I’ve been in the tech industry for a long time. I’ve been a leader for most of that time. I’ve read the script to employees I’ve laid off: “I regret to inform you…” or some variation of those words.
This was the first time I was on the receiving end.
I have to be honest. I had already decided to leave Oracle. I was in discussions with another employer, and we were getting close to the offer stage.
My business unit at Oracle was doing well. We were exceeding targets, growing, and our employee satisfaction numbers were excellent. My decision to look elsewhere wasn’t about performance or dissatisfaction with my team. It was about fatigue.
I spent five years at Oracle following the PeopleSoft acquisition, and I was worn out. I loved my team, my customers, and the CRM space was exciting. One of the executives I worked for often talked about “the tyranny of the immediacy.” I found that phrase to be an incredibly accurate description of my job. Everything was urgent. Everything needed attention. There was always another fire to put out, another priority to address, another change to navigate.
We went through leadership changes, organizational changes, and shifts in focus. I was ready for something different.
And then the other shoe dropped.
I was sitting at my desk, planning my next meeting with a regional credit union when my phone rang. My new boss was calling to ask if I had a few minutes for a private conversation.
I admit it. I had no idea what was coming.
Then I heard him, obviously reading from “the” script. A script I delivered several times in my own career.
“I regret to inform you that we have decided to eliminate your position…”
I heard nothing else.
Your people hear nothing else.
In one phone call, life just changed.
All the things I intellectually knew happened during a layoff suddenly became very real. Even though I was already talking to another company and had essentially resolved to leave, I experienced many of the same emotions I observed others go through.
It reminded me of the stages of grief when you lose someone: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Not necessarily in that order. Not necessarily one at a time. Sometimes looping back around just when you think you’ve moved on.
I tell my kids they can have a 30-minute pity party when they’re “boo-hooing” about life. Then we dust ourselves off and make a plan.
I skipped the bargaining stage. There was no going back, and frankly, I didn’t want to.
I was surprised by the depression stage. I felt blue. I was disappointed. I already decided to leave, so why was this affecting me so much?
Because it was still a loss. It was an unexpected change in how my story was going to unfold. Even when you know something different is ahead, you don’t necessarily get to choose how or when the current chapter ends.
I received a severance package and time to explore other opportunities within the company. My health benefits were extended through the end of the year before COBRA kicked in. From a financial perspective, I was fortunate.
There were lessons in the experience that I think are worth sharing.
A few lessons from the other side
1. Don’t be surprised by your feelings.
Give yourself permission to process what happened. You may feel angry, relieved, disappointed, anxious, or even embarrassed. You may feel several of those things in the same afternoon. Don’t judge yourself for having a reaction. Even if you saw it coming, it’s still a significant change.
2. Your value is not your job.
I am an experienced leader with valuable skills. That didn’t come from working at PeopleSoft or Oracle. It came from challenging myself, learning, growing, taking on new responsibilities, and building relationships throughout my career.
A RIF doesn’t erase any of that. Your accomplishments, experience, and capabilities don’t disappear because a company decides it no longer needs your position.
3. Take time to think about what’s next.
Don’t jump out of desperation. Obviously, this depends on your financial situation and personal circumstances. Sometimes you need to get another paycheck coming in as quickly as possible. But if you have the flexibility, take a breath.
Think about what you really want next. What energizes you? What have you always wanted to try? What would you do differently?
I wanted to work for a startup. It sounded exciting and like a great next step. I spent time thinking through that decision rather than simply jumping at the first opportunity.
4. Keep your network fresh.
One of my former bosses is a master networker. He stays in touch with hundreds of people, knows what they’re doing, and understands what they aspire to do next. I’ve always admired that skill and aspire to be more like him.
Your network isn’t something you build when you need a job. It’s something you nurture throughout your career. The relationships you build along the way can open doors you didn’t even know existed.
5. Maintain your resume and LinkedIn profile, even when you feel secure.
Don’t wait until you’re looking for a job to update your professional story. Capture measurable results, accomplishments, new skills, awards, and experiences as they happen. You won’t remember all the details when you look back months or years later.
And you never know when you’ll need them.
What happened next?
I processed. I dusted off my resume and LinkedIn profile. I started reaching out to colleagues at other organizations. And I continued conversations with the startup.
I was actually a bit relieved. The decision to leave had been made for me, and I could focus on moving forward.
Three months later, I started at Varicent, a Canadian technology startup.
But that’s the next chapter.
If you’ve been laid off and are working through the process right now, I’d be happy to connect. Message me, and we can explore where to start and how to move forward.
You don’t have to do this alone.