October Job Cuts Hit 22-Year High: How to Prepare
A sudden rise in layoffs means you cannot afford to wait until a reorganisation touches your team to review your career footing. With October job cuts hitting their highest level for the month in 22 years, taking practical steps right now keeps you ahead of sudden market shifts.
How do you audit your resume before you need it?
Most professionals leave their resume untouched until they are forced to apply for work under stress. Instead of scrambling, pull up your document today and convert passive job descriptions into concrete evidence of impact.
- Lead with the result, not the task: Replace generic statements with the outcome of your work. For example, 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."
- Run targeted updates: If you struggle to translate daily responsibilities into punchy accomplishments, you can use Destava's /rewrite-bullet skill in chat to convert raw notes on your projects into clean, clear 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 document using a resume builder, you will have exact facts ready instead of relying on memory.
How do you 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, send a quick message: "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. Tools like Destava's Comment Assist can draft context-aware responses so you participate in conversations in your field without losing hours scrolling.
- 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?"
What practical steps 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. Having 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.