Summary

An individual reflects on the unexpected benefits of being laid off twice, which led to personal growth, entrepreneurship, and a reevaluation of life priorities.

Abstract

The author recounts their experience of being laid off twice, initially from Google and then from Amazon, and the subsequent impact on their career and personal life. Despite the initial shock and social media attention from the first layoff, the second one did not garner the same response. The author adapted by engaging in various activities, including AI tutoring, app development, mentoring, and personal development. They emphasize the importance of self-reflection and the pursuit of happiness over traditional career paths. The layoffs, though challenging, were transformative, prompting the author to start their own venture, GuidedYou, and to prioritize personal fulfillment and growth. They acknowledge the privilege of financial stability and parental support during this transition and advise others in similar situations to embrace the opportunity for self-discovery and development.

Opinions

The author views their layoffs as a catalyst for positive change and personal development.
They suggest that society overvalues professional affiliations and job roles, advocating for a broader perspective on self-worth.
The author believes in the importance of taking time off after a layoff to reflect on personal goals and life satisfaction.
They recommend leveraging the time post-layoff to explore passions, upskill, and establish a fulfilling career path.
The author encourages embracing layoffs as an opportunity for growth rather than a setback.
They stress the value of financial planning and the advantage of having a safety net during periods of unemployment.
The author promotes the idea of using layoffs to contribute to society in meaningful ways, such as mentoring and volunteering.
They highlight the significance of maintaining a work-life balance and the benefits of flexible scheduling.
The author suggests that the journey through career challenges can lead to a stronger and more prepared individual ready for future opportunities.

I Rejected a Job Offer From Google. Then I Got Laid Off, Twice.

Part III: The Aftermath

Another sad LinkedIn post from me. This one was significantly less popular. Layoffs were no longer a new trend.

We closed out Part II with a second layoff catching me by surprise. At this point, I had experience, so I started out again with a LinkedIn post that I hoped would get the same reach as the one from last summer.

If you missed the first two parts, check them out at these links. Or don’t. Just want to make sure we’re on the same page.

I Rejected a Job Offer From Google. Then I Got Laid Off, Twice.

Part I: The New Grad’s Dilemma

matangans.medium.com

I Rejected a Job Offer From Google. Then I Got Laid Off, Twice.

Part II: It Happens Again

matangans.medium.com

To my dismay, I didn’t achieve social media virality again. Getting laid off was a trend now and most top companies had enacted hiring freezes. There were no media requests, recruiters weren’t reaching out excitedly, and most reactions I got were mostly condolences and support rather than actionable leads. I started waking up and going to sleep every day stressed and disappointed. Nobody was there to hand me another job offer and pick me back up.

But soon enough, I started taking the first steps to picking myself up. I took on more sessions as an AI curriculum instructor, wrote a few Medium posts, and started working part-time with a Brown alumnus startup founder to build an app. I collected my severance check and gave myself a break from the full-time job search.

I thought this break would just last a few months, but we have reached the end of January 2024 and I haven’t even thought of applying to new software engineering roles. What am I doing instead?

Building a new AI tutoring platform, GuidedYou, to help students and their parents stay on top of school assignments (check us out at https://guidedyou.co)
Helping to develop an improved and modernized search experience that helps barbers connect to more clients at Honeycomb Hair (launching soon on the App Store)
Teaching and mentoring high school students looking to explore AI research
Volunteering as a technology skills and career mentor to engineers from diverse backgrounds
Getting good sleep every night and taking naps because I set my own schedule and I can
Reading and learning more about education, technology, and entrepreneurship

Looking back, my layoffs are probably the best thing that could have happened to me. After following a straightforward path to doing everything “right” for my entire life, I was forced to grow up. I have learned to take risks, follow my passions, and prioritize my happiness above all else.

Of course, not everybody can necessarily afford to forgo a steady full-time salary as I have, and I would be remiss to not acknowledge the luck I’ve had in (1) being able to live at home with my parents for several months after getting laid off with no rent, and (2) have a sizeable savings account after putting aside more than half of my Amazon paychecks along with my severance package — follow me for more details on this front in the next several weeks, I’ll be posting about my top personal finance advice from a year of diligent savings.

With that said, my biggest takeaway from this experience is the importance of putting yourself first. To anyone finding themselves in my shoes today (which is, unfortunately, a pretty large chunk of tech employees, and my support goes out to all of you), I very highly recommend taking at least two weeks off — as long as possible, if your severance allows for it.

We are trained by society to place a large amount of our self-value on who we work for and what we do, but this perspective is misguided. Treat the layoff as a privilege, a unique opportunity to reflect and discover the worth that you have as an individual, and the value you offer outside of software project deliverables. Hold your head up high and put in some work toward discovering long-term life goals, spend valuable quality time with family and friends, catch up on all of the hobbies you have to deprioritize when working a 9–5, travel somewhere new, and don’t be afraid to lean on others for support. You will come out of this stronger and more fulfilled, and at the very least, prepared to bring something new to the table when interviewing for your next job if that’s what you choose to do afterward.

This might seem like a bump in the road, or even a huge pothole, but with an open mind, it can reroute you to a greater path than you’ve ever imagined. Don’t just accept the layoff, embrace it. I wish you the best of luck!

Follow me to learn more about my journey through big tech, entrepreneurship, and personal finance! I’ll be posting a lot more in 2024 :)

And, if you missed the whole story, you can enjoy reading about my facing layoffs not once, but twice in less than ten months by clicking on the links below!