re: Have you ever been laid off?

I was laid off in 1989. I had already determined it looked like the company that hired me didn't really need a full time engineer and had met one of the owners of a company doing control systems (through my job at the time) that had expressed an interest in me going to work for them (I was 6 months out of college). Already had an interview and was expecting an offer any day when the company announced upcoming layoffs. I advised them I would likely be leaving so if it came to me or someone else, pick me since I may be leaving anyway. My boss told me that was good because I was gonna be one of the people laid off(as I said, I saw it coming and have no doubts he was telling me the truth). Got laid off with 2 weeks severance right before Christmas. They paid me for an additional week or so to help program a machine they were developing. Started at the engineering firm between Christmas and the new year for a 50% increase in pay.

Best thing that ever happened because I really found my calling in this sector of engineering. But getting laid off still affected my thinking for years to come, even though I really missed zero paychecks.

On a side note, that company called me to provide service to them on and off for decades after that.


Update your resume on online job sites, even if it's just dates of employment, and that typically generates notices to employers who are looking and recruiters.

Good luck, hope you make it through. If you have a good relationship with your boss, you may inquire if you should be looking, they probably have a real good idea who is on the block or at least who is not.