In today’s uncertain job market, layoffs are becoming more common. It’s no longer enough to just work hard and hope for the best; you need to be dedicated to protecting your job.

Given the ongoing layoffs in the tech industry, it’s imperative that we remain informed about such occurrences in various companies. In order to stay up-to-date, we can refer to the following list of layoffs as of March 2023.

Salesforce: Salesforce announced they are laying off 10% of the workforce.

Atlassian: Atlassian is laying off about 500 employees, or 5% of its total workforce.

Twitter:  The social media giant lay off about 800 people in sales and marketing teams.

Twilio: Around 17% of its global workforce, about 1,400 people.

GitHub: They are laying off 10% of its employees and won’t renew its office leases as it goes fully remote.

Yahoo: 20% of its staff, impacting 1,600 employees.

GitLab: 7%, impacting around 114 people.

Zoom: 15% of its workers. The company will cut about 1,300 jobs as part of a restructuring.

Dell: 5% of its global workforce, about 6,500 employees.

Pinterest: Almost 150 employees representing less than 5% of its workforce

PayPal: 2,000 employees across departments to cut costs.

Spotify: 6% of its global workforce and cut about 12,000 jobs

Alphabet: Google’s parent company announced laying off 6% of its global workforce equating to 12,000 employees.

Swiggy: Swiggy is likely to lay off up to 10 percent of its employees, or about 600 workers.

Microsoft:  The company decided to reduce its workforce by 10,000 people i.e is equal to about 5 percent of its total workforce.

Meta: Meta fired as many as 11,000 employees and it is now all set to sack 10,000 more workers. Meta has announced the latest layoff news in a blog post and the tech giant has also apologized for its latest decision.

GoMechanic: The Company lays off 70% of its employees, and founder Amit Bhasin admits to financial misreporting.

Coinbase: Coinbase announced a reduction of about 950 employees or 20% of its workforce.

Amazon: The Company announced that they are eliminating more than 18,000 roles.

IBM: IBM also announced on Wednesday that it will lay off 3,900 employees.

As of March 2023, there have been layoffs in 485 technology companies, resulting in a total of 138,302 employees being laid off. Source: Layoffs.fyi.

It’s possible that we don’t have access to the exact reasons for each layoff. It’s important to keep in mind that there may be a variety of reasons why companies decide to lay off employees, such as restructuring, recession, financial difficulties, change in business strategy, mergers, and acquisitions, automation, and technology, performance issues, decreased revenue, natural disasters or any unforeseen events. It’s also possible that some companies will decide not to publicly disclose the exact reasons for their layoffs.

This is why we’ll talk about how to plan for the future and how to protect yourself against layoffs in this blog.

In today’s rapidly and constantly changing job market, it’s important to take strategic actions that safeguard your career and maintain your competitive edge.  You can feel more confident in your job security and be prepared for whatever challenges may come your way in the future. There are some steps that individuals can take to reduce their risk of being laid off. Here are a few:

Identify the skills that are in high demand: Find out what skills are in demand right now in your field or on the job market.
 
Focus on transferable skills: The term “transferable skills” refers to abilities that may be used in a variety of fields or jobs. Project management, communication, and leadership abilities are a few examples. Even if your current profession becomes obsolete, having transferrable skills might help you remain employed.
 
Stay up-to-date with technology: In today’s digital world, technology skills are highly valued. Make sure you stay up-to-date with the latest languages, software, tools, and platforms that are relevant to your industry.
 
Stay productive and valuable to the company: Show that you are an asset to the company by being productive, taking on new responsibilities, and adding value to your team.
 
Master your communication skills: Because developers work in collaborative environments where efficient communication is crucial to project success, communication skills are extremely important to them. You may highlight your skills and the benefits you can provide to your company by speaking clearly and effectively. You can differentiate yourself from the competition, show off your expertise, and open up new professional growth and advancement opportunities by developing good communication skills.
 
Practice continuous learning: Continuous learning is a way of thinking and a commitment to continued professional and personal growth. Being a professional student is necessary for the ever-evolving industry of today.
 
Stay adaptable: Flexibility and workplace adaptability are critical skills that organizations look for in their employees to drive change successfully. By developing a mindset of adaptability and being open to new ideas and experiences, you can become better equipped to navigate and thrive in today’s dynamic work environment.
 
Build relationships: Building relationships is an important aspect of securing your job, as it can help you develop a strong reputation and make valuable connections in your industry or field. Look for opportunities to collaborate with colleagues on projects or initiatives. This can help you build relationships and showcase your skills and abilities.
 
Develop a routine: Establish a consistent routine for your work and personal life. This can help you stay organized and maintain a sense of control, even during times of change or uncertainty.
 
Keep an eye on industry trends: Keep up with developments in your field and be aware of any changes that could have an impact on your job. By doing this, you’ll be able to remain on top of trends and get prepared if your job vanishes.
 

Most importantly 

I want you to have Faith in God: Having faith in a higher power may provide people with a feeling of hope and purpose through difficult times like layoffs. It can also bring peace and calm. Faith in God may help us believe in his plan for our lives and give us the drive and courage to carry on in difficult times. Yet, it’s crucial to keep in mind that having faith alone does not provide job security or protection against layoffs, so we must also start taking steps to enhance our skills, create new connections, and maintain our adaptability in the profession.

Job security is never assured, and the job market can be unpredictable. Regardless of experience, capability, or performance, anyone can be laid off. Even in difficult circumstances, there are actions you can do to improve your likelihood of discovering employment.

Also, it’s critical to keep a better attitude and be flexible in how you approach your job. Try to maintain your good attitude and keep your eyes on any potential possibilities when confronted with change or uncertainty. You can navigate changes in your profession and stay competitive by developing an adaptive and flexible work style.

I hope you have found this blog helpful in your journey toward securing your job and increasing your resilience in the face of layoffs. Please feel free to share this blog with your fellow developers and spread the word about the importance of proactive career development. Let’s work together to build a strong community of adaptable and resilient professionals, and inspire each other to reach new heights of awesomeness in our careers!