Wassup people,
I’m coming live at you from being a year plus in and navigating what I’m sure you all have heard about - the tech layoffs. I remember a couple years ago hearing about the tech industry and this sort of untouchable nature around it. To the non-tech world, this field sounded like the nirvana. You would constantly hear about the benefits, the pay increase, and plenty of other perks. Then there was this idea that all you had to do was make it in the door and you would be on your way. I remember accepting those ideas as plain truth and it was never something I questioned. I just knew I needed to make the jump.
So fast forward to my finally being in the industry last year, it came as a surprise that the untouchable industry I had heard so much about was being played with. My first sighting of the layoffs came during Afrotech in 2022. One day we were all in Austin, TX shaking hands and smiling and the next day we started to hear about the layoffs. For example, recruiters that were working the events got emails that their employment was being terminated. The news from some of my friends followed up shortly after and suddenly Afrotech went from being like a reunion of black faces to a somber, determined career expo. The saddest of desperate LinkedIn posts followed for months after that. Finally while I had watched everything from a distance, March would bring about fear-inducing emails from my company right to my doorstep.
I’ll pause here to say architecture did a good job with educating me on how to spot a layoff season from a mile away. I was laid off from one of my first jobs right out of school and that was my introduction to the concept of being let go. The jobs that followed highlighted other indicators to pay attention to as well. So when things got a bit interesting at my current place of work I was not surprised because the uncertainty was there. My current company is also very transparent with the state of the company and that has been amazing, eye opening, and grounding. Back to the story.
So after the first set of layoffs everything has been redefined. I sort of woke up and saw I was vulnerable and what do you do with that right? It’s scary. What I’ve deduced is that you find yourself upskilling. You look for ways to grow. You take on tasks that stretch you and keep your current set of skills sharp. You update your resume and portfolio. You look for a side hustle to better insulate your income just in case. You savor coworker meetings because you just never know. The whole nine you just do. And that’s where I am.
I am extremely grateful because God has helped me hurdle each wave. I’ve also accepted that no matter what happens it will work out in the end because it just has to. So I want to end by encouraging myself and others to hang in there. Times are weird so wherever you find yourself press forward. To my folks attempting to break into the industry I’m also sending you lots of love too. Hang in there. I’ve had a pretty cool year and making it to the other side of that journey has been worth it but continue to diversify your skills.
I’m excited for better news but this is real life and where we are. I’d love to know where you all are in the process and how you’ve adjusted. In the meantime I'm still hopeful for us alll.
Happier dreams Saints
Kiera