I got RAed on 02/2018, Band 8 senior software developer, 5 years in IBM (20 years total if you count the time I worked at the company IBM acquired). 54 years old. Sole income for the family, first time unemployment.
A couple of months before layoff notice, so we were already asked to look for internal/external jobs. I applied to some internal jobs, but never heard back from anybody.
2 weeks notice, 1 month severance package (total surprise for me), no health insurance extension (except COBRA, which would triple the cost you pay as employee, so I did not enroll at COBRA, thinking if disaster happen, I would retro enroll). This is the same for all dozens of people in my department that get layoff at that time.
Two months later, I got a job as a contractor in a big bank through a local recruiter, became permanent employee after working there for 3 months, compensation is better than what I got at IBM.
Here is what I learn from this experience, hopefully it can help others. Difference people would have difference experience.
Right Management: I went there 3 to 4 times, joined some group discussion and exercise (self-introduction, interview skills), I don't think it help too much. But the resume coach (through phone and email) did help me a lot in polish my resume.
Online recruiting sites: I searched and applied for difference jobs at Indeed and LinkedIn, most of time there was no any response.
Recruiters (head hunters): you would get a lot of contacts in LinkedIn (if you mark yourself as looking for job) from recruiters. Ignore those recruiters that are not local, they just want to submit your resume to difference companies and collect commission. A lot of time they all submit to the same position. I think some of jobs at the job site are also set up by those recruiters to get your information.
Work with local recruiters that have direct contract with companies. Talk to them face to face to come out with a strategy. My recruiter asked me to take two online access tests for my .Net and C# skills, I scored at 85 and 90 percentile, I think that help me get some interviews because companies want screening before they spend time for interview.
I also got some direct contacts at LinkedIn from HR of some big companies. If you are looking for developer job, Google, Amazon, Microsoft would have those online video interviews that require you to do some real time coding and answer questions about difference algorithms (sorting, find some special numbers), a good place to learn and practice is at hackerrank.com. Also, catch up with new technologies, like TDD (test driven development), SOLID principle from Uncle Bob, I was asked about those questions in my interviews and my work at IBM did not prepare me for that. I am not say those tests and questions are fair in evaluate a person’s ability, but unfortunately, you have to jump through them.
Networking through friends and colleagues: It did get me some interviews, so you should reach out.
Don’t get discouraged, I got rejected dozen of times. You would learn from each, find out what is wrong, work on that, and be better prepare for the next one. As one recruiter told me, you only have to win one.
Good luck to all.