Weathering a raging storm: how to build a recession-resilient career in 10 easy ways
On January 18, 2023, 10,000 lives changed in an instant.
Microsoft, one of the largest tech companies in the world, released plans to cut 10,000 jobs before March. It was sudden and heartbreaking. Something so triggering might have you asking, “What if it happens to me?”
There’s a different question you should be asking yourself though—
What can I do now to strengthen myself against the future?
Same Sh*t, Different Year
For those of us who remember them, mass layoffs aren’t something new.
In the Summer of 2008, my friends and I wandered out into the real world with shiny, new degrees and hopeful futures. Within the first six months, the tides turned, and the cold reality of our situation had blindsided us hard. We had entered the market into the worst recession since the Great Depression. A few of us weathered the storm, but others left the profession of architecture, never to return again.
This was the end of one cycle and the beginning of another.
Over time, things got better.
Work steadily increased. We did what we could to get by and make something of the experience. Those of us who accepted the reality for what it was gained a thicker skin—a resilience to the storm.
We learned from the experience. We made better choices.
“Once you experience your first crash, things change.”
—Economics Professor Stefan Nagel, University of Chicago
I know two things:
We can’t control when or if we lose a job.
We can become more resilient before it happens to us.
10 Ways to Become Recession-Resilient
When times are uncertain here are 10 easy ways you can take back the control of your future right now.
Take inventory of who you want to be - Before you can take productive action, you need to understand what you want from your future. Where do you see yourself long term? What kind of job do you want?
Have a plan - What happens if you lose your job today? What is the next step? Creating a basic plan will reduce your anxiety and give you guidance. It will give you back a piece of the control that was taken away from you.
Find a skill that makes you unique and lean into it - There are likely 100 or more things you know how to do at your job. Do you do any of them better than your peers? Can you make a niche for yourself at work out of the thing others don’t like to do?
Experiment and fail softly - Try activities and positions that make you uncomfortable. When you have the safety blanket of a job, you can take on challenges that you won’t be able to if you’re frantically looking for the next job.
Volunteer your time (aka Network) - The biggest hack to networking is volunteering. Help a local organization and place yourself in front of people who want to do good in the community. These people will connect with you through the activity and want to help you grow professionally and personally.
Put yourself out there - Social Media is fundamentally about sharing ideas. No one knows who we are until we share them. You’ll become better known in your industry, connect with people who can help you when the chips are down and find out how strong your ideas really are.
Update your resume - I keep a live version of my resume and portfolio in my back pocket. I’ve done this for years in case something happens to my job and I need to pivot quickly. Once the format and process of making a new one is set, all you have to do is update it once or twice per year as new experiences, projects, and skills are acquired. Make it modular in such a way that you can add/remove pieces easily.
Look to industry trends - Stay in the know of what’s happening in your profession. If you’re an Architect, it might be Architect’s Newspaper, Dwell, or Architizer. Find places online where creatives like you hang out and have discussions about what’s trending. You can learn more about a software, a skill, or a methodology that could help you stand out or guide your future plans.
Know your worth - How much should you be making right now? If you don’t know, take the time to research what others in similar positions in the same city or region are making. Talk to your friends, look to professional associations, and ask work peers. Most are uncomfortable talking about money. But it’s easier to talk about it now than waiting until you don’t have it coming in regularly.
Find a mentor - This isn’t the first recession and it won’t be the last. While each looks unique from one another based on what starts them (i.e. tech, housing, pandemic, etc), there are those who have weathered the storm and want you to as well. Ask questions and listen.
Recessions and Job Loss are Part of the Game
This time, the tech industry and the Pandemic are at the forefront of the recession. Last time, it was the housing market.
We don’t know what the future holds, but we do know that this is a normal part of the game we all play. There are ups and there are downs in the economy. The challenge isn’t accepting the “if’s” as much as it is accepting the “when’s” of it all.
We win the game by becoming as resilient as possible.
Resilience transforms us into better versions of ourselves in the process.
TL;DR
Layoffs are hitting the tech industry
We can’t control if we lose our job
We can control how resilient we are to the storm
Take inventory
Have a plan
Find a skill
Experiment and fail softly
Volunteer your time
Put yourself out there
Update your resume
Look to trends
Know your worth
Find a mentor
My thoughts go out to the over 100,000+ workers affected by the recent tech layoffs (Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and more). It’s a terrible situation and I hope they’ll be able to pivot quickly. Felix is rooting for you too.
Quote of the Week
Motivation for the days ahead of you.
“Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
—Dylan Thomas
That’s all for now.
Stay creative, my friends—and have a great week!
