I Survived 3 Mass Layoffs This Year, Here’s What I Learned
How changing my perspective on layoffs actually set me free
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Imagine finally landing your dream job after years of hard work. You’re at the top of the world, living the life, and feeling secure. Then, out of nowhere, layoffs hit.
What would you do? How would you feel in that moment?
This isn’t just a hypothetical scenario — it’s the harsh reality in today’s tech world affecting hundreds of thousands.
And this year, I got to experience it firsthand, not once, but three times!
Just two months into my dream job at Spotify, 600 people were suddenly laid off. Then, six months later, boom, another wave struck, taking more people with it.
I wasn’t laid off but these events still hit me like a big wake-up slap.
I realized I needed to take control of my own career else someone else would be doing it for me. I’d always be at the mercy of the corporate world’s unpredictable slaps.
And I was right.
As I write this, we’re riding a third wave, the largest one yet, because this time, 17% of the workforce — around 1,500 people are being let go.
It’s a reality no one is safe from, which is why I want to share what I learned from this transformative experience.
Think of this as an exciting adventure, like you’re a pirate setting sail. By the end of this story, you’ll gather the essential insights you need to contemplate your own course. You’ll seize command of your ship toward a path that can set you free in your professional odyssey.
Lesson #1 — Understand Why Companies Lay Off People
Last January, I witnessed many individuals shattered by layoffs, haunted by the question of why they were chosen for this unwelcome fate.
The reality is companies rarely share the criteria they use to decide who will leave and who will stay. You might never have that closure for reasons we ignore.
This can be deeply unsettling for anyone being let go.
It’s normal, the brain always tries to fill the gap in the things we can’t understand. We also have a natural propensity to want to know why bad things happen to us when they do.
So what you can do here is understand what pushes companies to part from their beloved mates.
To be honest, I knew Spotify was going to lay off people before it did, and I wasn’t the only one. Many of us in the company smelled the bitter scent of layoffs returning to get us.
How?
We could see the big signs, and that’s what you want to always be on the lookout for.
Most of the time you can see these signs coming months in advance.
Sign #1. Your company is deeply affected by the economy
Companies lay off people for all sorts of reasons, but one of the main ones is when the economy isn’t playing in their favor.
Many successful companies have thrived thanks to the economic boom helping them get funds.
Whether it be through investor support or incurring debt at low interest rates, these same supportive actors quickly vanish when times get rough.
If companies aren’t making profits or face challenges in securing external financing, due to cautious investors or high bank interest rates, they may need to cut costs. They can’t sustain the same level of growth anymore because funding isn’t as readily available as it used to be.
A ship struggling in rough waters will almost always make the tough choice to lighten the load, and what’s the heaviest thing aboard?
People. Unfortunately.
Sign #2. Your company’s investments didn't pay off
Companies bet on opportunities they think will generate high returns.
But to do that, they first need to put in the money in R&D. Sometimes, it also means investing in expanding the task force to achieve those goals by hiring more people.
But if these investments fail or worse, threaten solvability, the company will look into mitigating its expenses by reducing its task force.
Look what Meta did just after its 6 billion dollar investment in the Metaverse didn’t pay off. It laid off 21,000 people since November 2022. It’s still doing it.
Sign #3. Your company is fighting harsh competition or failed its product-market fit strategy
A lot of the time, companies, especially startups or early-stage firms, will find themselves at a crossroads fighting against harsh competition or failing to find their product-market fit.
In these circumstances, they will most likely seek to reevaluate their whole vision or product; they will either want to pivot or close up shop.
And while they do that, you can safely assume they will not need as many employees committing to a vision they no longer pursue.
If you find yourself in a company facing either of these challenges, that’s your sign to prepare your safety net.
Here’s why you should always be vigilant:
- It’ll help you mentally prepare if things ever go south and avoid agonizing over why it happened.
- You’ll understand that it wasn’t about you.
- You’ll be able to strategize for your career when you see the threat coming before it does.
- You can begin job-hunting and exploring the market early, without having to worry about financial strain.
