Background
In July, I got the news that my role at my current company would be made redundant by the end of the year. I’ve been here for 10 years—yes, that long! So it’s safe to say, I haven’t been in the interview game for quite a while.
I suppose I’m “lucky” in a way, as the company gave us notice until end of the year rather than an immediate layoff. Plus, I’ll receive a severance package, which will help me get through a few months if I don’t land a new role right away.
Coping with the layoff
In the first few weeks after getting the news, I found myself dealing with a lot of negative thoughts. During my first session with a career coach, one of the first things I said was, “I’m worried companies might see me as too old to hire.” The coach, of course, encouraged me to focus on my skills and experience instead.
Since the entire department was being laid off, we formed a supportive community at work. When we were in the office, we’d share our job search experiences and talk about our next steps. It became a space where we could openly discuss what we were going through, which made the transition feel a bit less isolating.
Job Search
After updating my resume, I started job hunting, beginning with the CareersFuture site to get a rough idea of salary expectations. My strategy was pretty straightforward: I’d use LinkedIn or Glassdoor to check out each company’s culture, work-life balance, and employee turnover before applying.
I sent out my applications in small batches, usually around 3–4 resumes at a time. Then, I’d wait a week or two to see if I got any responses before sending out more. Overall, I sent out about 10 resumes in total.
I ended up hearing back from two companies: a startup and a European SME.
Interviews
The first few interviews were nerve-wracking, especially since I hadn’t been to a proper one in over 10 years. To prepare, I spent countless hours on YouTube watching videos on how to answer common interview questions.
I can tell you that the number one interview question to prepare for is “Tell me about yourself.” I had a total of seven interviews with different people, and in each one, they all asked similar questions related to that.
I had two very different experiences with the startup and the SME.
The interview process for the startup was grueling. I had a take-home coding assignment and went through a total of six interview rounds, including a final interview with the CTO. I really thought I was going to get an offer after all that, but a conversation with HR and a rejection email, a couple week later made it clear they decided to cut back on the number of hires. It was a case of the right candidate at the wrong time. Honestly, I was like, “WTF!” My headcount was reduced before I even got the chance to join! Maybe I dodged a bullet there.
In contrast, the process for the European SME was much smoother. I did an online test followed by an interview with the hiring manager. And a couple of reference calls later, I ended up getting an offer! They matched my expected salary, but I did have some concerns about the benefits being nowhere near what I currently have. Still, beggars can’t be choosers! So, I decided to accept the offer.
Final Thoughts
Looking back on this whole experience, I realize how much I’ve learned. At first, getting laid off hit me hard, but it led me to rethink my skills. And it is totally okay to feel uncertain, and reaching out for help, like talking to a career coach or sharing my feelings with coworkers, made a huge difference!
Jumping back into interviews after so long was definitely nerve-wracking but after enough of them, I did build some confidence in handling tough interview questions. I have also come to understand that rejection isn’t always about me; sometimes it’s just about timing or fit.
Accepting the offer from the European SME was such a relief! Sure, the benefits aren’t quite what I had before, but I’m excited about this new chapter.
One last important lesson I learned from this experience is the value of building an income portfolio. Having some passive income can really cushion the financial blow if you lose a job and helps ease the stress while you’re on the hunt for a new one. So start one if you haven’t already!