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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
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Layoffs have impacted many roles beyond UX, especially recruiters and marketing.
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Silent layoffs have been happening quietly in large tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft for months.
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The emotional experience of being laid off resembles individual and collective trauma, involving stages of grief.
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A strategic approach to career transitions using clear goal setting (SMART goals) helps mitigate fear-driven decisions.
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Maintaining ongoing documentation of work accomplishments makes job transitions much easier.
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Passive job searching tactics like submitting resumes have limited impact compared to active networking and relationship building.
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Industry choice matters; healthcare and government tech are relatively stable compared to volatile sectors like crypto and FinTech.
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Negotiating severance packages is possible and often underutilized.
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Community support and mentoring during layoffs is critical despite the inherent competition for fewer available jobs.
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Reframing your job as a tool to fund personal goals instead of a defining identity can aid mental resilience and career flexibility.
Notable Quotes
"If you’ve been blindsided recently, I’ve been there."
"Silent layoffs — companies have been quietly laying people off or cutting contractors all year."
"Being laid off is a traumatic event. It’s a collective trauma experienced across teams and communities."
"Mind your own business — use your job to fund your own projects and goals."
"Don’t force yourself into a role you know isn’t right just because you feel pressured."
"Everyone is going through this in some way—even if you still have a job, it affects us all."
"Don’t wait until your house is on fire to get to know your neighbors."
"Negotiating severance is absolutely possible. Reach out to experts on compensation."
"Use strategic planning like product strategy: set specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, and timely goals."
"Your job is a tool. Don’t make it more than that because your employer will see you as a tool as well."
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