If you thought 2022 was bad in terms of layoffs, 2023 proved to be worse and by the looks of it, 2024 isn’t looking better either. There have been widespread layoffs in various industries. In fact, in January itself, several employed professionals found that they were out of a job overnight. According to India Today, 32,000 tech employees have lost their jobs in 2024. From startups to top tech companies like Google, Amazon, and Meta have let go of a huge chunk of their employees citing restructuring and cost-cutting measures.
One of the people who was recently laid off by his company was Jishnu, an engineer who worked as a second engineer member at a certain company. What’s funny is that on February 7, he made a post on X writing how the whole recession situation in the tech industry is making him uneasy and how he currently has low confidence because of it.
The whole recession situation in tech making me unease. May be at the lowest confidence level in my career.
— Jishnu (@jishnu7) February 7, 2024
A day later, he got laid off from his company.
That was quick. I got laid off today, as part of reorg.
So actively looking for a job now. Please let me know if anyone is hiring. https://t.co/CqGWYQbgY6
— Jishnu (@jishnu7) February 8, 2024
Giving more details about his work and experience, Jishnu revealed that he worked for 5 years in the company. When he had joined, there were only 5 people. When he left, there were 150 employees.
Surprisingly, this went viral.
I think I’ll give more details about my experience and how I handled it.
When I made the original tweet on Feb 7, I wasn’t aware that my company was planning a layoff. I made the tweet after seeing the trends on Twitter and layoff news from MNCs.
— Jishnu (@jishnu7) February 9, 2024
I joined the company as a second engineering member, at a time when the company was five people strong.
In April, I would have finished my 5 years in the company.
The company has grown to over 150 people, including a large number of engineers.
— Jishnu (@jishnu7) February 9, 2024
It was when he saw a calender invite at 10 AM in the morning with people he didn’t usually interact with, he realised his time at the company had come to an end.
Did significant contributions in the core product and worked closely with the founders. But at the end, was laid off in a call with VP of engg and HR.
When I got a calendar invite in the morning 10AM, with people I don’t usually interact with, I understood that my time had come.
— Jishnu (@jishnu7) February 9, 2024
From the whole exercise, what I learned is, if you are leaving a company of your own, you’ll be given a generous sent off with dignity and wishes from co-workers.
If you are let go, even if it is not your mistake, all your access will be cut off within mins of the call.
— Jishnu (@jishnu7) February 9, 2024
However, people online were incredibly supportive and many came forward to notify him about job opportunities. Some even asked him for his resume so they could help him out. Here’s a look at some of the responses to his post:
It is wonderful to see strangers coming forward to help a man who just lost his job. The beauty of humanity!