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Better things to come
Last week, I was laid off from my well-paying tech job in Canada.
This wasn’t my first rodeo, as my previous layoff happened in 2016.
I refuse to see this career stage as a failure or defeat.
Tech is volatile!
When you are laid off without prejudice, you’re not a failure.
Why companies do layoffs?
But regardless, losing a job is difficult, and it comes with a range of emotions.
If you’re in a similar boat like me, you might need to remind yourself of your value as an individual, which extends beyond your employment status. I had to do the same.
Here are the things I’ve been doing to get my groove back.
During the layoff ‘meeting,’ I didn’t get closure.
No one tells you why. We’re very likely just a row in a spreadsheet. It’s not personal.
But we need closure.
So, I had to find one.
I believe that only good things happen to me. Even though I don’t see why this is good for me, in a few years, I will probably find positivity when I look back on this event.
‘Everything happens for a reason. There is a plan in everything that takes place.’
I believe everything happens for a reason, in a way that is the best for me.
I worked in my last job for over 2 years, and I’ve always been a top performer.
So luckily, I could pull memories and portfolio pieces from my work.
I remembered, and I was like…yeah!
It felt good to come up with a list of items I was proud of.
I could make a shortlist of what I want to highlight in my resume and portfolio, and it felt good that those past years didn’t go by without positively impacting my skillset and career.
I’m going to be honest: I have often dreamed of becoming a dog groomer, a cafe shop owner, or a pilates instructor.
But!
A tech job is a golden handcuff.
It pays too darn well, and I’m not ready to give up that salary and those perks yet.
However, there are different avenues we can take in tech.
I realized how skilled I am at developing people, managing products, navigating politics, telling compelling stories, etc.
I’ve been in tech for over a decade, working in different industries and in different roles, so I’m now keen on finding a role that is better suited to my skills and interests.
What helped me was figuring out what I wanted to do next and not focusing on what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Just focus on your next move!
For me, it’s leadership. I can’t help it. Wherever I go, I lead.
I’m a natural leader — as I was labelled many times.
Without sounding too cocky, in my next role, I want to lean into leadership even more so than before. And I won’t take a role or a new manager that tries to dim my ‘leadership light.’
I took a few days off after the layoff news finally sunk in.
I went for a long walk, took myself out for coffee and dinner dates, and really tried not to internalize this as a defeat.
I reminded myself that I will (probably) never have a few weeks (or even months) off without work while my finances are covered.
Take advantage of this time and take care of yourself during this transition — whatever that means to you.
I signed up for a few online courses
I even booked a mini trip to Niagara Falls.
I wanted to prioritize my well-being by engaging in activities that bring me joy.
The most important thing is to have conviction! Conviction of our abilities.
Believe in your skills, your talents, and your potential.
We need to have confidence and a belief in our capabilities.
Without being too woo-woo about it, we need to believe that we attract success and trust in our journey.
Good things will come to those who believe in themselves.