Lay-Offs and the Job Search

The way a company lays people off says a lot about them.

The impact spans from those laid off to those who were left with a bad taste in their mouth to those with a mountain of work and no end in sight. Naturally, anyone affected who is looking for their next role is afraid of ending up in the same position.

Asking about a company's runway and roadmap can be helpful to see the health of the organization and if they're heading in a clear direction. But that doesn't necessarily determine whether or not layoffs might be in their future.

Try asking these questions instead:
👉 What are your criteria for deciding when to lay people off?
👉 What are your criteria for deciding whom to lay off?
👉 How do you plan to avoid layoffs over the next several months?

As layoffs become more common, it is near impossible to find an organization that has never and will never have a "reorg" (which feels like a crass way of describing people losing their jobs in my opinion). However, it is possible to find a company that is thoughtful in its approach to tough situations.

However you've been impacted, my heart goes out to you. I wish you the best of luck in your search 💛