Log in or create a free Rosenverse account to watch this video.
Log in Create free account100s of community videos are available to free members. Conference talks are generally available to Gold members.
Layoffs
Summary
A recent wave of layoffs has left some very talented UX professionals unemployed and many others feeling anxious. Given that research and design are often among those functions cut early and deeply, that anxiety is reasonable. For this installment of Rosenfeld’s Advancing Research Community call, we focused on layoffs—what to do if you’re worried, how to implement a strategy in preparation for potential job loss, and what to do if it happens to you.
Key Insights
-
•
Over 120,000 tech industry layoffs have occurred this year, with recruiters being the hardest hit role so far.
-
•
Layoffs cause collective trauma affecting individuals, teams, and communities, and navigating grief stages is important for recovery.
-
•
The stigma around layoffs exists but is starting to unravel as it becomes a shared experience across the industry.
-
•
Keeping a weekly or quarterly habit of tracking accomplishments and project details helps significantly when building portfolios or resumes after layoffs.
-
•
Viewing your current job as a temporary tool to fund your life goals rather than an identity helps manage layoff risk and focus career strategy.
-
•
Active networking and community engagement are critical to building support systems before job loss and improve hiring chances.
-
•
Layoff trends and job market health vary widely across industries; healthcare and government sectors tend to be more stable.
-
•
Negotiating severance packages is possible and advisable, ideally with professional legal or coaching support.
-
•
Career pivots into UX research are still viable but will face increased competition and shrinking entry-level opportunities.
-
•
Innovation in career paths such as independent consulting, entrepreneurship, or cooperatives offers new ways to thrive despite market downturns.
Notable Quotes
"If you were blindsided recently, I’ve been there. I just really appreciated a kind voice because I didn’t hear a single word they said."
"Layoffs are a collective trauma – it’s okay to acknowledge the emotions and grief you feel."
"Your job is a tool to get what you want out of life. Don’t make it more than that."
"You do not have to go publicly thank the employer who just laid you off. They’ll be fine without it."
"Keep your LinkedIn profile updated and compelling so you’re findable for passive job opportunities."
"Don’t force yourself into a job you know isn’t right just because you’re unemployed."
"Build relationships before you need them. You can’t create them when the house is on fire."
"Taking time to intentionally create a career strategy helps avoid reactive decisions based on fear."
"Negotiating severance is absolutely possible; consider legal advice or coaching when doing so."
"This is a moment to rethink identity beyond UX and get creative with income streams and career paths."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"We had to convince our director and executives by showing how the repository added real value for the product team."
Taylor Jennings Joe Nelson Alex KnollRepository Retrospective: Learnings from Introducing a Central Place for UX Research
March 9, 2022
"Anticipation involves preparatory actions to manage uncertainty about future conditions."
Nicole AleongFuture Orientations to Everyday Life: Futures Anthropology as a Methodology
March 26, 2024
"Adobe’s Kickbox is a fantastic professional development tool, but it doesn’t drive new lines of business."
Jeff GothelfInnovation Studios: the Engines of Enterprise Experimentation
May 14, 2015
"Accessibility ownership should never fall on just one person but be understood and shared across entire product teams."
Saara Kamppari-MillerDesignOps for Inclusive Design and Accessibility
May 26, 2022
"You can’t make your team happy, no one can ever make anyone else happy ever, ever."
Tess DixonC'mon Get Happy
September 29, 2021
"Being intentional about how we spend our time is the purest manifestation of our values and our value."
Liam ThurstonWhy Your Design Team Is Quitting, And How To Fix It
June 10, 2022
"A workshop helps people map their skills, identify gaps, and make specific goals for career jumps."
Ian SwinsonDesigning and Driving UX Careers
June 8, 2016
"If you make rules, put numbers in them, and say them confidently, sometimes people actually do them."
Leisa ReicheltOpening Keynote: Operating in Context
November 7, 2018
"Doing fewer things well and working at a natural pace improves quality and reduces burnout."
Rachael Greene Alison DavisBuilding a Design Ops Practice that Really Works (Most of the Time)
October 2, 2025