Don’t Wait for the Email: A Practical Readiness Plan for 45+ Professionals

By Melanie White — The People’s People Coach™

Hard truth: organizations are reshuffling faster than ever, and “good work” alone won’t protect you. If you’re 45+, you’ve built a career worth defending—so let’s defend it before a reorg, acquisition, or algorithm forces your hand.

As a career coach, I help mid-career professionals prepare for the unimaginable: layoffs, restructuring, or leadership shifts that leave you exposed. The key is preparation—not panic. These six steps will keep you ready while you’re still working, so if change comes, you’ll already be positioned for your next move.

Continue reading for 6 career coaching tips.

1) Lock down your receipts (today)

If you lost access to your systems tomorrow, what proof of value would you have?

• Print and save your official job description and the latest version of your goals/KPIs.

• Start a private “Brag Bank” (Google Doc or Notes): log wins weekly with numbers, scope, partners, and outcomes.

• Keep a personal folder with performance reviews, accolades, project summaries, dashboards, and before/after snapshots.

• Capture exact names of systems, tools, and data sources you use—those keywords matter later.

  
  

Pro tip: add a 15-minute Friday calendar block called “Evidence.” If you did it, document it.

2) Update your résumé in real time (not in crisis)

Don’t try to reconstruct a decade of impact after a surprise meeting.

• Create a master résumé (everything) and a 2-page market résumé (focused).

• Add 5–7 critical responsibilities you perform today + 3–5 measurable wins from the last 12–18 months.

• Mirror the exact language from your job description and the tools you use (ATS-friendly keywords).

• Align your LinkedIn headline and About with where you’re going, not just where you’ve been.

  
  

This is where career coaching pays off—you need an external eye to help you pull out the gold you might overlook.

3) Warm your network—quietly and consistently

Networking isn’t job searching; it’s reputation maintenance.

• Follow the 10-10-10 rule each week: 10 thoughtful reactions, 10 meaningful comments, 10 quick check-ins.

• Post once a week: share an article, a short lesson learned, or a quick “how I solved X” tip.

• Comment in your current industry and in industries you’d love to explore.

• Reconnect with five former colleagues or leaders this month; offer help before you ask for it.

  
  

Algorithms reward steady engagement. People do, too.

4) Map your “what’s next” options—before you need them

Clarity beats panic.

• Brain-dump roles you could do now, roles you could stretch into, and roles you’d love to try.

• List 25–50 target organizations (current industry + two adjacent ones).

• Book two informational chats per month: “I’m not looking—just learning.”

• Track everything in a simple sheet: company, contact, last touch, next step.

5) Make AI your intern, not your threat

Yes, AI can be scary. It can also be your speed and quality advantage—right now.

• Pick one micro-project this week:

  • Draft or refine desktop procedures/SOPs.

  • Summarize meeting notes; draft follow-up emails.

  • Convert messy process steps into a checklist or training outline.

• Always review AI outputs for accuracy.

• Add results to your brag bank: “Streamlined SOPs using AI → 30% time saved on onboarding.”

6) Build your “if the unimaginable happens” kit

Preparation reduces shock—and shortens your bounce-back time.

• Contacts: personal emails/phones for 10–15 key people.

• Access: personal email, updated LinkedIn, personal drive with your résumé variants.

• Financial snapshot: pay stubs, benefits info, 401(k) details, HSA/FSA balances, COBRA notes.

• 72-hour plan: who you’ll notify, what you’ll post, and 3–5 networking actions.

  
  

Bonus financial tip: If you’re laid off or fired, update your federal tax withholding to EXEMPT (check with your employer and consult your accountant). Your taxes will likely be lower without earned income, and redirecting that money into a high-interest savings account lets you fund your own tax bill—and possibly earn extra in the meantime.

Early signals it’s time to tighten your plan

Budget freezes, stacked approvals, hiring pauses, leadership exits, or “strategic realignment” talk. If you’re hearing it, act now—quietly.

From The People’s People Coach™

My career coaching practice centers people—your dignity, your skills, your story—inside systems that don’t always do that. Preparation is not paranoia; it’s self-leadership. Start with one 15-minute action today and you’ll feel the ground steady under your feet.

Want help doing this fast—and right?

I guide professionals through a six-week, results-driven career coaching process to clarify your direction, package your value, and activate a warm network before you need it.

Learn more or grab a spot in the next cohort: sisyphushr.com/coaching-program

Copy-paste checklist (pin this)

• Print/save job description + KPIs

  
  
  
  

• Start a weekly Brag Bank

  
  
  
  

• Update master & market résumés

  
  
  
  

• 10-10-10 LinkedIn rhythm each week

  
  
  
  

• Two informational chats this month

  
  
  
  

• One AI micro-project this week

  
  
  
  

• Build the 72-hour plan and contacts list

  
  
  
  

• Consult accountant about tax withholding if laid off