After I was laid off for the first time in my life, my dad tried to cheer me up by reusing the tongue twisters he always used when people were staying home.
“It’s better for them to miss you than to miss you. Son, they obviously missed you, so your job is gone.”
I had just been laid off from a part-time role, so an air of embarrassment and disappointment hung over my head. With his old Jamaican sense of humor, my father tried to make me laugh at the situation.
Spoiler alert: I couldn’t help but laugh at that joke. I was in a terrible emotional state for several weeks.
it’s not a secret The tech industry is going through a huge upheavalchallenges are caused by factors such as: Macroeconomic uncertainty persiststechnology companies and sue for dismissal to protect profitability.
While messages about tech careers have taken on an eerie vibe over the past year, my LinkedIn feed feels like a constant cycle of people remembering or grieving their lost jobs. , there are solid reasons to hope and strategize for a better future.
Dismissed Mind Journey
First, let’s acknowledge the giant elephant in the room. No matter the circumstances, layoffs hit hard. But similar employment disruptions can give you the perfect opportunity to re-evaluate your career and see who’s really getting cornered. The strength of your connections, both online and offline, can be a catalyst for recovery.
A layoff can trigger feelings of betrayed, ambushed, and neglected. For many, the fear of financial ruin is approaching reality, which only adds to an already stressful whirlwind of emotions.
In my experience, when questions centered around self-esteem and identity start creeping into your mind, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll suddenly fall into impostor syndrome. Anxiety about the future, embarrassment, and even depression can occur.
You may experience being tormented by the existential question, “Who am I if I am not a job?” And then there’s also the anger directed at management or the economy or even yourself for not seeing it coming. We tend to be the least kind to ourselves when we need it most.
However, remember that these feelings are normal and many others who are going through the same turmoil share them. This is where the power of a supportive community comes into play.
“I’m fine, I have friends.”
Clarence Avant “The Black Godfather”
Community: This is a term that resonates across the tech industry, but sometimes feels like a complete cliche. But when you see professional networks striving to support their own networks, that’s where the true beauty of community shines through, and it’s most noticeable when you’re navigating hardships like layoffs.
After losing your job, comfort and encouragement from people who understand your life can be invaluable. Beyond emotional support and advice, participating in online communities like LinkedIn groups, industry-specific forums, and even local meet-and-greet groups can greatly expand your network of help in recovery.
Keep in mind that cultivating meaningful relationships is not just about attending networking events or exchanging LinkedIn profiles, it’s about genuine connections and sharing experiences. The best way to create a community is to find people who share the same genuine interests as you and identify other overlapping interests. Starting conversations about anime, video games, and a variety of other non-work related topics has helped me build great working relationships. These topics can be much more intimate than expense reports or company acquisitions.
One of the best examples I’ve seen of communities coming together to support their own communities is discord A server for black gamers where I belonged. One of our community members, her, after dealing with office politics and microaggressions, found herself unexpectedly fired from a job she had just recently moved to and signed a new lease for an apartment. The server’s entire community of over 1,500 members flocked to the job placement effort, and the affected person successfully found her a new job within a week.
how wild is that? You got laid off on Friday and you get hired by next Thursday? This is almost unheard of, but it does happen. People love to help people they like, but they don’t know what kind of networks community members have access to.
Community Building: Where to Go and What to Do
You may be asking, “Dad, that’s fine, but where can I find these communities?”Don’t worry, I got it — and yes I was introduced to this List of nearly 140 online groups, forums and industry-specific communities Through an online community that I belong to.
Prioritizing sincere friendships is the best way to influence relationships in a professional sense. And as you make those connections, actively participate in these community spaces to showcase your skills, stay up-to-date on industry trends, and educate potential employers about your can show value.
Participation can also mean commenting on posts, creating threads about related topics, and collaborating with people in the community on various projects. This approach can start by finding groups and communities that match your interests and professional goals, and extend to platforms like Discord, Slack, and LinkedIn. Introduce yourself to the community by joining relevant servers, channels, or groups.
Stay on top of activity in your group, share insights, ask questions, and have conversations with your most active members. As a conversation starter, feel free to reach out through Direct Her Messages or Connection Requests, mentioning common interests and common experiences.
on platforms like twitterYou can use hashtags to engage in relevant industry-specific conversations or join our Twitter chat to connect with experts in your field. Twitter spaces are one of my favorite ways to find new communities because they connect people through transparent, live voice conversations. Follow people you find interesting and participate in their Tweets by liking, retweeting, and commenting thoughtfully. If their comments or threads resonate with you, consider reaching out and starting a conversation.
It’s still early days, so there are some new platforms that might actually make a name for themselves. Explore emerging platforms such as Spill, Mastodon and Meta thread can provide a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded people seeking meaningful professional connections.
This may be a minor detail, but I also like having a bit of counterculture when building and leveraging your own online community. Not everyone has a dependable Ivy League alumni network, but you can. build an equally effective By properly investing in your online relationships.
See setbacks as opportunities
A layoff can feel cruel, but it’s also an opportunity to reassess your career trajectory. As a career coach, the best practice I teach my clients is to engage with the professional community, stay aware of emerging industry trends and technologies, and find ways to incorporate them into their current career strategies. Taking advantage of layoffs involves spending additional time upskilling and literacy for these trends. for example, artificial intelligence The following headlines have been making headlines in the tech industry lately: AI this, AIyou can’t go anywhere unless someone takes it out. AI revolution. Having knowledge and skills in this area gives you a unique advantage as it adds depth to your career path and allows you to stand out from the crowd of candidates.
Another benefit of having a deep community is that you have access to a group of people who can act as a facilitator for new ideas while also providing valuable and informed feedback. Exploring the diverse career paths and success stories in our network can inspire you and open doors you never thought possible.
Your community becomes your personal and professional safety net, catching you when situations threaten to overwhelm you. It puts perspective on the well-founded sentiment that always flies in job hunting conversations: “It’s not what matters, it matters who you know.”
Remember the power of community as you navigate the uncertain journey of layoffs. You don’t just draw strength or insight from it. Your experience can benefit others as well. Open doors, make referrals, and provide insights whenever possible. Consider your own personal brand and how you would like to be seen among your peers. There are many benefits to be gained from being seen as someone who gives money to enrich the community, rather than just focusing on how to get ahead.
Find out about the different projects and initiatives people are working on and discover the different ways your skills complement their vision and help them reach their goals. You might be able to add another career success to your resume. You can also make a positive impact on someone and leave recognition for your skill set, thereby adding more credibility to your personal brand.
Facing a layoff can be tough, but with strong community support and a constant eye on career development, it can be an opportunity for growth and a fresh start.
The Mashable column reflects the opinion of the author.
