Tech workers who have been laid off can use this turbulent time as an opportunity to reassess and plan their next career move.
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Companies and their groups of managers, employees, investors, and boards love the word “growth.”
Growth means expansion and more financing. This means hiring and expanding production. It leads to fun office perks and great rewards. It’s an indicator of success, and what company wouldn’t want to brag about that?
We’re now seeing overly ambitious growth in startups and established tech giants alike – Microsoft
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This hiring and firing dynamic took its toll on the 160,000 workers laid off by tech companies last year and an estimated 46,000 more workers who received their digital pink slips via Zoom, Slack and email this month.
Job cuts show no sign of slowing as companies deal with a combination of rising interest rates, waning profits, declining investments and an underdeveloped economy. So we’ve rounded up expert advice from our contributors on how to polish your resume, hone your soft skills, and land a new job fast.
Highlight personal skills
Despite the ongoing bleak outlook, tech workers can still benefit from hard and soft skills, writes future of work expert Sarah Doody. “Regardless of your role in a technology company,” you write, “your skills and experience are valuable and can transfer to many other industries.” “Just because your last job was at a technology company, doesn’t mean you can’t get hired in another sector, perhaps even with a pay raise.”
Skills like communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and work ethic shouldn’t be overlooked—”they can often be the difference between whether or not you receive job interviews and offers,” Doody writes.
She offers practical advice on how to highlight these skills, she says. Start first by asking colleagues and close friends for their opinions.
Sell yourself even if it’s hard
Selling yourself may not come naturally, Dodi writes, but it’s a necessary part of getting a new job. Instead of repeating that famous mantra, “always be closed,” it’s better to think about how to “always stay connected,” she advises.
“If marketing is about ensuring people know about you and what you have to offer, sales is about making sure they connect the dots and see enough value in the product or service to actually buy it,” she wrote.
Look for the silver linings
Layoffs could be a boon for non-tech companies looking for tech-savvy workers, writes leadership strategist Gleb Tsipursky. He writes that these companies “can gain a competitive advantage by offering a positive company culture and opportunities for career growth.” “This can help attract top talent who may be looking for a more stable and secure work environment.”
While leadership strategist Caterina Bulgarella warns about the true costs of layoffs that linger, Tsiborski says companies can use change as an opportunity to re-evaluate culture and values.
After a tech company went through a recent round of layoffs, “this has led to a more positive and productive work environment for the remaining team members, which in turn has resulted in higher employee retention,” he wrote in his latest post.
Take the next step
Layoffs or not, regardless of industry, position, or job title, employees’ careers will always undergo shifts and changes, writes career contributor Joseph Liu. It’s always helpful to take a breath, slow down, and evaluate.
“No matter the reason, transitions often open up a mix of personal and work challenges ranging from articulating exactly what’s next to rewriting your cover letter and resume,” he notes.
“Successfully managing any career transition involves first thinking about where things stand in your career, and then taking concrete action to make your career ambitions a reality.”
