After the Calendar Invite: Navigating Tech Layoffs with Resilience and Humanity
The notification arrives at 2:47 PM on a Friday. The calendar invite appears awkwardly formal in an otherwise casual culture. You already know what's coming. Maybe you've seen it happen to others.
The notification arrives at 2:47 PM on a Friday. The calendar invite appears awkwardly formal in an otherwise casual culture. You already know what's coming. Maybe you've seen it happen to others. This time, it's your turn.
Tech layoffs have become an unsettling rhythm in our industry. You can be a strong performer, a respected team player, or even someone recently promoted, and still find yourself out of work overnight. It's not logical, it's not fair, it just is. And that's what makes it all the more difficult to process.
This isn't just about jobs. It's about people. It's about those of us who have built careers in software crafting systems, mentoring others, and building high-performing teams, suddenly forced into uncertainty. And we're not just numbers on a spreadsheet. We're humans navigating a system that can feel mechanical and unpredictable.
Why Is This Happening?
It's tempting to take it personally. But the truth is, this wave of layoffs is rarely about individual performance. The reasons are structural, economic, and sometimes driven by internal corporate politics or shifts in leadership priorities.
During the pandemic, the tech industry surged. Companies hired aggressively to capture digital momentum. Engineers, designers, and PMs were all in high demand. Teams doubled and tripled. Startups expanded as if growth were infinite. But then, the economy shifted. Inflation climbed. Investors changed their tune. "Profitability" replaced "growth" as the buzzword in every boardroom. Suddenly, the very teams that had been praised for their output were seen as bloated.
Layoffs followed, many of them large-scale, and at times, seemingly random. One team spared, another gutted. It felt chaotic because, often, it was. Tech companies were optimizing their balance sheets, not their people strategy.
AI plays a bigger role than many want to admit. The promise of automation and efficiency has created another reason for companies consolidate roles. Leadership teams ask: "Do we need five back-end engineers when AI tools can help two accomplish the same work?" Whether this assessment is accurate or not, perception drives decisions. Companies are betting on AI's potential to reduce headcount, even if that potential isn't fully realized. The key isn't to panic about being replaced by AI, but to position yourself as someone who leverages these tools to become more valuable, not redundant.
So no, it's not just you. It's the system.
The Strange Freedom of Time
Before diving into practical advice, let's acknowledge something we don't talk about enough: after the chaos and stress of losing a job, something strange happens once the shock settles and the initial hustle calms down. You suddenly have time.
Time is a rare gift in tech. We're always on, solving, building, shipping, and unblocking. But when you're in between jobs, there's space. You might find yourself drinking coffee without checking Slack, walking without rushing, and breathing.
It might feel wrong to enjoy it. There's pressure to be productive, to "land fast," to prove you're still in the game. But don't let that pressure rob you of what might be the first real pause you've had in years. This isn't a sign of weakness or apathy; it's a vital period of decompression and recalibration.
Use this time intentionally. Travel, if you can afford it. Sleep in. Create something just for fun; maybe that side project you never had time for, or something completely outside tech: pottery, hiking, painting. Reconnect with friends, family, and yourself. Or just do nothing for a while and see what thoughts surface.
This isn't wasted time. It's fertile ground for self-reflection, understanding your true priorities, and discovering new directions for your career that you hadn't considered in the daily grind. Some of your most important personal growth may happen here. Not when climbing the ladder, but when you've stepped off momentarily.
It's okay to find joy in the stillness. It might be precisely what you need before you step into whatever comes next.
What You Can Do: Steady Yourself
Even if layoffs are systemic, their impact is deeply personal. The best time to prepare for a layoff is before it happens, but let's be honest, few of us truly do. And when it does hit, we're thrust into immediate motion: frantically polishing the CV, updating LinkedIn, reaching out to friends, scrambling for interviews, and trying to explain the unexpected gap.
If you're still employed and watching this from the sidelines, this is your moment to prepare:
Build financial resilience. Aim for an emergency fund covering 6-12 months of expenses. If that feels overwhelming, start with just 50€ monthly; consistency matters more than the amount. Even three months of runway can transform panic into strategic planning. Consider negotiating your severance package early; many companies will discuss terms before layoffs if approached thoughtfully.
Stay sharp and AI-ready. Engage in continuous learning, but be strategic about it. Focus on skills complementing AI rather than competing: system design, leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and domain expertise. Contribute to open-source projects, showcasing your ability to work with AI tools effectively. Take courses in prompt engineering or AI integration, and show you're someone who multiplies AI's capabilities rather than being replaced by them.
