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Mass Layoffs in Tech: I Survived Them for 25 Years—Until I Didn’t
Hello world.
I’m an unemployed, ex–Big Tech software engineer with 25 years in the technology industry. And like many of you, over the past week I’ve been watching yet another wave of mass layoffs sweep across tech, tens of thousands of engineers, designers, and product leaders suddenly finding themselves on the outside.
Every layoff cycle brings back a memory I can’t quite shake: my first.
My First Layoff, 2008
In 2008, during the Great Recession, I was a mid-level developer at a digital consulting agency. I’d been there just under two years, still learning, still finding my footing. I had a mentor, let’s call her Dana, an exceptional software architect who patiently taught me concepts I still carry today. She explained the differences between dynamically typed languages like PHP and the strongly typed Java systems I was used to, never making me feel small for not knowing.
Then one afternoon, building security appeared on the floor.
An emergency town hall invite hit our calendars. We gathered in the atrium, where our CEO, Rob, stood in front of us looking exhausted. He explained that unexpected economic conditions had caused the loss of major clients. Hard cuts had to be made for the company to survive.
What struck me most wasn’t the announcement, it was his demeanor. There was shame in his face. Sadness in his eyes. He took full responsibility for the layoffs, repeatedly emphasizing that none of the affected employees were at fault. It felt almost ancient, like watching a leader fall on his sword.
When the town hall ended and we returned to our desks, nearly half the floor was empty. Dana’s cube was stripped bare.
I felt fear, anxiety, self-doubt, and an overwhelming sense of survivor’s guilt.
At a nearby café, I found Dana. She told me she’d been laid off. She said mentoring me had been a pleasure. Her voice broke. She looked older than I’d ever seen her. At the time, she was younger than I am now, but loss has a way of aging you instantly.
That was my introduction to mass layoffs.
Three Eras of Tech Layoffs
Over 25 years, I’ve survived countless layoffs across three distinct eras.
The Great Recession Era was marked by reluctant leadership. Layoffs were painful, shameful, and avoided until there was no other option.
The M&A Era of the late 2010s brought quiet, discreet layoffs: fast, clinical, and rarely discussed.
The Post-COVID Big Tech Era, beginning around 2023, is something else entirely. Layoffs are framed as efficiency. As optimization. As something to be proud of. Strong engineers are cut not because they failed, but because markets demand higher valuations.
In my view, this era is the most brutal and unpredictable of all.
When my own Big Tech layoff finally came, I’d lost count of how many rounds I’d survived.
How I Stayed Employed for 25 Years
I can’t offer guarantees, but I can share what helped me last as long as I did.
Build a reputation for dependability.Be known as someone who gets things done well. That requires initiative, optimism, and solution-oriented thinking.
Make your value visible.Speak up strategically. Share accomplishments. Ensure your manager—and their manager—knows what you contribute.
Continuously learn in-demand skills.From bare metal servers to cloud platforms to SaaS, I was always learning what the market needed next. In-demand skills act like a parachute when you fall.
Work on revenue-critical projects.Projects that directly make money are the least likely to be cut.
Network relentlessly.Inside your team. Across departments. Outside your company. Your network is a safety net.
Be versatile.Take on varied roles. Learn flexibility. Remember: the highly specialized T-Rex didn’t survive, but the adaptable mammal did.
Final Thoughts
We’re living in an age of seemingly unending layoffs in tech. These strategies are coping mechanisms, not guarantees. But applied consistently, they can move the needle.
If you’re navigating this uncertainty, you’re not alone. I’m sharing this journey openly, part reflection, part therapy, part survival guide.
If you’d like to follow along, join the newsletter, or simply grab a coffee with me along the way.
Until next time.
Get full access to AsianDadEnergy's Newsletter at asiandadenergy.substack.com/subscribe
View all episodes
By AsianDadEnergyHello world.
I’m an unemployed, ex–Big Tech software engineer with 25 years in the technology industry. And like many of you, over the past week I’ve been watching yet another wave of mass layoffs sweep across tech, tens of thousands of engineers, designers, and product leaders suddenly finding themselves on the outside.
Every layoff cycle brings back a memory I can’t quite shake: my first.
My First Layoff, 2008
In 2008, during the Great Recession, I was a mid-level developer at a digital consulting agency. I’d been there just under two years, still learning, still finding my footing. I had a mentor, let’s call her Dana, an exceptional software architect who patiently taught me concepts I still carry today. She explained the differences between dynamically typed languages like PHP and the strongly typed Java systems I was used to, never making me feel small for not knowing.
Then one afternoon, building security appeared on the floor.
An emergency town hall invite hit our calendars. We gathered in the atrium, where our CEO, Rob, stood in front of us looking exhausted. He explained that unexpected economic conditions had caused the loss of major clients. Hard cuts had to be made for the company to survive.
What struck me most wasn’t the announcement, it was his demeanor. There was shame in his face. Sadness in his eyes. He took full responsibility for the layoffs, repeatedly emphasizing that none of the affected employees were at fault. It felt almost ancient, like watching a leader fall on his sword.
When the town hall ended and we returned to our desks, nearly half the floor was empty. Dana’s cube was stripped bare.
I felt fear, anxiety, self-doubt, and an overwhelming sense of survivor’s guilt.
At a nearby café, I found Dana. She told me she’d been laid off. She said mentoring me had been a pleasure. Her voice broke. She looked older than I’d ever seen her. At the time, she was younger than I am now, but loss has a way of aging you instantly.
That was my introduction to mass layoffs.
Three Eras of Tech Layoffs
Over 25 years, I’ve survived countless layoffs across three distinct eras.
The Great Recession Era was marked by reluctant leadership. Layoffs were painful, shameful, and avoided until there was no other option.
The M&A Era of the late 2010s brought quiet, discreet layoffs: fast, clinical, and rarely discussed.
The Post-COVID Big Tech Era, beginning around 2023, is something else entirely. Layoffs are framed as efficiency. As optimization. As something to be proud of. Strong engineers are cut not because they failed, but because markets demand higher valuations.
In my view, this era is the most brutal and unpredictable of all.
When my own Big Tech layoff finally came, I’d lost count of how many rounds I’d survived.
How I Stayed Employed for 25 Years
I can’t offer guarantees, but I can share what helped me last as long as I did.
Build a reputation for dependability.Be known as someone who gets things done well. That requires initiative, optimism, and solution-oriented thinking.
Make your value visible.Speak up strategically. Share accomplishments. Ensure your manager—and their manager—knows what you contribute.
Continuously learn in-demand skills.From bare metal servers to cloud platforms to SaaS, I was always learning what the market needed next. In-demand skills act like a parachute when you fall.
Work on revenue-critical projects.Projects that directly make money are the least likely to be cut.
Network relentlessly.Inside your team. Across departments. Outside your company. Your network is a safety net.
Be versatile.Take on varied roles. Learn flexibility. Remember: the highly specialized T-Rex didn’t survive, but the adaptable mammal did.
Final Thoughts
We’re living in an age of seemingly unending layoffs in tech. These strategies are coping mechanisms, not guarantees. But applied consistently, they can move the needle.
If you’re navigating this uncertainty, you’re not alone. I’m sharing this journey openly, part reflection, part therapy, part survival guide.
If you’d like to follow along, join the newsletter, or simply grab a coffee with me along the way.
Until next time.
Get full access to AsianDadEnergy's Newsletter at asiandadenergy.substack.com/subscribe