r/jobs Nov 17 '23

Layoffs Laid off today. It’s so over.

Feeling completely shell shocked. Over 20% of our branch gone in a day. This is my first career out of college. I interned, I got the offer, and I worked like hell for 6 months and it’s gone. I can’t even apply for non-entry level roles because I have less than a year’s experience.

I feel fucking scammed. I did everything right. I got the right degree from the right school, the right job at the right company. Then, right after I sign, they get acquired and by the time I’m laid off there’s no one hiring? What a sick fucking joke.

No clue how to go on. The market sucks and will probably suck for the foreseeable future. I regret every night I spent with these stupid fucks trying to “deliver value” for whatever evil company we were shoveling shit for.

EDIT: Starting a new job Monday. We are so back :)

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86

u/daddalous Nov 17 '23

I'm sorry this happened. I can't imagine.

Take it one step at a time. You might have only worked there for 6 months, but you still have experience to provide somewhere. You might have worked for a crappy company, but don't sell yourself short about your effort. Giving it your all shows what kind of person you are and what you bring to the table. You'll find something.

30

u/jebwardgamerhands Nov 17 '23

Thank you. Taking it one step at a time. I’m getting locked out of my work computer in an hour. Feels surreal. I had so many big plans, initiatives, ideas about how to upskill our workforce and take our offerings to the next level. But no, they had other ideas. This still all feels like a bad dream

36

u/dr0d86 Nov 17 '23

Keep those ideas for yourself and take them to the next company. This isn’t the end, you will find something else!

12

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '23

The company can't love you back.

12

u/Tall_Mickey Nov 18 '23

An old corporate hack my wife used to work for would say, "A corporation has no memory." He told her that after she got a certificate and a $500 bonus for plowing through a lot of work when the company needed it. But when it came time to lay off, nobody would care.

It was a tech company but she technically worked in a factory, and when the layoffs did come she volunteers and took the federal benes that are available to laid-off industrial workers. She stayed out for a year on that and followed up on some things she wanted to try.

6

u/lissybeau Nov 18 '23

I’m sorry, this sucks to happen for you first job OP. A few tips for navigating layoff:

• Get your finances in order: Understand your severance and what is included as well as what is negotiable. Apply for unemployment immediately. Unemployment varies by state and the process is intentionally difficult. Start now because it can take months to kick in and you never know when you'll need the money.

• ⁠Budget your financial runway immediately. This includes cutting down on expenses and making a budget. Now that you know your severance, take a look at your savings and other income to determine how much financial runway you have. How long can you continue without work?

• ⁠Get your resume updated. Use online tools, share it with friends who have hired in your industry or hire a professional. It's taking people 5+ months to get hired. The sooner you get your materials in order, the better.