I just learned that I'm getting laid off, but there's no set end date yet. My division is shutting down, and while our business is being acquired by a competitor, they aren't automatically taking us along. We were told to stop all work immediately, which feels surreal since we're still technically employed. The acquiring company has shown some interest in hiring some of us, but there’s no clarity on how many positions they will offer or when that might happen. Right now, I’m in a tough spot. I could stay put and hope for an offer from the acquiring company, which I would prefer since I like my current job and have heard good things about the new company. However, there's a real chance that I could be waiting indefinitely without any guarantee of an offer. Alternatively, I could look for other roles within my current company, but there aren’t many appealing options available, and I’d risk disqualifying myself from a potential offer from the acquirer. The last option is to apply for jobs externally, but I worry about losing my current benefits and salary, which I believe is above market rate. I’m feeling a lot of pressure to make a decision, and I’m not sure what the best course of action is. Should I start applying for new jobs now, or hold out for the potential offer from the acquiring company?