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Having been through a few layoffs at companies, I think it's still helpful to remember that even when a company does lay-offs and while thousands of people are

Having been through a few layoffs at companies, I think it's still helpful to remember that even when a company does lay-offs and while thousands of people are losing their jobs, the vast majority are not. News articles don't state "100K engineers at company XYZ not effected by lay-offs". I don't want to downplay the stress that comes from working in an environment like this. And news articles showing how thousands are being laid off can be really stressful, especially as jobs are means for housing, immigration, feeding your family! While you should always be prepared for the worst, it's by no means a certainly that you will be impacted by lay-offs. When I read that the OP fully expects to be laid off; I hope they're wrong, and statistically they are. I don't say this to take away from the real pain that comes from this uncertainty, but more to offer a ray of hope.

ramesh31 4y ago
>I think it's still helpful to remember that even when a company does lay-offs and while thousands of people are losing their jobs, the vast majority are not. News articles don't state "100K engineers at company XYZ not effected by lay-offs". You are absolutely right. I think it's just a bit of a personal reckoning that I'm coming to terms with lately, given the prospect of losing my job. I've spent the last decade committing my entire life to software. I eat, think, sleep, and breathe software. It's the sole source of my sense of self worth. But I don't have a college degree, and it feels like things have changed dramatically over that decade. The market is flush with CS grads with 5+ years of experience now, and I know that I don't stand a chance against them in landing a job. I think the vast majority of my anxiety now is that I will never get another job again after being laid off. I have no other skills or education, so it's either six figures making software, or flipping burgers for me.
- tj-teej 4y ago
  I'm sorry to hear that and I wish you the best. Don't sell yourself short. You've spent a decade creating software and dedicating yourself to it. A degree doesn't change that (a degree is much easier to go and get than 10 years experience). Keep your chin up, things will be OK.

ramesh31 4y ago

>I think it's still helpful to remember that even when a company does lay-offs and while thousands of people are losing their jobs, the vast majority are not. News articles don't state "100K engineers at company XYZ not effected by lay-offs". You are absolutely right. I think it's just a bit of a personal reckoning that I'm coming to terms with lately, given the prospect of losing my job. I've spent the last decade committing my entire life to software. I eat, think, sleep, and breathe software. It's the sole source of my sense of self worth. But I don't have a college degree, and it feels like things have changed dramatically over that decade. The market is flush with CS grads with 5+ years of experience now, and I know that I don't stand a chance against them in landing a job. I think the vast majority of my anxiety now is that I will never get another job again after being laid off. I have no other skills or education, so it's either six figures making software, or flipping burgers for me.

tj-teej 4y ago
I'm sorry to hear that and I wish you the best. Don't sell yourself short. You've spent a decade creating software and dedicating yourself to it. A degree doesn't change that (a degree is much easier to go and get than 10 years experience). Keep your chin up, things will be OK.