Laid off
 

Well, new life experience for me. I took a job at a startup in the ed tech field around 3 years ago. Yesterday, I found out that that time was coming to an end. Around 25% of employees were laid off (300ish out of 1200ish) including me and my entire team.

They're venture-capital funded, and while I wasn't entirely surprised that layoffs were coming given some pretty rough financial headwinds this year, I wasn't at all expecting them to just cut my entire function. Kind of surreal.

I knew that startups were notoriously shaky when it comes to stability, and though it sucks to see it come to an end so abruptly, I suppose it's nice to have made a lot of money off of a bunch of investors. The severance package is, honestly, kind of crazy (4 months pay + 6 months paid health insurance + my laptop + free online classes + a plethora of job placement services). Thanks, VC funds!

In the end, I don't regret anything, but it's a very weird feeling to be out of a job for the first time since I was probably 14. It's hard to know what to do with myself, though I figure my "job" becomes job hunting...next week.

No need for sympathy - I'm actually kind of excited to look for something new. I'll at least have plenty of time to try and fail to fix my shit over the summer. :)

More time to fix yo shit!

Just kidding, sorry to hear that dude. Glad to see you get a good severance package though to help keep you on your feet till you find something new.

Very sorry to hear this, but congrats!

I'll feel better about it once I figure out what's next, but in a way, I actually do feel like contrats are in order here. I look at it this way - everyone who's left DIDN'T get a 4-month bonus, and now they all have to do 33% more work while I get to relax at home.

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wow

Hope things fall in line for you.

Sorry to hear. From everything I have read from you, you sounds like a pretty stand up, and intelligent dude. I am sure you won't be unemployed for long. That being said, enjoy the small break.


I am in a similar situation. Back in January, I learned that my entire department was being let go effective 2nd week of March. About 15 of us automated ourselves out of a job. Got a fat severance, and a ton of free time. Caught up on some fishing, and goofing off and annoying my wife. I start my new job on the 1st of June. Different field, but will transfer back into my field when the position opens back up. My wife is happy I won't be bugging her as much now...

I was laid off from Harley Davidson with a similar package and I'll give you one head of warning: if you have any vices now is the time to be aware of those.


"Coke and strippers". You will not be the first nor the last. Free time with lots of money is the devil's playground.

Rain Man will be calling soon.

Damn, I want to take a job with them just so I can get laid off.

jk, that sucks and good luck with the job search.

Look at this smug son of a bitch bragging about getting lai.......oh. Look at this smug son of a bitch bragging about getting paid to be a freeloader.

Sorry to hear about the job. Now you might have time to see a launch and landing at the Cape. Falcon Heavy end of June.

Sounds like you're smart so you can land on your feet, but I've heard that the job market in tech is in bad shape. A tech-hostile congress passed legislation in 2023 that now includes R&D (software development, it) as just part of profits. So it' can't be written off. So companies have had to lay off armies of tech workers. I'd be hitting the pavement pretty hard. China does the opposite (100% of R&D is tax free) and their tech scene is growing without bounds.

Best of luck to you. You may look back on this day as a blessing in disguise years from now.

best of luck finding something new! You'll be fine

This but unironically

Damn, man. Sorry to hear that.

I got laid off about 2 years ago to the day... I was devastated, wasn't sure what to do. Where to go, how i was going to pay the mortgage etc. I can say that it definitely worked out. Found a job that paid about 50% more than what I was previously making. And it strengthened the bond with my wife and I. It could have broken us, but she was a rock that never wavered with her support. We came out of it better and with a stronger marriage than i could have imagined, although it didn't feel like it while going through it.

Wishing the best of job searching upon you, sir. Good luck!

Yeah, I plan to razz him mercilessly.

(But after that, I'm here to help, DaFace.)

I wonder if DaFace can learn Chinese in four months via those free online classes. I guess we'll find out.

Damn, great severance though.


I was laid off from my job in February that I was with for 6 months and they gave me a one month severance package. I was shocked since I was there for such a short amount of time.

Found a new job with better pay and benefits the next week. Got to enjoy a nice long month long vacation and now I'm way happier.

How fast can you run a 50?
No Duolingo required.
But you could have a fun fall. 😁

We're feeling it at my work too man. Inflation is really hurting the economy. Wish you the best.

The good news is that I worked at a tech company, but I'm not a "tech worker" per se. I'm still not going to assume the job hunt will be easy, but I hopefully will at least not be applying to many jobs with a thousand applicants.

We do need to catch up sometime soon. I've got time!

Best of luck. Sounds like you have the right attitude. On your resume be sure to put down you can fix your shit.

Take half a year off

And be sure to add "ChiefsPlanet Administrator" to your resumes to impress the ladies, if nothing else.

