From Layoff to Lift-off

Introduction & Background

Brent Clark is a Principal Software Engineer with a two-decade journey in the tech world, blending deep technical expertise with a knack for adapting to industry shifts.

What led to your career break?

I was laid off from a startup I was working for recently. It was taking longer than expected to secure their next round of funding and they needed to let almost everyone go to keep the company afloat.

How did you initially feel about this break?

I’ve worked for multiple startups and I know layoffs come with the territory. The company did an amazing job communicating its position to all employees, gave us a heads up, and helped everyone update their resumes to help find a new role. I couldn’t have asked for a better layoff process. It was still stressful, though. Much like today, the job market in 2022 wasn’t great; especially the technology sector. Many tech companies were laying off employees and hiring had slowed down quite a bit.

Did you focus on any specific activities or goals during this period?

I knew it would be important to keep my skills sharp while looking for a job, so I made sure to program every day for at least an hour. Pet projects, open-source work, and sample apps were all good outlets for me.

What were your main strategies for managing this transition, both professionally and personally?

I knew the job market was going to be tough, but I didn’t want to jump right into the next company without a good understanding of how they operate and how I would fit in. My favorite way to deal with this problem is to be a consultant at a company for a handful of months to check them out. Another option for this is a contract-to-hire arrangement; they are similar. I created a consulting company and reached out to my network for freelance opportunities. My focus was on finding a company in need of temporary help that might turn into a larger role if things went well. It’s easier to find short-term work in tight economies, so this was a natural fit.

I also focused on smaller employers whose primary product wasn’t software, like manufacturing, insurance, or health care. These industries tend to be more stable in shaky economies which reduces the risk of another layoff. I especially like manufacturing so this was a large area of focus for me.

I made sure to get plenty of rest and fresh air during this period. Being laid off from a startup where you invested yourself deeply for several years is hard on the soul. I needed to sleep longer than normal and make sure I gave myself space to process the loss.

How did you maintain your connection with the tech community, if at all?

I didn’t do anything more than normal to stay connected during this period. Twitter, LinkedIn, several newsletters, and the mentoring community I’m part of remained valuable sources of information and kept me connected.

Looking back, what is one key lesson you learned from this experience?

I was very fortunate to have the knowledge and skills to quickly start my own consulting company, reach out to an existing network, and ultimately land a job that fits me well. What I learned is that all of the work I put into maintaining this network and these skills was worth it.

What advice would you offer to others who might be in a similar situation?

When the tech economy is slumping, look to other sectors of the economy that aren’t strictly tech. These companies still need software, and they are in a strong position to take advantage of all the talent leaving the tech sector right now.