Finding my way back after losing my job

I never thought I’d be the guy who got laid off. I mean, I was a pretty solid engineer, had been with the company for over five years, and everything seemed fine—until it wasn’t. The day I got the news, I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. My job was more than just a paycheck; it was my identity, my passion. Losing it was a punch to the gut.

The first few weeks were rough. I went through the usual phases—shock, anger, a bit of self-pity. I kept asking myself, “How did I end up here?” But after a while, I realized that sitting around feeling sorry for myself wasn’t going to get me anywhere. I had to pick myself up, even if I didn’t quite know how.

The first step was to reassess my skills and figure out what I really wanted to do. I knew I had the technical chops, but the job market was changing fast, and I needed to keep up. So, I dove into learning new technologies, brushing up on things I hadn’t touched in years, and even took a few online courses. It wasn’t easy—there were days I felt like I was running in circles—but I kept at it.

Networking was another big hurdle. I’ve always been more of a “head down, do the work” kind of guy, but I knew I had to put myself out there. I started attending industry meetups, reconnecting with old colleagues, and even reached out to some new contacts on LinkedIn. It felt awkward at first, but slowly, I started building relationships, and with that, opportunities began to emerge.

The turning point came when a former coworker mentioned a startup looking for someone with my skill set. It wasn’t a perfect fit, but I was open to new possibilities. I met with the team, and we clicked. They were looking for someone with experience but who was also willing to adapt and grow with the company. That was me in a nutshell.

Joining the startup wasn’t just about getting a new job; it was about finding a new direction. I’m now doing things I never imagined I would, blending my engineering background with new technologies and learning on the fly. The journey was tough, but it taught me resilience and the importance of staying adaptable.

Looking back, losing my job was a wake-up call. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to grow in ways I never would have otherwise. If you’re going through something similar, just remember—it’s okay to feel lost at first. What matters is that you keep moving forward, one step at a time.