Monkeys who got laid off. How did you do afterwards?

Hi Monkeys,

curious to hear, what has life been after you got laid off? Recently, or for the older ones in 2008/09? Was it easy to find a position afterwards? Did you use the time for education, traveling, switching careers?

Feel like many juniors are thinking about this and the topic is becoming more and more prominent now. Luckily my team has been understaffed for quite a few months now so not a big issue for me personally, but the whole situation got me thinking.

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Experienced it only once thankfully.Initially sucked and I was questioning lots of things afterwards, although it was the best that could have happened looking backwards due to various developments.Family and friends encouraged me to take some time for myself and take a break after all the grind before, then jump back into recruiting circle. Had some time off, where I pursued things I really enjoy while also trying to network a bit with alumni. Increased networking after 2-3 weeks and landed a job soon after. Ironically, the time I was off and things I pursued meanwhile were major talking points (just back to guitar, some cooking or running again), as my interviewer and I connected on it.TL/DR: don't stress yourself out, there's always another door open and you'll be fine if you keep moving forward

 

I didn’t get laid off but choose to take a gap year after working in IB for two years. I spent the last two years with my family without working. Though sometimes I felt a bit anxious, I have a better mindset and have learnt not to follow other people’s path or time zone. Now I am about to join a new firm with better WLB. I’d say the past two years are very precious for me and my family. I think by the end of the day, it really depends on your mindset and how you perceive work and life.

 

I have the "luck" of having been fired for more than half of the jobs I ever held, so I know the feeling of dusting myself off quite well. It never gets easier, but you get used to thinking strategically and planning potential lay-offs in advance. So right now I know I won't fall deeply because I have an incredibly strong financial pillow and also a decent network to fall back on if SHTF. You need to think ahead in order to be ready, that's pretty much the only advice I can give you. If you go out of the meeting where you got fired and don't know that things are going to be mostly alright, you did something wrong.

 

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