Please welcome Charlene Marsh to the Career Insight Studio blog. I’m so proud to call her a friend and deeply respect her as a talented marketer and leader. In this post, Charlene shares practical, compassionate ways to support friends and colleagues impacted by layoffs—what to say, what to do, and how to truly show up when it matters most.
I’ve been at Microsoft for 20 years. Let’s say a big reorg happens every 18–24 months – I’ve been through this at least 10 times. And I’ve had every single outcome: lost a job, better job, worse job, lost a team, gained a team.
It’s terrible – every time.
But I’ve had the privilege of working with the most amazing people over the years and have learned a few things from them about how to truly help people who are impacted:
Make Meaningful Connections
Direct intros and personal recommendations go further than “look at these roles.” They boost someone’s chances – and their mental state.
Offer Your Time
Make time to chat – to listen, to vent, to brainstorm. Just knowing someone cares enough to show up makes a huge difference.
Offer Your Strengths
Are you a resume wizard? A LinkedIn hype machine? A great mock interviewer? Whatever you can offer – it matters.
Be Honest
Don’t say “anything I can do to help” if you can’t follow through. It’s fine, you can’t help everyone, just don’t say that you will if you won’t/can’t.
Forget Awkwardness
It might feel uncomfortable, but a simple “thinking of you” goes a long way. Silence can feel worse than saying the wrong thing.
Boost Their Visibility
Repost their job updates, comment on their posts, tag them in relevant threads – it helps more than you think.
Mind Your Language
Avoid toxic positivity (“everything will be OK”) and focus on empathy (“this sucks, I’m here for you”).
Follow Up
Check in a week or two later. The first wave of support often fades, but the job search continues.
If you’ve been through this, what helped you most? Feel free to comment below. Additional resource links to check out: Laid Off Community and Happen to Your Career book on Amazon.
Thanks for reading and sharing with others who would benefit.
