Meta and Google have made recent headlines due to significant layoffs affecting 21,000 and 12,000 employees, respectively. While layoffs can trigger emotions like anger, they also present an opportunity for personal growth and adaptation. Layoffs often occur during financial challenges, emphasizing that despite personal connections, employees can become numbers on a spreadsheet. To navigate these circumstances, it's crucial to recognize the need for future-proofing your career. For those employed, building an online presence, networking, and initiating side projects is key. For those impacted by layoffs, creating valuable content, developing skills, and standing out are vital. The message underscores the importance of proactive resilience and continuous creative endeavors in the face of uncertainty.
In the recent past, Meta and Google have made headlines, not for their groundbreaking innovations, but for their massive layoffs. A staggering 21,000 from Meta and 12,000 from Google have been shown the door. It's only natural for emotions to run high, for anger to seep in. But amidst this turmoil, lies a silver lining - an opportunity to prepare, to adapt.
When the financial tide turns, when shareholders are anxious and board members are on edge, layoffs often follow. One day you're an integral part of the corporate "family", the next, you're not. It's a harsh reality, but a reality nonetheless.
No matter how cherished you are, how close-knit your relationship with your boss is, or how grand your welcome was, in the end, it boils down to numbers. You're a digit on a spreadsheet. I've walked in those shoes. Is it fair? Perhaps not. Is it the truth? Absolutely.
The sooner you grasp this, the better equipped you'll be to navigate your career. It's time to future-proof yourself.
If you're currently employed, leverage this time to build your online presence, share your insights, learn from others, and connect with talented individuals. Initiate side projects and hustles. Network relentlessly. Make your mark, make yourself unforgettable.
Find something that resonates with you, something that could potentially bring in income if need be. It could be anything.
For those who have lost their jobs, resist the urge to simply display the "Open for Work" badge on your profile. Instead, channel your energy into creating something:
- Grab attention
- Generate content
- Develop software
- Start a newsletter
- Write a blog
- Create audio or video content
The key is to create! Don't just tell people you're available for work, demonstrate your worth. Stand out from the crowd. Make some noise. Dare to be different. Be omnipresent.
And when you do land a job, don't halt your creative endeavors. Always have a contingency plan. Always be ready.
