Being let go didn't personally affect me at all. I've gotten used to losing jobs. It's happened several times over my career, and by now I don't see it as anything reflecting on me. But I've never been more worried about finding another job. It doesn't look good out there, and my husband's job is in peril too. I can't recall when things have felt this bad from every direction. Wish us luck and the optimism to keep us afloat.
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@OP And with AI, we'll all be fighting over roofing jobs.
@a8 wonderful advice! My reco is to double down on #4: networking. Lean into anyone you know: friends of friends, school alumni, old colleagues, even that person you met once a long time ago. Don’t be shy - most people want to help when they can. These are the connections that will inform you of the role that’s not yet posted or get you directly connected to a hiring manager. Also keep in touch with others who are also on the job hunt. You can learn a lot from them. Sometimes a person finds two life rafts when they only need one.
Damn, this person is preaching some useful gospel.
Totally agree with the last response. Like many others here, I learned on Tuesday (1/20) that my position was being “eliminated.”
I’ve been in wireless since 2009. I originally joined Sprint after being laid off from an architectural firm during the height of the recession. That firm wasn’t a public company—about 200 employees across three offices—so there was no WARN notice and no mandatory severance. I had one week of vacation cashed out, very little savings, and a wife who was due to deliver our first child in two weeks.
About a week after I was let go, I got a call from a recruiter—the same recruiter who had placed me at that architectural firm—just “checking in.” Coincidentally, she was calling because she was recruiting for a role at Sprint. That call changed everything.
From 2009 until now, I’ve been in wireless: Sprint, then T-Mobile after the 2020 merger, leaving in 2021 to join a small MVNO (Mint Mobile), only to later learn we were being acquired in 2022. Along the way, I’ve seen incredible colleagues impacted by restructurings, synergies, optimizations—whatever label is being used at the time. I’ve personally been laid off three times. Twice I was called back. Each experience taught me something about the process, about myself, and about what helped me move forward. In case it’s helpful, here are a few things that worked best for me:
First, don’t take it personally.
Being selected is rarely a reflection of your value or performance. More often than not, it’s a numbers game, an org chart decision, or a strategic shift completely outside your control.
Second, protect your mindset.
Staying positive doesn’t mean pretending this doesn’t hurt—it does. There will be moments when you feel discouraged or uncertain, and that’s normal. But don’t let those moments define the narrative. One door closing really can create space for another to open.
Third, treat the job search like a job.
When you start applying through company sites, LinkedIn, or other postings, approach the process with structure and intention. What helped me was getting up in the morning, showering, getting dressed, and treating the search itself like my job for the day. That mindset made a real difference for me versus casually applying in pajamas—it helped me stay focused, disciplined, and confident.
Fourth, lean into your network.
Reach out to former colleagues, managers, recruiters, and friends—LinkedIn, text, email, whatever works. Many opportunities come from conversations that start as simple check-ins.
And finally, remember this: there is light at the end of the tunnel. When the batteries in your flashlight feel low, lean on your spouse, your friends, and—most importantly—on yourself. Don’t give up, and don’t let that negative inner voice take over. You’ve built skills, relationships, and experience that still matter, even if it doesn’t feel that way today.
I don’t mean to scare you, but you should definitely start looking very seriously as quickly as you can. This job market is no joke. It’s really the worst I’ve ever seen.
Network like crazy and do yourself a favor and don’t put the open to work banner up on LinkedIn. It’s like a magnet for people posing as recruiters..
@OP my advice is to take temp or any part time if available while looking for permanent job. This will give you more strength on permanent job interview. There is some power on these job even part time that helps you to better perform in interviews. I wish you the best. I know you will come thru this.
Good luck.