How to bounce back after getting laid off?

Firstly you have to realize losing your job is just life. Usually if you're part of a mass layoff (or during economically bad times) it's not because you did anything wrong, or not good enough, life just happens. Take a breather, look at the bright side rather than focus on the negatives. Being optimistic helps a lot in getting back on your feet as your mental attitude will reflect during your subsequent job interviews. You also now have a chance to find work on something (hopefully earning income) that you're passionate about. Losing income is tough, and it sounds cliche, but as long as you're willing to work hard to bounce back and view things as glass half full, everything will work out - I can't stress this enough! p.s I also advise against counting beans - oh they did this wrong, I should have done that, etc. The situation you percieve is almost always different from what actually occured. Unless it makes you feel better, spend your time on the future, not the past

Good blog. I'd say one thing to stress to people is that (very likely) they themselves are not a reason they got laid off. Otherwise they would have been fired. They are likely a victim of someone else over-hiring. I've heard a number of executives say that big tech companies are likely at least 2x over-hired. People built empires and every so often crash, affecting real people and real lives. This is why I always grow teams slowly. It is very exciting to give someone a job, but it is 10x harder to have to let them go. Also these layoffs are a reminder not to get complacent and to always be improving one self. Always be hire able. I have high confidence that most laid off people will find jobs soon as, after all, great developers are in high demand regardless of headlines we see.

I really liked your blog, particularly the structured approach that still allows for learning and exploration. My advice: have 10x more conversations with people than you think you should. Talk to people in areas you are curios about but unfamiliar with, and want to explore. Do cold outreach to people for advice. Approach those conversations with curiosity. When you talk to new people, share your perspective on your next steps, and ask them questions. People are often very hesitate to reach out cold, but many people out there want to be helpful. Every conversation you have not only leads to new potential introductions and leads for new roles, but it expands your thinking about what is possible and what opportunities are out there.

To bounce back after a layoff, take some time, a day or week, to reflect on what went wrong. If the problem is with you, start working on improving the areas where you have the biggest challenges. If the problem is the company, make a checklist of all the red flags (issues) the company showed, and evaluate future companies based on this checklist. Most importantly don't lose your motivation and confidence, and don't foster negative thoughts about yourself or the company.

start your own biz and hire your boss after he gets laid off someday