Layoffs layoffs and corporate profits

It's been a tough week for many people this week. We saw 65,000 people get notified that they were being laid off. It wasn't done via a meeting invite but through a generic email. Sixty-five thousand families, dreams, and careers, disrupted in an instant.

If you were one of those people, stop for a moment. Take a deep breath! This wasn't your fault, it feels personal but it's not about you. It's about Corporate priorities.

The layoff Paradox:

Every layoff wave we hear similar scripted messages from companies.

"We're restructuring to drive efficiency" or "We're realigning the company due to shifted priorities"

Yet the companies issuing these statements were just bragging about record profits. Executives and shareholders collect paydays while thousands of employees scramble to update their resumes.

If you were impacted:

If you received one of these emails please hear me on this:

YOU DID NOT FAIL!

You aren't 'excess capacity,' you are experienced, capable, and valuable. Take time to grieve, reset, and breathe before rushing into your next move. The job loss isn't your story's ending. There is a famous saying in Bollywood by one of the biggest movie stars: "if the story isn't at a happy end, then it's not the end. There is more left to this story." I'm of course paraphrasing the famous Shah Rukh Khan saying "Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost."

When you are ready, remember: your skills and empathy are still in demand - even if your employer forgot how to recognize them.

What comes next:

Layoffs seem personal but they aren't sustainable. You can't slash your way into growth.

For you this means doing the following:

• File for your state's unemployment. TODAY! Go do it now. Use this link to locate your state and process to file unemployment.

• Update your resume. Whether you use the career transition company that your employer offered to you, you use ChatGPT, or a service like ours, you should have your resume redone and looked at by a human.

• Update your LinkedIn profile. Use the tips laid off on this post to get started.

  
  

Take some time to rest and recharge. Take time to remember that this isn't your fault. There was nothing you could have done to change the outcome. You were just the unlucky member to receive the golden ticket.

And lastly, be kind to yourself.