A Letter to the Laid Off- What’s Next?
TL;DR- if you’ve recently been laid off, we’d like to hear what you’re thinking about doing next.
I remember when I got laid off.
It was 2001. I was flying high at a dot com when the market crashed and my world shattered in an afternoon. 2 kids, a mortgage and not a lot of prospects. Despite doing some of the best work of my young career, costs needed to be cut in search of a soft landing for the startup, and I was one of those costs.
In that moment, I felt angry and I felt scared- I had no idea what was next.
In retrospect, it was the most formative time of my life and one that opened me to new career paths I might not have ever considered or explored.
Many in tech are experiencing these same feelings for themselves. Today’s headlines tell the stories of once hot startups burning up, unicorns shutting down, funding running dry and massive job cuts across the board- even at some of the largest industry giants.
But, behind each headline are individual stories a lot like mine. They’re our stories now and there are new chapters to write.
At indie, we firmly believe that moments like these can be a catalyst for new and independent thinking and business building. This moment, right here, is a historic one. There’s never been a bigger wave of more capable talent hitting the market to build a future that’s uniquely theirs.
Like me, maybe some of you are at a loss for what’s next. Those old jobs are gone and they’re not coming back. The path forward isn’t clear.
But, perhaps you’ve had something in the back of your mind. A dream to build something of your own. It’s something you’ve always wanted to do, but you’ve put it off, pushed it aside or dabbled with it as a side hustle.
The tech giants you previously worked for? They were once just ideas and side hustles too, built on a vision for how they might change the world for themselves and, often, for the better. Now, you stand on that same precipice, equipped with industry knowledge and technical expertise that can propel your own venture forward.
Our world needs innovation. It needs problem solvers, creators, leaders — it needs you.
We, at indie, would love to know what you see as your path ahead. We’ve put together a survey to hear directly from you about your experiences, skills, and potential ambitions in this new reality taking shape.
Silicon Valley Talent Transition Survey
By filling out this survey, you’re helping us gauge the current landscape to understand how best we can support you. So, don’t hold back. Tell us about your thoughts, ideas, what kind of ventures excite you, and how we can help you turn your vision into reality.
