“I am definitely going to break up with this guy in two years” I planned, but then he beat me to it.
This is the exact answer I give when people ask me how I felt when I was laid off by my employer. In early 2023, Google announced a layoff of 12,000 people just like other big tech companies. I was one of them, along with the team I had painstakingly built and nurtured since coming to the states five years ago. Although layoffs are so common these days that one in every two American workers have experienced being let go, it’s not easy for those affected workers to accept and process it in a calm and composed way.
When I was informed of my layoff via a late night email, I went through the five stages of grief — denial, anger, negotiation, depression, and acceptance — just as many people were doing at that time. In the beginning, I dismissed it thinking that, “This email must have been sent by mistake.” Later, I complained “Why my team?” and “why me?” Then I thought, “Okay, let’s take this opportunity to do some things I haven’t tried before.”
Finally, I decided to embrace a “gap year” after 30 busy years of corporate jobs. During this gap year, I became a Silicon Valley gig worker who had many part time jobs at the same time. While I was experiencing various jobs first-hand, I wrote and recently published a Korean book titled “From Google to Gig. (구글임원에서 실리콘밸리 알바생이 되었습니다)”. The core message of this book is three ways to take initiatives in our lives, even when we encounter unexpected and forced changes, such as layoffs, breakups, or illnesses.
First, create your own “gap year project”. This is a way to try new things you’ve always wanted to do. Consider that this opportunity may not come again. This might be the only and last time in your entire life to do something like this. Soon after I got the layoff notice, I made a list of things and activities that I had wanted to do for the past 30 years but couldn’t because of my full-time corporate work. Every activity has one thing in common — I wanted to engage customers directly.
So, I kicked off my so-called “Meet 10,000 People” project. To do this, I started working part-time as a cashier at Trader Joe’s, a barista at Starbucks, and a Lyft driver. Over the past year, I have met more than 10,000 people and walked about 5,000 kilometers, the equivalent distance as the US coast to coast. I also gained extensive knowledge and in-depth insights into diverse industries like retail, food and beverage, and logistics. These firsthand experiences are also helping me greatly in the communications consulting services that I am providing.
Second, keep up your daily routines. On the first few days after being laid off, you habitually click on your corporate calendar and email icons only to find them empty, which evokes bitter feelings of emptiness because of your situation. It might feel like your value is being denied and you are not needed any more. When you feel you are not helping anyone, your self-esteem can drop. At this time, it is necessary to build some new routines to keep yourself busy. Get up at a regular time, exercise, go to the library, meet people, polish your resume, and prepare for job interviews. Also, try volunteering and joining book clubs or hobby groups, which you couldn’t do before because you were too busy. If you need to improve your English, it’s a good time to do that. Fill your calendar with these routine activities.
Third, inform your friends of your situation, meet with them, and extend your social circle. In Korea, people tend to avoid telling others when they are unemployed, whether by choice or not, until they find a shiny new job. However, networking with people is always important for professionals, especially during these challenging times.
When experiencing emotional fluctuations due to unexpected changes, it is essential to find emotional stability and support by talking openly with people around you. In addition, networking is practically helpful as well. By letting people around you know what kind of job you are looking for or what kind of gap year project you are interested in, you can easily connect with people who want to work with you. You can also receive referrals from them when applying for a new job.
I know one close colleague who lost her job at Google layoffs in early 2023. At that time she was about five months pregnant. In addition to all the emotional challenges that laid-off people usually experience, she suffered even more from psychological shock due to the worry of skyrocketing rent and living expenses in New York City, as well as the immediate loss of medical insurance and the worry of hospital expenses. She actively shared her situation with her friend group, and she received a lot of help and morale support. Afterwards, she started a community activity that provide psychological counseling and financial advice to those who have experienced layoffs during pregnancy as she herself was undergoing. The power of “solidarity” to help and rely on each other in unexpected changes is essential.
The layoff offered me a profound opportunity for self-reflection. During my 16 years at Google, I realized that I had unknowingly prioritized stability over adventure, relying on the company’s reputation rather than valuing my own worth. Over the past year, I’ve transitioned from a Google Director to a gig worker, deliberately stepping away from the security and prestige of corporate life. Embracing this new identity, devoid of the labels associated with a large company, I’ve discovered that life is still brimming with countless exhilarating and inspiring moments. Through this journey, I’ve learned that I can reclaim control of my life amidst unexpected changes.
Now, I say this, “Thank you, Google, for letting me go!”