Lesson #2 — Don’t Take It Personally
You can’t blame companies for laying off people. I’ve gone through this mind struggle many times but then I realized this:
Companies don’t exist for their employees.
They’re created to fulfill a mission and enact a vision for which they got investor support.
They answer to investors. Not you, and definitely not me.
The reality is — layoffs happen all the time and it has nothing to do with you. It has nothing to do with me either.
I learned this early on when I saw many affected people feel like they were targeted. The paranoia that they might have done something wrong to deserve this quickly crippled them, but many of them were good performers and devoted employees.
Do not take it personally, shift your perspective!
No one is targeting you.
Companies have agendas of their own, and they’re simply fulfilling them.
It gets easier once you accept the truth that we’re just mates on a big ship.
And you know what? that’s okay, really!
You must also shift your perspective. The way I see it is reciprocal. The company I work for is also a mate on my ship. There’s nothing wrong with that. Okay, maybe not a mate, right now it’s more the quartermaster.
And they know it!
Working for them is helping me further my own goals, and I do the same thing for them. It’s a two-way relationship. I believe it helps to see things this way when you’re just trying to swallow the pill for the first time.
You can blame bad leadership and decisioning, but no matter how much they want to keep you, they have to answer to KPIs set by the people running the ship behind the wheel.
And it’s not even the CEO.
Lesson #3 — Job Security Is an Illusion
I don’t recall having “security” as a perk on my employment contract, yet I expect it somehow. We all do as if we were promised that, and so when they make us walk the plank, we feel betrayed.
How dare they?
Whether you’re working in top tech, a middle-size company, or a startup, you can always get let go at any time. It’s part of the reality of the corporate world.
Job security isn’t a promised land, it’s an illusion we created in our minds.
I learned early on that whatever the amount of work I put in, that itself would not protect me from being forced to jump off the ship. Of course, it does not mean you shouldn’t work hard, it simply means you shouldn’t expect that to be a safety net for not getting laid off.
Nothing guarantees that you can relax once you land your gig.
PS: I could still get laid off but it’s okay, I’ve embraced it
I once believed that living in the EU meant job security, but that’s far from the truth. Friends in Germany, Spain, and the UK have been laid off.
Security is an illusion, even where labor laws are strict.
I live in France where employment laws are tight. Here, you don’t simply lay off individuals; you can only eliminate ‘roles’. So, if the role of ‘Data Scientist’ is on the chopping block, it affects all of us in that role, myself included.
Then the process of determining who exactly gets laid off involves a careful evaluation based on set criteria.
This situation is a double-edged sword — it delays the inevitable, but it also leaves me in a state of extended uncertainty.
However, I’ve come to terms with it.
I’ve learned to accept the reality: job security is a myth, here at Spotify or anywhere else.
Weirdly, accepting it has brought me a sense of liberation. Instead of resisting, I’ve learned to go with the flow.
Dealing with stress hasn’t always been my forte. Because of that, I suffer the consequences of taking things too personally, literally. I’ve been stuck with a chronic illness that’s hard to cure that started from my failure to mitigate stressful events.
So now, I prioritize my health over anything. I refuse to let the fear of layoffs shake me — my well-being is more important.
So what are the key takeaways here?
- Your company is not your family.
It’s easy to forget that you’re there to fulfill the interests of an entity once you start to feel like they’re your extended relatives. Please don't lose sight of the fact that they’re not. It makes navigating harsh moments easier. - Your work is a business transaction.
You exchange your time and expertise for money and upskilling opportunities (and maybe even some sense of purpose in life). Of course, it matters to know you’re doing it in a setting where you feel cared for, but don’t forget the essentials — it’s a business deal.
Lesson #4 — You‘re Not Your Company
I still love Spotify, but I love it differently now.
Let’s say my love for it matured; it’s less of a blind infatuation and more of a controlled devotion.
When the first wave of layoffs hit, the idea of being let go was terrifying.
I had only started my full-time career. I had gone above and beyond to get a job offer from Spotify, and I wasn’t ready to see my adventure run its course.
More so, I realized I had deeply identified with the company.
