This week Amazon let 18,000 employees go. In January 2023, we read about large-scale layoff announcements from Microsoft and Google.  In 2022 tech lay-offs affected a staggering 150,000 people and 2023 looks set to continue. ‘Let go’, ‘made redundant’, ‘terminated’, ‘laid off’… Whichever way you look at it and whatever you want to call it, it’s a difficult and painful experience for those involved and sends shockwaves through the rest of the organization impacting everyone else too. 

To anyone struggling with being laid off – there is life after redundancy. I resigned from Amazon voluntarily in 2018. I had worked for the organization for eight years and had consistently been reviewed as ‘Top Tier’. I was nominated to attend the prestigious ‘Leader of Leaders’ development training.  I was invited to be a Bar Raiser, over the years overseeing hundreds of hiring processes ensuring that Amazon continually hired people who were considered better than the existing team, thus continually raising the bar. When you work for an organization like this, you’re continually told that you are the best of the best and that you’re working with the brightest minds on the planet. That you, in fact, have one of the brightest minds on the planet. After all, that’s why you were hired in the first place, right? Please don’t get me wrong, I loved working for Amazon. I loved the culture, I worked on incredible projects that genuinely made a difference, travelled the world and met and worked with incredibly talented individuals. It wasn’t all hard work and no play,  I met wonderful people, many of whom I am still in touch with and a number that I am lucky enough to call friends. I chose to leave for several reasons, most importantly, that I felt the ethos was changing and as a result, I was beginning to feel completely burnt out.

Despite leaving voluntarily, I struggled to adjust to life outside Amazon. Being part of the Amazon family was hugely important to me and no longer being an Amazonian was challenging. In some ways, I felt as though I had lost my identity. I imagine that many of the 18,000 employees who did not choose to leave Amazon but found themselves in a situation where the decision was made for them are also struggling to cope with this loss of identity. I hope that sharing my thoughts and experiences provides some solace to someone in need.

Give Yourself Time to Feel and Time to Heal

It’s ok to feel angry, frustrated, sad, lost, or even relieved.  Allow yourself some time to feel what you need to feel. Talk to people about what you’re feeling and what you are experiencing.  The adage ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ can help you work through some of the emotions you’re feeling.  Redundancy can be a traumatic experience but try to remain calm and give yourself time to recover. Do some of the things that you’ve wanted to do but have never had time for – even if it’s something as simple as picking your kids up from school. Try to find peace and beauty in small moments of pleasure.  I swapped my commute for a long daily dog walk, and a swing by a local coffee shop for a cappuccino on the walk home….utter bliss.

Focus on Opportunity

As an Amazonian, you’re used to dealing with ambiguity, you know how to deliver results, and you certainly know how to think big.  Apply these principles to your own life and think through your next steps and next opportunities.  Think carefully about your next role, what do you want to do?  What sort of environment do you thrive in?  This is the time to reassess your career goals and your passions.  You have so many skills that organisations need, take your time, and think things through.  After all, Amazon invested in you heavily and you’ve learned so much along the way, choose your next move wisely.

Know Your Worth

Prepare your resume or CV, update your LinkedIn profile, start networking, and reconnect with your contacts. Use the time you have to take stock of your skills, your achievements, your experiences and to build your personal brand.  Spend some time working on your strengths and values – understand what makes you feel happy and fulfilled.  Hitting the job market can be exhilarating and at the same time terrifying – narrow down your search to roles that play to your strengths and values. Maybe it’s time to learn and be curious – perhaps, like me, you want to completely rethink your career.  Having time to study and retrain can be liberating and can open doors and opportunities that you hadn’t imagined before.

Be Kind To Yourself

There aren’t enough ways to stress the importance of looking after your mental health and wellbeing. Self-care during this time is vital as stress, anxiety and depression can have a detrimental effect on you and those around you.  Keep talking, exercise, eat well, and sleep well.  Find ways to stay calm and find pleasure in life and the world around you.

Consider Finding a Coach or Mentor

I wish someone had given me this advice when I first left Amazon.  After training as a coach, I appreciate the value of having someone to talk to, who gives you valuable time to think, can challenge your thinking, can help you reflect and can work with you on setting meaningful goals through honest and genuine conversation.  I have a coach now, as well as a supervisor and I value these relationships because they help me find meaning and purpose in my life.  Bill Gates once famously said ‘everyone needs a coach’, I totally buy into this – and not just because I am one!

And Finally…

Although losing your job can be devastating, remember that it isn’t the end.  You are not defined by your role in an organisation.  At its worst, it is a horrible moment in time. It is, at its best, a catalyst for change and the start of something wonderful.