WholesomeAsFuck
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For the last six years I was working for one of the biggest tech companies out there and earning a six figure salary. I was unexpectedly laid off and feel like my whole world is collapsing.
I'm single and paying off a large mortgage while leaving in one of the most expensive European capitals. I have enough saved to pay my mortgage for the next 12 months and welfare should take care of my day to day expenses, but at 51 I'm terrified of not being able to find a job quickly enough. Just a reminder that your company doesn't give a shit about you and won't hesitate to turn your world upside down for no good reason.
Columbus43219
Take one of those crappy looking jobs you'll get in your email. It's easier to get a job if you're currently working. I went through this two years ago. Working for a crappy contracting company is awful, but it 1000x better than not working.
UpvotingtheHotButton
Similar situation - just l/o aftr 5 years in a solid IT position, thought I would be there years longer. My answer was to start networking and applying for everything right away. In my experience it is 2 weeks before companies even review your application - I have a second interview Friday so fingers crossed - for a job I applied to over a month ago.
draconicus
How flammable is the executive office?
djangojazz
Close to me, I'm 48 got let go last year. Took me close to five months to find anything and it's way worse now. Hey did you hear about AI! It's fixing everything by laying off people and having morons code now by lying on their resumes with AI to get in and be judged by AI. Then they get in and cannot even do hello world apps.
sadurdaynight
Worked tech for 2 decades, and my modus operandi is to always save up for the next unemployment. Layoffs, company going under, re-orgs, bosses that suck, etc. I'm a data analyst (as opposed to programmer or IT), but field shifted from "oh, you know excel!" to "you need a bachellors and years exp" (in 00's) to "you need a masters or phd now". When you get the job you find out you're number crunching to make dumb people sound smart, and you have to spoon-feed them b/c they don't understand.
nilaismad
My best friend just got laid off too. He's so worried about keeping up with rent and bills. He's so down and feels like a failure as a father. I wish I was rich so I could help people like him.
Rogerwilco1974
Oracle, presumably? Or are other tech firms slashing their workforce in favour of shitty AI, too?
awkungen42
Happened to me last year, after doing Cloud Engineering for 3 years. Literally the same boat as you, I'm working 60 hours a week to make payments at a shitty factory job while I'm looking for work. Which isn't going well because I have to work so much and I don't have a lot of left over energy. My advice is hit the ground running, especially if you need a remote position.
usernamesarenotcomments
I'm sorry for your situation.
I also got laid off, but I'm kinda relieved. I have been thinking about leaving, but the enshittification slope of my job was just shallow enough that nothing gave me the final push to do so.
Now I get to leave and get 4 months pay for it. I have enough money to survive for at least a year, multiple connections who have said they can put a good word for me in the industry.
Thisisallyourfault
Happened to me about 10 months ago, sans mortgage. Took me 8 months to land a new job. Its doable. Unfortunately highly stressful, though. But contlgrats on being in Europe so you still have health care while you look.
Jmarie453
I hate reading these, and this is a reality thousands across the globe are facing daily. I am so sorry.
Most ppl only have 0-2 months saved. You have twelve, but if you are in tech, stretch it.
Downgrade your car if your payment is high.
Kill subscriptions you don't need.
Be stingy with utilities, and even stingier with frivolous purchases.
Consider selling things you no longer use.
Get a side gig asap.
Don't wait to do it, act like today is month 12 and your buffer is already gone.
Baxteen
I was also laid off a year ago. It took me a full year to find work again and I just started working on the 1st. I'm 40 but I live in south Africa so finding work is harder.
Look at your positive sides. You have enough saved to keep your world almost the same for 12 months. But do you want to? Can you uproot and move to a cheaper place where you can find work remotely? Find positives and work on those as goals.
Also fuck this capitalistic helscape we call the present
FDelacongo
I'm going to go to lunch with a former coworker who hasn't worked in two years. It's going to hurt to have to tell him the company I work for doesn't have any openings. I feel so sorry for all of those people who got laid off, especially the older ones who would have little to no chance of ever working in our industry again, and won't get the chance to better prepare themselves for retirement.
sevenfingerman
I got laid off two weeks ago, it’s not fun. But it’s ve been putting myself out there and I have had a good number and f interviews with one place interviewing me three times. I’m told that’s a good sign so I am hoping for an offer soon.
All of this to say, that you got this. Freshen up that resume and get out there. Would you like some help with that?
dex5
I got laid off just before Thanksgiving…finally landed a job in the same industry a month ago. It’s brutal for people who are being forced to find out what else we can excel at. It’s literally like when a partner breaks up with you. But, you’re still young! New beginnings! 🤗
BennyGaga
I'm in a similar situation, except I'm in America.Don't have a year of savings , and i'm a broken toe away from being bankrupt. ( Lost my health insurance).
nicilaskin
if you are single and have more than 1 bedroom , get a roommate to cover some costs . make it month to month
WholesomeAsFuck
No extra bedroom, unfortunately
Deleteded
I didn't know that the American Dream was attainable in Europe.
thinkybrainpains
It’s not. This person was able to save money, a year’s mortgage payments, so they have a home and has enough “welfare” to remain housed. lol
monsster
Welcome to the f*cking club. Amsterdam here, same shit, different story.
