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Employers looking to cut costs often begin by offering buyouts to staff, particularly long-tenured employees who earn the highest salaries. For example, to shrink the size the federal

government, the Trump administration this year has offered buyout packages to workers, starting with the “fork-in-the-road” offer emailed to nearly all executive branch employees earlier

this year and continuing offers of $25,000 buyouts this week to Department of Health and Human service employees. Private businesses such as Google, Nissan and The Los Angeles Times are

among companies currently restructuring their workforce through similar packages. While it’s natural to feel mixed emotions about a buyout offer, some older workers can use the severance and

other benefits associated with a voluntary departure as a runway to future endeavors.  Career coaches say that, at the very least, considering a buyout should be seen as a moment of

introspection. “The first mindset you have to have when you face something like this is that it's not about retirement, it's about reinvention,” says Thom Singer, a career coach

and motivational speaker. Singer, 58, experienced a late-in-life transition without the benefit of a soft landing. His speaking business suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, an era in

which even global companies like Delta, AT&T, and IBM used voluntary resignation offers instead of layoffs to cut jobs. He now runs a small nonprofit organization, does some career

coaching and is building back his speaking opportunities as a side project. The financial flexibility a buyout can provide can be an opportunity to pursue new professional gigs, a blessing

in disguise for longtime workers who are hesitant to try something new.  “Sometimes, you need that kick in the tush,” says Keri-Lynne Shaw, founder and CEO of The Salary Bump. As a certified

Professional Coach with over 15 years of experience in human resources, Shaw aims to empower individuals at career crossroads. First and foremost, remember the decision on whether to accept

a buyout is up to you. If you have concerns about whether the buyouts are a prelude to layoffs — as was the case with the federal "fork in the road" offer — speak with your

supervisor or your human resources department about your company's financial stability and prospects for your role there. Here are some points older workers should consider as employers

offer buyouts. 1. BE PROACTIVE AND ASK FOR A BUYOUT Shaw advises workers who might be seeking a change already – or sense one is coming due to a merger, new leadership or general unease in

the industry – to ask about a buyout before the employer even offers one. They may be rewarded with a better package for making the process easier for the employer than it otherwise might

have been.