Keep your interview skills warm. Practice the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) monthly, not just when you need a job. Have 5-7 stories ready that demonstrate problem-solving, leadership, and impact. Schedule practice interviews with friends or use platforms. Interviewing isn't just a path to a new job; it's a mirror showing where you stand and what stories resonate.
Build genuine relationships. Send one meaningful message per week to someone in your professional network, not asking for anything, just checking in, sharing an interesting article, or congratulating them on a win. Comment thoughtfully on their LinkedIn posts. Grab coffee with former colleagues. Genuine relationships aren't built in desperation; they're built in the everyday moments when you show up without asking for anything in return.
Please keep in mind that most of this advice applies if you've already been laid off. The timeline is just compressed, and that's okay. You can focus on what you can control today.
If You're a Manager: Your Role Doesn't End with a Layoff
Leading through layoffs requires a different kind of courage. You may not be able to prevent the cuts, but you can significantly impact how people navigate what comes after.
Before layoffs happen, position your team strategically. Make their impact visible through concrete metrics and stories. Speak truth to leadership about individual contributors' value. This might involve presenting data on team impact, highlighting key projects, or advocating for specific individuals. It may not save everyone, but it might make someone think twice about who gets cut.
During the process, be as transparent as legally possible. People can handle brutal truths better than uncertainty and rumors. If you can't share details, at least acknowledge the difficulty of the situation.
After layoffs, your work intensifies. Write thoughtful, specific recommendations that go beyond generic praise. Tell future employers what it was like to work with someone, what their problem-solving style was, how they handled conflict, and the specific ways they contributed. Make strategic introductions. Share opportunities as they come across your radar, even if it's just a quick link with a note.
Don't forget the survivors, either. Layoffs create guilt, anxiety, and eroded trust among those who remain. Team dynamics change overnight. Acknowledging this reality directly, pretending everything is "back to normal" helps no one. Make space for people to process their emotions. Rebuild trust deliberately through increased transparency and consistent communication. This is the most challenging part of leadership, but it's essential.
Navigating the Financial Reality
Let's talk money, because layoffs hit your wallet as hard as your emotions. If you're facing a layoff, immediately assess your financial situation and make a plan:
Review your severance package carefully. Many people sign without negotiating, but you often have more leverage than you think, especially around healthcare continuation, equity vesting, or the timeline for benefits. If your company offers outplacement services, use them; they're often better than you'd expect.
Apply for unemployment benefits immediately, even if you think you won't need them. The process takes time, and you've paid into this system. There's no shame in using a safety net you've contributed to.
We Need Each Other
Connection is what makes the difference between surviving layoffs and thriving through them. We can't stop the waves from coming, but we can hold each other through them.
If someone you know has been laid off, reach out within the first week. Send a genuine message, not a generic "let me know if you need anything" but something specific: "I saw the news about your company. I'm sorry this happened to you. Would you like me to review your resume, or can I introduce you to anyone?" Share relevant job postings when you see them. Offer to be a reference. Sometimes, the smallest gesture makes the most significant difference.
If you've been laid off, resist the urge to isolate yourself. Talk to others who've been through it, you'll find solidarity and practical wisdom. Join communities, attend local tech meetups, or find online groups specific to your situation. You'll realize you're not alone and might even rediscover what matters most to you beyond the titles, team charts, and OKRs.
Consider starting a support group with other recently laid-off tech workers. Meet weekly for coffee or video calls. Share job leads, practice interviews together, and provide emotional support. These relationships often outlast the job search itself.
Final Thoughts: Your Next Chapter Starts Now
No one is immune. The software industry we once saw as endlessly growing is changing rapidly. But that change also allows us to reevaluate what we want from our careers and life.
Layoffs hurt, but they also reveal something important: our resilience, community, and ability to rebuild and often build something better.
You are not broken. You are not a failure. You are in a new chapter; every good story needs transition moments to set up what comes next.
Take your time where you can. Ask for help when you need it. Offer support when you're able. And most importantly, don't forget to live while you're in between jobs.
The tech industry will continue to evolve, but our humanity, our ability to support each other through uncertainty, remains constant. Let's ensure we don't lose that in the spreadsheets and reorganizations.
If you’re experiencing a layoff and need support, I’m offering a free 30-minute call to help you process and plan your next steps. Feel free to reach out anytime you are not alone!
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