YouAreTheInsultMaster
Yeah I think you have plenty of time my friend. Try to enjoy yourself a bit
SomethingSomethingUserName123
you'll probably be able to find something in smaller companies, but with a bit smaller salary. Working for big tech will usually open doors other places. And 51 is not old enough to be ignored yet, since there still is need for a lot of tech people around.
NotTodaySucker
our SQL guy came from a major big player in his 50s. I dare to think he is happy in our smaller company. I know I cherish him because of his work style.
azarza
set up linkedin profile, hit alerts on keyword jobs and then buckle up from monday-tuesday. there are also a bunch of job sites to go through too.. look for remote
theblondeone
Please tell me you are in The Netherlands with an incredible 2 years severance package. Imma crossing fingers here!
WholesomeAsFuck
Nope. Got six weeks severance only
BlastyMcBlastblast
what a great opportunity to go bicycle touring for a few weeks and get yourself back into a good headspace! :)
hufflesnuff
Just happened to a tech worker buddy of mine I grew up with in Boston. He sort of saw the writing on the wall a couple of months going towards it, as his job turned from coding to claude conductor. I'll tell you something similar to what I told him, and hope it helps a tiny bit:
You're in a better spot than 95% of people. Worst case scenario you have to sell your house and move 3 hours out where (he at least) could buy a similar sized, if not quite as nice, place outright for his 30% equity.
starkeclipse
I feel you. I was just asked to help train staff on automated audits...The audits I currently manually support and was not included in the automation of. I feel like my days are numbered.
hufflesnuff
You'll find something even if it means taking a big pay cut. And (hopefully you too) you have a better chunk held off for retirement than most. If the worst happens, there are worse fates than living like somebody making half as much and having more savings/equity. It sucks. Feeling like going backwards always sucks. But it's the bright side.
TheInternetNeedsMoreCats
I will say, that in most US tech hubs right now, the cost of real estate and the interest rates are so high, that it is hard to sell a house that was bought in the last 7 or 8 years. Buyers just aren't willing to risk signing up for a big mortgage when their industry isn't stable. So people who bought at the height often have to sell at a large loss, many of them are attempting to rent their houses and live with family or friends until things change. Multiple families of 4 in one house sometimes
enjeruluca
I’m a tech worker in Boston and just bought a house a couple of years ago and had my first kid. This economy coupled with all this uncertainty in our industry makes life really freakin hard. No one is able to plan, everything is erratic now.
yamsonyamsonyams
Move to NH - Im off 93 and it takes me 50 minutes to get into Logan *without traffic*
But even with traffic it’s… well it’s rough, but 500k for a house with a hard beats paying $950k for an apartment
SavageDrums
Might not be the worst idea to look into downsizing your property, and/or moving to a cheaper city
WholesomeAsFuck
It’s a tiny one bedroom, hard to downsize that and if I move somewhere with else it will be much harder to find work
Seethreepeeoh
Step 1: Be European [check]. Step 2: talk to your mortgage broker or provider on Monday. All euro counties have protections in law. Ask what supports they have available. Not everything will help your particular situ, but knowing you have options will help the panic. Step 3: pet a dog [it always helps]. Walk one if available.
BeaverOnFire
WholesomeAsFuck
Good advice. I have two beautiful kitties to keep me sane
someguy7734206
You can't say that and not post them.
Just kidding. Do as you feel comfortable. Best of luck to you in your situation, especially in this market.
Kiares
Yay kitties
FiftyShadesOfArugula
Maybe you can apply for early retirement for health reasons? It doesn't have to be a single crippling condition if you have a bunch of lesser health issues like a bad back, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma, diabetes etc., which can add up to a greatly reduced earning capacity. Mental health issues like burnout, depression or anxiety are extremely "helpful". Your pension would be lower than at age 60-something, but it's typically still based on your last salary so it wouldn't be a pittance either.
WholesomeAsFuck
Not really an option. I have no health issues whatsoever. I don’t think I’d be able to get early retirement and even if I did, in this country pensions are not based on previous income, sadly. The government pension I’d be entitled to wouldn’t cover my mortgage and I don’t have enough on my private pension fund to make up the difference
WholesomeAsFuck
In any case I feel far too young to retire, I barely look 40
MyronTheDormouse
WilliamHMcKracken
ByThePowerOfSCIENCE
They don't work in warehouses. Data centers are perhaps the most fire protected workplaces - light a piece of paper, an alarm goes off and you have 10 seconds to cancel it or get out before the fire suppressant gas floods the place.
They won't have access anyway, nor they want to ruin their career.
jstarlen
This as a response to a six-figure tech worker with over a year's worth of savings available is stolen valor.
SavageDrums
A six figure tech worker who is no longer being paid enough to live.
SwiftyGuy
A six figure tech worker should be able to save up money for things like this. It’s really scary, but it happens more than you know
nlky
do they work for a living? then they're working class. simple as.
DVSBSTrD
@OP You were making six figures and you don't have any savings?
WholesomeAsFuck
I do have savings but they won’t last forever
jetah
You'd be surprised how that income slowly gets eaten away with minor but steady lifestyle creep.
DVSBSTrD
99% Of rich people should never be allowed to have money.
jetah
what's your definition of "rich"?
DVSBSTrD
People who can't park.