you ahead of most professionals when the next shift hits.