Millions of people around the world have faced layoffs in recent years as many companies turn towards AI and automation to boost efficiency. Others have found themselves downsizing amid global uncertainties and economic downturns — leading to the ouster of employees across a range of fields and professions.
“I learned more in 8 weeks of unemployment than I did in 8 years of corporate life. It was May 2023. My manager called me into his office and said: ‘Roshni, due to workforce reduction, we’re letting go of some team members. I’m sorry, but you’re one of them.’ I smiled. Said thank you. Started looking at my laptop. Numb. Blank. When the silence finally faded and job search began, the real learning started,” wrote LinkedIn user Roshni Chellani.
A quick perusal of her LinkedIn profile indicates that she had been a ‘senior RF validation engineer’ with Qualcomm for more than six years before exiting the company in July 2023. Chellani had previously worked short stints with Apple and Intel Corporation in the US after completing her Masters degree with the University of Texas as Dallas.
The lengthy post insisted that “corporate loyalty as dead” and outlined several ‘hard truths’ that were often ignored while working. Chellani warned that everyone could face layoffs without warning — no matter how ‘skilled, loyal, and high-performing’ they were. She also urged to be a part of office politics and watch out for ‘internal red flags”.
“I wasn’t a player. I was too honest. But I realized: Either you’re part of the game, or you’re collateral. Even answering “Why were you laid off?” needs nuance. Don’t tell what you want to say, tell what they want to hear…Watch for internal red flags When they start asking for repeated documents, tracking deliverables more closely, or managing your time… Understand they might be planning to let you go,” she wrote.
“Human Resources are not your resources. It protects the company. Speak up too loudly, and you might end up on a radar you don’t want to be on. Someone messaged me asking how to deal with workplace issues. Two weeks later, she was laid off,” she added.
Chellani also stressed the need to prepare a safety net and keep an eye out for new opportunities at a time of crisis.
“Loyalty doesn’t guarantee safety When layoffs are in the air, most people do one of two things: Work harder to prove their worth — or quietly start applying elsewhere. I always recommend the latter. A friend chose to stay loyal, hoping it would save her. It didn’t. Loyalty doesn’t guarantee security. Your next opportunity might…Prepare your safety net Always collect your key documents early—experience letters, LORs, anything you’ll need later. Because the day you’re laid off, you’ll be too shaken to remember what to ask for,” she advised.