How Getting Laid Off From My First Tech Job Reshaped My Work Mindset

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with 39-year-old Edson Philippe, from Atlanta. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

When I started working for American Express in 2015, I thought I was set for life.

It seemed like a very secure company that would always have money flowing. I was a junior decisioning engineer, which was a software engineering role, and it was my first full-time job after graduating. I’d previously interned at JPMorgan, and it felt like these companies were setting the tone for my career — that I’d be working in tech for big banks.

In October 2015, I found out American Express was laying me off. I was visiting my girlfriend in Atlanta when my manager called. I wondered why he might be calling me. When he told me the bad news, my brain shut down, and I just heard mumbling.

That one layoff shifted my whole perception of work. Instead of taking job security for granted, it’s forced me to never get too comfortable and always invest in myself and my skills.

My life would probably have been more fun if I weren’t constantly thinking about getting laid off, but I am well prepared if it happens again.

Finding a new job after the layoff was quite easy

Thankfully, when the layoff happened, they gave me notice, so I had time to look for new jobs, as well as eight weeks of severance pay.

I got a new job before my last day. Finding a new role was quite easy. At that time, computer science graduates from reputable universities could practically walk into interviews and get jobs. I got two offers and chose a software engineering job at Home Depot.

I stayed at Home Depot for about six years before switching to my current company in 2022. I’m still in software engineering.

Every veteran software engineer I’ve met has lost a job before

Getting laid off removed my internal sense of security. As someone who went to a good school and did the right internship, I prepared and worked hard to get to this point, but that doesn’t guarantee a good result.

I questioned why I was let go or if I wasn’t smart enough.

In reality, layoffs are part of life. I’ve yet to meet a software engineer who’s been in the industry for over 15 years who hasn’t experienced some kind of job loss.

That said, it still affected my mindset. In recent years, I’ve seen the prevalence of layoffs in tech. It’s made me want to put more effort into growing my side ventures, so that if something were to happen to my job, I wouldn’t have to start from scratch.

I don’t feel secure in a job anymore

I try to do three job interviews a year, not necessarily with the intention of getting a new job, but to keep my interview skills up-to-date. If I were laid off, I wouldn’t want to start preparing for interviews under pressure.

When I’ve thought about taking a new job, I’ve tried to consider how the company makes money and how financially secure they are. I’m more careful about what opportunities I say yes to.

I also try not to spend too much money. I never know when the rug will be pulled from under my feet. I put effort into my 401(k), investing, and I have an emergency fund. I want to be able to support myself for at least six months if I lose a role.

I don’t take extravagant trips, even though I can afford them, because I’m trying to play it safe financially. I only started traveling outside the country a couple of years ago, and visit places that are cheaper to fly to, like the Caribbean. I don’t splurge on nicer things, like first-class plane tickets or nice hotels.

I developed a fear that having a bachelor’s degree isn’t enough

In 2018, I enrolled in a master’s program in computer science, graduating in 2023. The only thing I can control is to invest in my own education and skillset, so I feel that I have backup plans if something goes wrong.

I’ve also been investing in side ventures. For example, I run a YouTube channel and I work as a freelancer helping small businesses with tech problems. These aren’t my primary source of income, but they feel like backup plans that I can put more effort into if I were to become unemployed. I also try to reserve my disposable income for investing in these side ventures, as opposed to in experiences.

Another shift is that I’ve detached myself from the companies I work for. I used to feel very proud about working for American Express and JPMorgan Chase, but now, I don’t align my identity with my company as much, so I don’t feel like my world would crumble if my role were impacted.

Layoffs can be painful, but they open new doors

Being hit with something unexpected, like a layoff, is really painful, but I’m glad I learned the lesson that layoffs happen early in my career. I’ve put a lot of effort into being more mentally prepared for this eventuality.

A layoff can become a powerful moment of reflection and redirection — a chance to realign your goals, rediscover your worth, or open doors to opportunities you may never have considered before.

A breakup is painful at first, but after a while, you might realize it was the best thing to happen to you.

All you can do is invest in yourself, your education, and your skills.

Do you have a story to share about your layoff experience? Contact this reporter at ccheong@businessinsider.com