Laid-off tech workers can use this uncertain time as an opportunity to reassess and plan for the next career move.
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Companies and their constellations of leaders, employees, investors and boards love the word “growth”.
Growth means expansion and more funding. This means hiring and increasing production. This leads to fun office perks and big bonuses. It’s the sign of success, and what company doesn’t want to brag about it?
We are now seeing the overambitious growth of startups and established tech giants — Microsoft
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This hiring and firing dynamic has ensnared 160,000 workers who were laid off from tech companies last year and around 46,000 other workers who received their digital pink slips via Zoom, Slack and email this this month.
The job cuts show no signs of abating as businesses navigate a combination of high interest rates, slashed profits, falling investment and a lagging economy. So we’ve compiled our contributors’ expert advice on how to polish your resume, hone your soft skills, and land a new job fast.
Highlight soft skills
Despite the lingering bleak outlook, tech workers can still benefit from hard and soft skills, writes Future of Work expert Sarah Doody. “Whatever your role in a technology company, your skills and expertise are valuable and can be transferred to many other industries,” she writes. “Just because your last job was at a tech company doesn’t mean you can’t get hired in another industry, and maybe even with a raise.”
Skills such as communication, critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork and work ethic should not be overlooked – “these can often mean the difference between whether or not you get interviews. hiring and offers,” writes Doody.
Offering practical advice on how to showcase these skills, she says to start by asking colleagues and close friends for feedback.
Sell yourself even if it’s hard
Selling yourself may not come naturally, but it’s a necessary part of landing a new job, writes Doody. Instead of repeating that famous mantra, “always close,” it’s better to think about “always connect,” she advises.
“If marketing is about making sure people know about you and what you have to offer, then sales is about making sure they connect the dots and see enough value in the product or service for them. ‘actually buy,'” she wrote.
Look for the silver linings
The layoffs could be a boon for non-tech companies looking for skilled tech workers, writes leadership strategy expert Gleb Tsipursky. These companies “can gain a competitive advantage by providing a positive workplace culture and career development opportunities,” he writes. “It can help attract top talent who may be looking for a more stable and secure work environment.”
While leadership strategy expert Caterina Bulgarella has warned of the real costs of layoffs for workers still on their feet, Tsipursky says companies can use the upheaval as an opportunity to reevaluate culture and values.
After a tech company suffered a recent round of layoffs, it “led to a more positive and productive work environment for the remaining team members, which in turn led to increased retention. employees,” he wrote in his last post.
Take your next step
Laid-off or not, regardless of industry, position or title, employee careers will always undergo transitions and change, writes Careers contributor Joseph Liu. It is always useful to breathe, slow down and evaluate.
“Whatever the cause, transitions often open up a mix of personal and practical challenges that range from clarifying exactly what’s next to rewriting your cover letter and resume,” he notes.
“Successful professional transition means first reflecting on the progress of your career, then taking concrete action to achieve your professional ambitions.”