Just Laid Off From a Tech Company?
Read This Before You Sign Anything.
Don't sign your severance agreement yet. The most expensive mistakes happen in the first few days — quietly, and permanently.
What to do immediately after a layoff before signing your severance agreement.
You're Being Asked to Sign a Legal Document While in Shock
Here's what most tech professionals don't realize when HR hands them a severance agreement:
Severance amounts vary — "standard" packages get adjusted more than you think
Timing matters — a 2-week shift in your termination date could capture equity worth $20K-$100K
COBRA isn't automatic — but companies often subsidize it if you ask
How your exit is coded affects every future background check
The first "no" from HR isn't always the final answer
Most people sign within a few days — before they fully understand what they're giving up.
The $100K Mistakes People Make in Week One
EQUITY TIMING
Missing a vest date by 10 days
Cost: $20K-$100K+
OPTION DECISIONS
Letting vested options expire
Cost: $50K-$500K+
TERMS & TIMING
Not asking for what's adjustable
Cost: $10K-$50K
These aren't worst-case scenarios. These are patterns that happen every week in tech layoffs.
Introducing: Before You Sign
The 7-Day Severance & Equity Playbook for Tech Professionals
This isn't a general career book. It's a crisis prevention guide.Everything you need to make informed decisions in your first week — before you sign anything, before options close, and before your exit gets locked into HR systems.No theory. No fluff. Just the decisions that matter and the exact language to use.
What You'll Get
✓ 72-Hour Action Checklist
What to do (and not do) immediately after a layoff.
Emergency actions, information gathering, and decision frameworks.✓ Severance Agreement Decoder
Clause-by-clause breakdown with 🟢 green / 🟡 yellow / 🔴 red flags.
Know what's standard, what's negotiable, and what's a trap.✓ Equity Decision Frameworks
RSUs vs options, the 90-day trap, when termination dates matter, and how to calculate what you're actually leaving on the table.
✓ 10+ Copy-Paste Email Templates
HR-ready language for equity timing questions, severance asks, COBRA requests, and reference protection. Just fill in the blanks.✓ Narrative Protection Strategies
How to lock down how your exit is coded and referenced before it's set in stone. This affects every future background check.✓ LinkedIn Timing & Framing Guide
When to post, what to say, and what NOT to say. Avoid the mistakes that follow you for years.
This Playbook Is For You If:
You need this if:☐ You were laid off in the last 1-2 weeks
☐ You have a severance agreement to review
☐ You have equity, options, or bonuses at stake
☐ Your severance seems below standard for your level
☐ You want to make informed decisions before signing
This isn't for you if:☐ You've already signed (can't help retroactively)
☐ You're still employed (save this for when needed)
☐ You want general career advice
Based on Real Tech Layoffs
This guide distills patterns observed across dozens of tech layoffs — what actually changes outcomes, and what quietly costs people money later.Not theory. Not coaching frameworks. Real severance agreements and real layoff scenarios.
About
Elizabeth Arias is a senior B2B healthcare marketing leader with 15+ years of experience leading go-to-market strategy for enterprise and regulated markets.Her background spans product marketing, demand generation, sales enablement, and GTM transformation, working closely with executive, product, and revenue leadership teams.This guide distills patterns observed across dozens of tech layoffs — the mistakes people make, the leverage they miss, and the decisions they later regret.
You're Protected
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
If this playbook doesn't help you make better decisions about your severance, equity, or negotiation strategy, email within 30 days for a full refund. No questions asked.You risk nothing. The downside of not knowing this information can be substantial.
Time Is Your Enemy Right Now
Here's what happens in the first week after a layoff:
Hour 0-24: Access to equity portals disappears
Day 1-3: Separation agreement review window (often 7-21 days)
Day 3-7: Window for adjustments (after this, HR assumes you've accepted)
Day 7-14: Exit coding gets locked into HR systems
Week 2-4: Manager moves on, references get harder to secure
Every day you wait, options quietly close.The decisions you make this week affect your finances for years.
Common Questions
Q: I was laid off 3 weeks ago. Is this still useful?
A: If you haven't signed yet, yes. If you've already signed, unfortunately no — this guide helps you make better decisions before signing, not after.Q: I don't have any equity. Do I still need this?
A: The equity chapters won't apply, but the severance negotiation, narrative protection, and reference strategies will.Q: Can't I just Google this information?
A: You could spend 20 hours piecing together conflicting advice from Reddit, Blind, and legal blogs. Or you can get the complete system in one place, drawn from real severance agreements and layoff scenarios, with exact templates and decision frameworks. Your call.Q: Is this just for senior people?
A: No. The frameworks work for ICs and managers at any level. The dollar amounts scale (an IC might negotiate $5K-$20K, a director might negotiate $50K-$100K), but the principles are the same.Q: What if my company is different?
A: Severance practices vary by company and state, but the patterns are remarkably consistent across tech. The playbook teaches you how to assess your specific situation and what questions to ask.Q: Do I need a lawyer?
A: Not for straightforward severance review and negotiation. The playbook tells you when you DO need a lawyer (age 40+ discrimination concerns, retaliation risks, aggressive non-competes). For most people, this guide is sufficient.Q: How long does it take to read?
A: The 72-hour checklist takes 15 minutes to scan. Reading the full playbook takes 1-2 hours. The decisions you make could affect your finances by $50K-$100K+.
What If You Knew What To Check First?
Get the complete 7-day playbook. Make informed decisions. Know what's adjustable and what's not. Protect your financial future.
Before You Sign
The 7-Day Severance & Equity Playbook
$79 $29
(Launch price while the guide is new)
Includes:
✓ 72-Hour Action Checklist
✓ Severance Agreement Decoder
✓ 10+ Email Templates
✓ Equity Decision Frameworks
✓ Decision Matrix
✓ Narrative Protection GuidePlus: Free 24-Hour Emergency Checklist (PDF)
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Instant download. PDF format. Works on any device.
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The critical steps to take in the first 24 hours after a layoff — before signing anything.