India, Feb. 20 -- In 2026, layoffs no longer make the news. Every week, there's a corporate restructuring, an AI-led transformation, another round of polite emails that begin with "After careful consideration." Chin up. Getting laid off isn't a dirty secret anymore. It's a career subplot.

We spoke to two women who've sat in that HR call, and came out stronger: Amulya Veldanda Vadali, 29, a New Jersey-based biomedical engineer and author of The Art of Being Let Go; and Priyanka Mahankali, 34, career advisor and host of The Early Career Podcast. They tell us how to stay calm, regain your footing and carry on.

First, pause. Your instinct is to fix it immediately. Update CV. Rewrite LinkedIn headline. Apply to 47 jobs before dinner. But you...