If you are getting ready for work right now then you are probably not DaFace
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;If you&#39;re getting ready for work right now then you&#39;re probably not Doug Collins&quot; is probably the most savage intro to a story about Doug Collins getting fired. �� <a href="https://t.co/T1u1PanVG1">pic.twitter.com/T1u1PanVG1</a></p>&mdash; Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArashMarkazi/status/1257103166811762688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That's a nice severance for just a few years service. Sucks to be laid off but hopefully the job market isn't too bad

Because of your reaction to that chicken plant?

J/k sorry to hear it and fear making this post one day myself

Zero doubts you’ll land with bigger feet though

Sorry to hear that man. When I got laid off last year and made a thread about it everyone said how id bounce back better. I thought they were just being nice turns out they were right. You got this enjoy your summer

What I’m hearing here DaFace is

Step One : Find a Quik Trip with a glory hole
Step Two : ???
Step Three : Profit

Heh... while it doesn't often make the cut to the actual resume I submit, I do actually have a bullet about CP on my master resume. SQL skills are sometimes a nice to have in my line of work, and I can spin my work here to make it sound good enough.

1. Fix your shit DaFace
2. When a door closes, a window pops open
3. Good luck man!

One door closes and another opens... You are a talented guy and will look back at this as just another fork in the path. Good luck!

Man, that sucks!

I hope you are able to land on your feet quickly. I was laid off last October and am still looking for work. The market is tough with hundreds of applicants for each job.

You cant see behind the next door until you fully close the door that's behind you.
I was in a similar situation almost 3 years ago and now I'm much more happy and more prosperous.
Being confident in what you are capable of (in which you are) will make the next door easy for you to open.
Enjoy your break in the action though, I sure did.

Shit man that sucks. Sorry to hear.

Are you willing to relocate?

Sorry to hear that man. You'll find something else. Shit happens. Long as you gave it your all you got nothing to be ashamed of.

Sorry, brother. That is a sweet, sweet severance package, though. Enjoy summer and take your time. You'll find something better and it will be awesome.

Do you play golf? This is the perfect time for a good severance like that this time of year!

I volunteered for a layoff one time when I heard they were handing out 90 day severance packages. Played golf virtually every day, then started new job on the last day of the severance!

Good time to recharge the batteries on their dime. o:-)

Well that sux. Tho the severance package seems nice.


Gives you plenty of time to try out that chicken ranch combo I read about earlier though.

I figured you made enough as a Chiefsplanet Mod to not have to work another job?!?!!

When you're laid off everyone likes to say "you'll find something, you'll bounce back, don't worry about it you're smart and talented and you will end up in something great"


It always rings hollow, it's an easy way for your friends to skip ahead in their mind after you've done all the hard work to find something new and it just works out. I kind of find it lazy of my friend group because the hard work is something they don't have to think about but rather just assume you'll do it.

Not that they're wrong or like, obligated to fix your problem. But I do like it when friends offer advice that has actually actionable suggestions.

I had a friend suggest doing LinkedIn Premium which costs money but it was instrumental in helping me find my last two jobs.

LinkedIn tries to be social media and is full of nonsense but there are a LOT of tools there. I'd have to say I suggest it.

Yeah, I'm planning to give LI premium a go. I'm not gonna go cheap on tools that could help make the difference in tens of thousands of dollars of salary.

It wouldn't be Plan A, but it's not off the table. Plan A would be remote, but that's gonna be where the most competition will be, so I may have to turn loose of that. I'm glad to have the time to work through my priorities regardless.

The job alert on LI-P is pretty great. I would check it every morning so I could jump on something that just popped up.


I despise AI but it does have its uses. Like doing an AI resume for a specific job and writing a cover letter that is tailored to the job you are applying for, not just a form letter, seemed smart and got me my current job which is pretty much a dream job (low level exec at a movie studio)

ChatGPT, make this suitable for a professional resume: Created and ran SQL queries to determine the biggest butt-****ing morons on a football message board and how often they've been banned, and also figured out which dumbshits only post their political hottakes and outrage on said football message board.

LMAO

Chat GPT forgot to include the number of people on this site and also include Mahomes' Super Bowl MVPs under "accomplishments" we have a long way to go, AI

This is excellent.

Interesting, I wondered how the AI resume works. I'll check it out.

I don't know how good he is at golf, but it looks like he could win some good money in tournaments if he has a strong game. He should sign up for them.

DATE TOURNAMENT WINNER'S SHARE
June 6-9 the Memorial $4 million
June 20-23 The Travelers Championship $3.6 million
Aug. 15-18 FedEx St. Jude Championship $3.6 million
Aug. 22-25 BMW Championship $3.6 million
May 30-June 2 RBC Canadian Open $1.692 million
June 27-30 Rocket Mortgage Classic $1.656 million
Jan. 24-27 Farmers Insurance Open $1.62 million
July 11-14 Genesis Scottish Open $1.62 million
July 25-28 3M Open $1.494 million
Aug. 8-11 Wyndham Championship $1.422 million
July 4-7 John Deere Classic $1.404 million
July 18-21 Barracuda Championship $720,000

To be clear I have no idea how to go about having AI write your resume, just to avoid the follow-up private message I will have zero clue how to answer lol

I've just heard good things

Sorry to hear this, but there plenty of options for you. Just shut the door behind you and open the one in front of you. Can’t wait t0 hear how things are better later this year. :thumb:

Good luck, man. That severance will definitely help keep you afloat for a little bit.