I always felt like the cool kid whenever I’d tell people I worked at Spotify. People’s faces would always light up at the sound of it, and that had a somewhat aggrandizing effect on me. It made me feel special, and it still does, not gonna lie.
However, I’ve witnessed too many folks in the tech industry struggle with a profound sense of loss and a decline in self-confidence and esteem after being laid off.
Like me, they had deeply intertwined their identities with their employer.
So now, I approach it differently because I’ve learned it’s best to maintain ownership of my identity.
I’ve severed the umbilical cord and that felt freeing.
Some of the people who worked in those companies had been there for years. To them, being let go felt like abandonment.
But you’re not the company’s offspring; overcoming the symbiotic phase is crucial.
I learned very early on that no matter how cool the company I work for is, I am not that company. I had to learn how to set healthy boundaries between my sense of self and the name of whomever I worked for.
My name is not Spotify. And your name is not your employer!
CEOs can lose their companies at any time, and that forces them to detach from their own business. You must learn to do the same.
Lesson #5 — Be the Captain of Your Career
Do You Want To Be a Simple Mate or The Captain?
It’s not an actual question. You really don’t have a choice.
You’re not a simple mate in your own ship, you’re the captain. So act like one!
The biggest mistake most folks make once they hit the jackpot at a great company is to just relax. They think that now that they made it, they have the security and they can just focus on doing what’s required of them.
But you’re not in a sauna waiting to get massaged!
That strategy is like heading straight into a brick wall. Remember, security is an illusion. You cannot afford to just give yourself away body and soul to an entity over which you have no control just because they tickle you in the right spots.
No one and nothing should ever have that level of control over you. Don’t lose yourself in the process.
Here’s what to do instead:
- Stay up-to-date with the field you’re in.
Read books, articles, and news. Especially in AI where things are constantly morphing at a ridiculously fast pace. If you don’t keep up with the latest technologies, and advancements, you might as well declare yourself obsolete. Something you can do is: set up some weekly time in your calendar, maybe an hour, where you get to catch up on the latest in the industry. - Go scouting once in a while.
Regularly explore new opportunities. Consider interviewing with different companies annually just to test the market and get an idea of what’s out there. This practice will not only keep you informed about the current job market for your role but also help you adjust your career strategies accordingly. - Keep investing in yourself.
You need to remain marketable. For that, you need to make sure your skills match the industry’s evolving demands. Enroll in courses, and attend industry events, it’s too easy to fall asleep when you’re relaxed. - Specialize if you need to.
What about learning more about LLMs or NLP or even computer vision in your spare time if that’s something that can interest you? It gives you skills to fall back into if things go sour. - Ideally, have something of your own.
That’s the only way to completely break free. Don’t be at the mercy of someone else controlling your destiny. Start blogging, do some freelancing, build a side business, or invest. Just do something that gives you some level of control in your career.
In a word, don’t give up on yourself.
Your learning journey is continuous. Don’t stop evolving just because you’ve secured a job. You’re not in a jacuzzi, the waters out there are cold and rough, so brace yourself if you don’t want to drown!
Final Word
Layoffs hit like a storm, but this experience has forced me to take the wheels of my own destiny.
Sharing this story sits close to my heart because it’s why I started my content creation journey in the first place; right after the first wave of layoffs.
My blogging journey has opened my eyes to a new world of possibilities and opportunities.
A few weeks ago someone asked me about my experience as a “successful content creator”. I giggled on the spot. I never thought of ever being called that one day. Yet, here I am, not really a successful one, but working hard towards it!
I’m also grateful to Spotify, no matter what happens. I’ve learned so much there. I couldn’t be upset even if I was ever to be let go. I get how things work in the business world now, and it’s easier to handle.
Most of all, layoffs have shown me how great it is when people support each other. And in all this, the good times stand out!
Navigating the corporate seas can often feel like a pirate adventure
It’s a world of unexpected storms. It teaches you about resilience, adaptability, and the importance of steering your own ship.
So, as you sail through the tides of your career, embrace the courage to face the unknown, and to chart your course.
Don’t let someone else do it for you.
Cheers ♡
Thank you for being so supportive!
Want more stories about my data science career at Spotify?
