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Things to do and not to do during a wave of tech layoffs

Christian Heilmann on January 24, 2023

Currently we are in a huge round of tech layoffs that are reminiscent of the first .com crash in the beginning of the century. Meta, Amazon, Micr...
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leob profile image
leob • Edited

Nuggets of wisdom!

Big (and painful) truth:

"They are a knee-jerk reaction to a perceived recession and a band-aid to make stocks go up again"

Yes ...

On the other hand, the urge to hire thousands of people in the first place might also have been a knee-jerk reaction (because "we need to grow"). People (managers, yes, they're people) aren't always rational in their decisions, emotion plays a bigger part than we may like to admit.

Thanks and take care!

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Ingo Steinke, web developer

Thanks for the post and good luck!

I remember two waves of layoffs at two different companies during the last decade. In both cases, the layoff wave was accompanied by one or more waves of quitting. While for some employees, the difference was rather a matter of time or a better indemnity, in some cases it did feel personal. Once you get the feeling that most of your favorite coworkers either got laid off or quit, it can suddenly seem the right time to prepare to quit as well.

I have been quite happy becoming a freelancer two years ago, but maybe I was just lucky. In another situation I would have preferred a safe 9-to-5-job.

Thanks for your notable advice and for your offer to others. I'm sure you will get a good position! Maybe Apple might be interested in your experience in launching and promoting a proper browser ;-)

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Brian Kirkpatrick

This shit's crazy. I haven't been impacted (on the outside looking in as I mostly do gov contracting) but it's hard to see how this isn't naked collusion. I can only hope that, out of the massive number of startups that will come out of this, some will survive to overthrow their former employers (Meta, I'm looking at you).

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leob

It sucks, and it's called "raw capitalism" ... this snippet from the article says it all:

"They are a knee-jerk reaction to a perceived recession and a band-aid to make stocks go up again"

Sacrificial lamb for the sacrosanct shareholders :)

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Jeremy Granger

This is good word @codepo8, thanks for posting this. I haven't personally experienced a lay-off yet, but I know if I stick around long enough, it will come. There are some great reminders here to be gracious and humble in all circumstances. Thanks!

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Fyodor

Thanks Christian, very sane opinion and advices 👍 good luck on your way ❤️

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Antonello Lobianco

Ugh, this post make me feel lucky to work as "functionaire" in the French public administration.. sure salary is not top, but well enough for a good life and job is really until retirement...

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Ben Halpern

Good luck Christian!

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Jonas Brømsø

Good post @codepo8

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Rogerio Taques

I'm sorry to hear you're included in that list, Christian.
Good luck with your next step. 🙏

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Gamerseo

You always need a financial cushion.

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Roee Fl

Great post. Thank you.