You should probably give up on Starbucks and avocado toast though.

DaFace have you ever thought about winning the mega millions?

Shaddap. That's my secret!

I'm too cheap for Starbucks, but I am a little addicted to Nespresso lattes at home. Definitely not cutting that out.

Hmmm, that's an interesting idea. I could just roll up to the casino tomorrow and see if I could turn 4 months severance into 40 year's worth.

True story, the guy that started FEDEX took the struggling startup company's last $5000 and took it to Vegas for a weekend and made enough to make their next payroll.

You finally will have enough free time to fix your leakage problem.

I worked for tech startups. Took more in stock than I should have because none made it to IPO so I go zilch. Which I was well aware was probably what will happen than getting to an IPO. Just a caculated decision in each of them, 3 in total. First one was an A.I. company in 2009. Way before anyone knew what an A.I. was but their code wouldn't scale without being reworked and the language changed. So lost my chance to get in on the ground floor.

I know you know tech but don't know if its even your focus these days. anyway, I'm seeing a lot of HR types wanting certifications to be interviewed. If so in your field, since you are getting paid, might want to go get a cert. Now, once you are past HR, no one gives a shit about your certification. I ended up with around 25 technical certifications.

I only had 2 fulltime jobs in my 25 years in tech by choice(contracting I received 30%-50% more money and had great benefits through my wife's work so it was a no brainer for our situation). Might consider if your wife gets good benefits.

I never lost or changed a job based on performance. I'm sure this is true for you too. So maybe I found it easier to be unemployed than others. After taking a week or two off, I would always check Linked in, job sites etc. work on my resume, those certifications etc. I'm sure you will be gainfully employed as soon as you find the right spot for you.

I've been laid off twice in the last five years. Each time I ended up with a better-paying job.

Today I make good money, fully remote with a the lightest workload of my career. Plus my boss is really nice. I don't plan on ever leaving.

Your number one enemy in a job search is competition. You want to target the openings with the fewest number of applicants. Job boards all have lots of people squabbling over low quality positions. You would be better off finding recruiters with exclusive clients, identifying company websites with openings that aren't published elsewhere, or using word of mouth.

Good luck!

Sorry my man. Thou I envy you 4 month pay. Dang.

Hate to hear this. I am confident that you will land on your feet. It is nice to have the time to find the right fit too.

I recently read a book about a guy in the 17th century who became a pirate. Working as a regular ship crew paid a decent wage, but if you became a pirate and hit on a big ship, you could make 10 to 40 years of wages on one voyage. This fellow did that and hit on a huge treasure ship. He got his share of the loot, burned his pirate ship, and then went back to England, never to be seen again. So maybe consider piracy.

DaFace, you could become a porn star

DaFace sorry to hear about your employment situation but I have 4 job openings:

1. Need a cell phone Icon designer
2. Looking for an Escort screener to prequalify the talent
3. Want a talented writer to create reviews and post on social media all my $100 lunches.
4. Travel to Canada and smuggle Cuban Cigars and Havana Club Rum back to the US

Let me know if any interest.....I pay with Amazon Gift cards. :D

What the **** Scho.
Either you are mad everyone keeps bringing up your love for hookers or you're not.
Pick a lane.

Laid off
 

Can you play wide receiver? The Chiefs should have a temporary opening this season.

You have missed the point.

If you disagree with my posts and your only retort for your last 250 posts in response to me is "go bang a hooker you old fat ****", that tells me all I need to know about that persons IQ.

They are Sofa King We Todd Did. Like a dopey parrot with Tourette's syndrome. A real simpleton.

Ok because i had a really good zinger that i held back and that was really hard for me.

Pretty easy, actually. I used CoPilot to write my CV for when I was shooting for a job transfer/promotion months ago.

Just copied the job description text and my resume and told it to use both to write a cover letter and blam.

For the hell of it I told it to mesh my resume to match to the job listing and it handled it too.

Just had to make some minor tweaks to the output.

Just curious, how old are you?

If you need any fake referrals, let us know.. :thumb:

Having a reference that ain't scared to lick your ass at the George Brett statue is a strong reference.

That which does not kill us, makes us stronger!

Sorry to hear about this DaFace but I have little doubt that you will land feet first....

Use all your contacts/peers....you'll be surprised at what and who they may know..

I had varied luck with Headhunters....some were great and helped me a great deal but others just wanted another name in their "rolodex" be it real or virtual.

BTW....4 months severance isn't out of the norm these days...companies just see it as the cost of avoiding grievances/nuisance suits. What was an eye catcher for me was the paid insurance....that is gold.