Career development

I might be laid off, what should I do now?

Navigating hard times when nothing you do seem to matter anymore

Image credit to Unsplash

Disclaimer: this is not a motivational article. This comes as a personal reflection written in a midst of massive layoff wave in my current workplace. It is brutal, hard, and confusing, and no amount of sugarcoating could make it easier. My role as a designer is currently impacted and a lot of people asked ‘How are you feeling?’. I have been reflecting on that question because honestly speaking— I don’t know how to answer that. Am I sad? Am I stressed? Am I confident that I will be okay in the end?

Moreover, as an expat like me who stays in the Netherlands with a visa, this is no longer a professional setback. This affects my entire life — my long-term plans, my future in this country, and my sense of stability. During my reflection, I identified a few difficult truths on what this situation really means and how I could possibly navigate it. If you are currently on the same boat like me and you struggle with a lot of anxieties and uncertainties of what comes next, know that you are not alone and as hard as it is, it’s not the end.

1. Cover your grounds as much as you can
   Your first reaction when the wave hits will probably be panic — a lot of them. So first of…