Layoffs are horrible. It’s awful when you are told one day that it’s your last on the job. It’s hard when you find out your department entire company is closing within a few weeks. And it sucks to be one of the remaining staff who has to deal with increased workloads while mourning the loss of your coworkers. Unfortunately, I’ve been in each of these situations. I can tell you as a person who lived through the financial stress of losing my job, and as a person who found new employment and career success after a layoff -- it ain’t easy.