How to spot pending layoffs, what might be limiting your career growth, and insights into the mind

There is an opportunity to take personal responsibility today!

When talking to people in the tech sector about the job market these days, I often hear fear, doom, and gloom.

Sure, it’s not great, and we’ll get to that.

But does complaining do you any good? 

No. It actually just makes things worse.

Change what you can change, and move forward the best way you know how!

In today’s newsletter:

• Spotting layoffs

• What might be holding you back?

• Mindset or Mindsight?

• Hot Jobs

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MUST READ

Can you spot a potential layoff coming?

Layoffs are a point of fear and uncertainty for many, and there have been plenty of layoffs from companies large and small over the last year or so.

According to Layoffs.fyi, over 70,000 people have been laid off in 255 tech companies. In 2023, 226,000 workers were let go by tech companies.

Is there a way to determine if you might be involved in a layoff?

Here are a few indicators suggested by US News:

1. Employees who leave aren’t getting replaced

2. There are hiring and spending freezes

3. New projects are getting put off

4. There is a merger or acquisition coming

5. Executive leaders are leaving

6. Labor is being outsourced

7. Company performance has been declining

These are a few ways to spot signs of a layoff. They certainly aren’t all-inclusive.

But… what do you do about it? 

Be your best where you are now. If you are invaluable to the team, you’ll be less likely to be laid off.

Additionally, if this is a place you’d want to transition from anyway, start getting clear on what you want next, reach out to your network, and engage with people on LinkedIn. You want to cultivate your network before you need it.

Stay future-proof out there!

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CAREER TIPS

What is Holding You Back in Your Engineering Career?

You might be surprised to know the answer….

It's You!

Don't fall into the victim trap and blame everything else - your boss, environment, or something else. Feeling that way will only keep you unsatisfied.

Take ownership of your own career! If you want to make a change, it's up to you to take the action to make it happen. Holding onto these beliefs can be like carrying dead weight every step of the way.

How do you start changing this? Change the way you talk about your situation.

The next time you are tempted to blame someone or something else for something you're frustrated with, instead ask the question - what can I do to change this?

Now, it can be extremely difficult to work through a shift like this alone, but you don't have to! Find a trusted mentor, friend, or coach who can help you identify ways to continue to improve. 

Take ownership and take action if there is something you want to change.

 HOT JOBS OF THE WEEK

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📚 BOOK RECOMMENDATION

Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation by Dr. Daniel Siegel

I love talking about mindset, and this book really helps you go deeper into the neuroscience of change.

• Is there a memory that torments you, or an irrational fear you can't shake?

• Do you sometimes become unreasonably angry or upset and find it hard to calm down?

• Do you ever wonder why you can't stop behaving the way you do, no matter how hard you try?

• Are you and your child (or parent, partner, or boss) locked in a seemingly inevitable pattern of conflict?

What if you could escape traps like these and live a fuller, richer, happier life? This isn't mere speculation but the result of twenty-five years of careful hands-on clinical work by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. A Harvard-trained physician, Dr. Siegel is one of the revolutionary global innovators in the integration of brain science into the practice of psychotherapy.

Using case histories from his practice, he shows how, by following the proper steps, nearly everyone can learn how to focus their attention on the internal world of the mind in a way that will literally change the wiring and architecture of their brain.