I was laid off several months ago. I've gotten to the final round multiple times since then and each time, they pick someone else. The reasons are always vague and feel like excuses. My self confidence is now completely destroyed. I'm losing sleep and I feel awful. The irony is, I'd give anything to have my job back, the same one I hated for years before being cut.
12 replies (most recent on top)
@c4 I hope you have the day you deserve and the karma you need to be humbled.
@b3 This is good advice. At the same time, though. It's even harder to look for a job when you're working one. Finding the time to interview prep, build up your skillset after being at a company that often wastes your talents, etc. can seem more feasible to do when you're on severance. So I kinda get it why people just want to be laid off.
Would obviously prefer a paycheck over no paycheck.
@am Me too!
I was laid off in March, found a job in 4 weeks, but networked and opened up my LinkedIn account so Recruiters could see I was open to work. Network like crazy and interview to stay in practice! Even if you have to take a temp contract. Something is better than nothing.....
@c6 The unemployment office said lower your expectations. Plan on it taking 9-12 months to find a new job and take a pay cut. Refusing an offer violates unemployment so I guess I should be happy with anything. Fu-k Optum!
The reality is that many of the jobs being cut are being reposted at lower pay grades. If you get laid off, you can expect to take about a 20% pay cut for many of the same roles in 2026. I know it hurts to take a pay cut on top of inflation, but that’s what employers are doing right now. Optum is not alone.
It can easily take over 6 months to find a job in this market. Keep applying externally. I know my team has more layoffs end of May so I would not recommend applying internally to Optum.
Should have worked harder
@OP you don't need 10 offers you just need one. It'll come. It takes between 3 and 5 months to land a job.
As for regretting being gone, this is a message to everyone on this board who bi--hes and moans about their job. Be careful what you wish for.
They pick someone else becuause you are not a DEI hire.
I work for a company who monitors the DEI check boxes. That's what they want. That's what they need for their ESG scores. Competency doesn't matter anymore. Especially when our offshored team has no clue what they're doing.
I disagree. Got a job using easy apply on Linkedin
We live in a time when recruiters and managers aren't hiring strangers off the internet anymore. Even though they go through the motions of posting. Focus on your network... people you know who have moved on to other companies. Reach out on linked in to people who know your work history.... This is how recruiting works now.