In the last three years, I’ve gone through five layoffs. The first decade of my career was during the golden years of tech growth—when every new idea felt like it had momentum behind it. But over the past few years, as the effects of the pandemic faded, inflation rose, and overhiring caught up with the industry, layoffs have become a recurring reality.
I still remember the first Meta layoff. It was a shock that stayed with me for months. Over time, though, it slowly became part of the environment—proof that human nature adapts. We survive, adjust, and keep moving forward.
Still, this most recent Meta layoff was different. It hit harder. Many close colleagues—people I’ve known and worked closely with for years—were affected. These are individuals I deeply admire, people I was genuinely excited to build with. Seeing headlines that labeled their group as the “legacy AI” team broke my heart.
As an IC, your skills are more transferable, and the demand for builders remains high, even in uncertain times. There’s also a certain clarity that comes with focusing on craft and execution—you can see your direct impact, ship faster, and stay closer to the technical edge. And, honestly, the post-layoff stress is often lower: as an IC, your role tends to be defined by contribution rather than headcount decisions or team restructuring.