A Reddit user has shared a candid account of being laid off, highlighting the challenges of navigating an increasingly harsh job market. The user, who has experienced four layoffs over a 20-year career, said the latest termination was unsurprising, as a private equity firm had acquired their company earlier this year. “Not a shock, a private equity bought us out earlier this year, and I knew the axe was coming. They made massive cuts in January this year and I figured I’d be gone next year. Turns out they didn’t wait that long,” the user wrote.
Coping With Burnout and Job Market Challenges
The Redditor explained that despite preparing financially, the job hunt has been exhausting. “I’ve spent the last six months applying non-stop, knowing this was coming and nothing but rejection after rejection. Maybe the market picks up next year, maybe it doesn’t. The only upside: all those interviews were practice, so at least I’m sharper for the next round.” They added that a break was necessary after years of overwork: “Right now, I need to breathe and take a vacation. Years of endless overtime, stolen weekends, and ‘working vacations’ burned me out to the core.”
Community Support and Shared Experiences
Other Reddit users resonated with the post, sharing similar experiences. One wrote: “I hear you about the stolen weekends thing. I was laid off back in July and was actually sort of relieved, I got a large severance and that job stole so many of my weekends it felt like it was ruining my life. The job market is abhorrent right now. I literally can’t get a single interview even after 2 months of applying to things daily. There are so many people who haven’t had to look for a job any time in the last 10 years that think everything is fine and the problem is that I’m just not trying hard enough.”
Another user added: “Been there. On my 3rd layoff in 12 years. The job market is trash right now. Take that vacation, you earned it after all those stolen weekends. Severance + unemployment should buy you some breathing room. Keep your resume updated but don’t burn yourself out on applications right away. This shit is cyclical, we’ll ride it out.”
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