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Bouncing Back: My Journey Through My First Tech Layoff
Before I transitioned into tech, I spent the last 10 years working in digital marketing. While I enjoyed aspects of that field, I had always been drawn to technology and problem-solving. Landing my first tech job in tech was a dream come true. After spending a few years in uni, coding late into the night, failing a class and preparing for technical interviews, I finally secured a technical position at a promising company. The excitement of my first day, meeting my new team, and diving into real-world IT projects was everything I had hoped for. I felt like I was on top of the world. Then 18 months have past, the unexpected happened — I was laid off. The news was shocking, but it wasn't entirely unfamiliar. Having worked as a digital marketing freelancer before transitioning into tech, I had experienced a lot of the uncertainty of clients not renewing contracts. However, this layoff felt different—it was more definitive, and I had no backup plan. The company was going through financial struggles, and despite my dedication and hard work, I found myself among those affected by the downsizing. On that moment, I slightly felt lost, but also somewhat excited for what my next role would be. It was a tough moment, one filled with self-doubt and fear for the future. But after taking some time to process, I realized that this setback was not the end of my journey — it was just a detour (as always). Instead of letting the layoff define me, I decided to take control of my situation. Here’s how I got back up: Allowed Myself to Grieve – I took some time to acknowledge my feelings. It was okay to feel disappointed, but I didn’t let it consume me. Reassessing My Skills and Goals – I used the opportunity to reflect on my career path, identify gaps in my skill set, and work on improving them. I took online courses, and started building personal projects to keep my skills sharp. Applying Strategically – Rather than mass-applying to every job I came across, I focused on roles that aligned with my strengths and career aspirations. I tailored my resume, practiced interviews, and stayed persistent despite the rejections. Staying Positive and Resilient – The job hunt was tough, and rejection was discouraging, but I reminded myself that each “no” brought me closer to the right opportunity. Networking and Reaching Out – I connected with former uni classmates, attended tech meetups, and reached out to my network on LinkedIn. And yet, the posting on LinkedIn about my work status (that I was open to work) prompted a random local recruiter to approach me about a few roles he had on his plate. And kabam! I tried applying for those roles, and in just two weeks from my last day at my previous job, I already had an offer for the same role. The tech industry is smaller than it seems, and support from others helped me stay motivated. Eventually, my efforts paid off. I landed a new job—one that was even better suited for me than my previous role. The layoff, which once felt like the worst thing that had happened to me, turned out to be a pivotal moment in my career. It pushed me to grow, refine my skills, and build resilience that I carry with me today. To anyone facing a similar situation: You are not alone. Layoffs are tough, but they do not define your worth or potential. Use this as an opportunity to grow, stay persistent, and trust that better opportunities lie ahead. Your next breakthrough might be just around the corner.
Before I transitioned into tech, I spent the last 10 years working in digital marketing. While I enjoyed aspects of that field, I had always been drawn to technology and problem-solving.
Landing my first tech job in tech was a dream come true. After spending a few years in uni, coding late into the night, failing a class and preparing for technical interviews, I finally secured a technical position at a promising company. The excitement of my first day, meeting my new team, and diving into real-world IT projects was everything I had hoped for. I felt like I was on top of the world.
Then 18 months have past, the unexpected happened — I was laid off.
The news was shocking, but it wasn't entirely unfamiliar. Having worked as a digital marketing freelancer before transitioning into tech, I had experienced a lot of the uncertainty of clients not renewing contracts. However, this layoff felt different—it was more definitive, and I had no backup plan. The company was going through financial struggles, and despite my dedication and hard work, I found myself among those affected by the downsizing. On that moment, I slightly felt lost, but also somewhat excited for what my next role would be. It was a tough moment, one filled with self-doubt and fear for the future.
But after taking some time to process, I realized that this setback was not the end of my journey — it was just a detour (as always). Instead of letting the layoff define me, I decided to take control of my situation. Here’s how I got back up:
Allowed Myself to Grieve – I took some time to acknowledge my feelings. It was okay to feel disappointed, but I didn’t let it consume me.
Reassessing My Skills and Goals – I used the opportunity to reflect on my career path, identify gaps in my skill set, and work on improving them. I took online courses, and started building personal projects to keep my skills sharp.
Applying Strategically – Rather than mass-applying to every job I came across, I focused on roles that aligned with my strengths and career aspirations. I tailored my resume, practiced interviews, and stayed persistent despite the rejections.
Staying Positive and Resilient – The job hunt was tough, and rejection was discouraging, but I reminded myself that each “no” brought me closer to the right opportunity.
Networking and Reaching Out – I connected with former uni classmates, attended tech meetups, and reached out to my network on LinkedIn.
And yet, the posting on LinkedIn about my work status (that I was open to work) prompted a random local recruiter to approach me about a few roles he had on his plate. And kabam! I tried applying for those roles, and in just two weeks from my last day at my previous job, I already had an offer for the same role.
The tech industry is smaller than it seems, and support from others helped me stay motivated.
Eventually, my efforts paid off. I landed a new job—one that was even better suited for me than my previous role. The layoff, which once felt like the worst thing that had happened to me, turned out to be a pivotal moment in my career. It pushed me to grow, refine my skills, and build resilience that I carry with me today.
To anyone facing a similar situation: You are not alone. Layoffs are tough, but they do not define your worth or potential. Use this as an opportunity to grow, stay persistent, and trust that better opportunities lie ahead. Your next breakthrough might be just around the corner.
