Career change after a layoff, where to begin? - any advice?

My layoff made me rethink whether to stay in my field. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. I have a little time and a small budget for training. Did you take a pay cut?

You likely have more transferable skills than you think. Write down what you did, not what the job title said.

I began with informational chats, then a short online course, then a related entry-level role. It took about 11 months.