My last company did a speed run from "we need to build competency in house" to "internal employees are costly and outsourcing will help us reduce cost" in just 3 years.
I was called to a meeting room and told my role was redundant. The HR somehow felt that I would break down into tears. I was calm. He asked if I already had another job offer. I didn't and I had to tell him that breaking down wasn't going to help either of us in the discussion.
To make matters worse this happened just as COVID news started hitting the waves. That is starting of Feb 2020. Most of the companies had stopped interviews. And then in March shutdowns started. I was out of job between a raging pandemic. No idea when things would open back up. And everyone saying the economy was done and there might not be a job even if things started to open up.
2 months later, in May - at the height of the pandemic - I got an opportunity but came at a cost. Because I was so afraid of not having job - I accepted a 20% pay cut.
But 3 years later things have turned out positively. I am making more than 2020 level and got a promotion into middle management and now pushing higher.
There is a social stigma of being "laid off" or rather "fired". Not many people appreciate that companies can lay off people for things unrelated to performance or other issues. Some are understanding if the lay off hits the news cycle. But if you are working with a smaller company that never happens.
I was called to a meeting room and told my role was redundant. The HR somehow felt that I would break down into tears. I was calm. He asked if I already had another job offer. I didn't and I had to tell him that breaking down wasn't going to help either of us in the discussion.
To make matters worse this happened just as COVID news started hitting the waves. That is starting of Feb 2020. Most of the companies had stopped interviews. And then in March shutdowns started. I was out of job between a raging pandemic. No idea when things would open back up. And everyone saying the economy was done and there might not be a job even if things started to open up.
2 months later, in May - at the height of the pandemic - I got an opportunity but came at a cost. Because I was so afraid of not having job - I accepted a 20% pay cut.
But 3 years later things have turned out positively. I am making more than 2020 level and got a promotion into middle management and now pushing higher.
There is a social stigma of being "laid off" or rather "fired". Not many people appreciate that companies can lay off people for things unrelated to performance or other issues. Some are understanding if the lay off hits the news cycle. But if you are working with a smaller company that never happens.