Sorry, but mass layoffs aren't exactly the most rational ones. There's a lot of "you have to cut X off your salary budget", pick whoever you want. Then it's up

Sorry, but mass layoffs aren't exactly the most rational ones. There's a lot of "you have to cut X off your salary budget", pick whoever you want. Then it's up to the managers to pick, very subjectively, who they want to work with the most. FFS - I managed to dodge 4 layoffs at a startup, including my whole department being cut wholesale. My managers always kept me, even though I wouldn't call myself the "best" or "the cheapest". All of it just boils down to one thing - I'm the one that whoever manages me can rely on. Just that... being reliable.