How to Survive the Technology Labor Glut Without Losing Your Mind

The Fine Art of Staying Sane After Being Laid-Off

For most of my (almost inconceivably long) career, demand for skilled technology folks has far exceeded supply.

Now, following big layoffs at big companies with big market caps, there’s likely to be a temporary glut of skilled tech labor. If you’re a laid-off tech worker, you may have never been without a job for more than a long weekend, and may be inclined to panic.

I understand that feeling. I’ve experienced that feeling. It’s completely rational, but unhelpful — and for the vast majority of you, largely unwarranted. Technology remains the best lever that business has to improve earnings, whether through increased operational efficiency or the creation of information products and services.

Unemployment can feel like sitting in a tiny boat on a turbulent but empty sea. Photo credit: Steve Saunders

One day, ChatGPT and its progeny may (or may not) take all our jobs — but that day isn’t today. The demand for technology-driven solutions will, in the long run, continue to power the demand for technology-savvy workers. But that doesn’t mean that the number of open positions will be uniform over time: economic cycles will continue to create transitory gluts and shortages in labor markets.

That’s a macro view. On a smaller scale, it’s certain that specific technical skills that are highly in demand today may be obsolete tomorrow. Technology jobs will continue to be available — but not necessarily jobs for which you specifically are a great match.

So here are some recommendations for surviving the current downturn — and any future disruptions.

1. Talk to somebody. Confide in a friend, spouse, mentor, or therapist. Unemployment can be incredibly stressful — even more so when there’s an excess of candidates for every open position. You may find yourself not even getting interviews for jobs for which you’d normally expect to receive an offer. Take my word for it: that type of thing can get in your head, giving rise to fear and anxiety. Those negative emotions are the enemies of diligence, focus, and confidence, the traits you most need in order to pursue and land a job you love in a competitive environment. Sharing those feelings with a supportive confidante, and being accountable to that person for following up on your plans, can keep you from becoming overwhelmed.
2. Stay creative. The downside of your current situation is that you’re not getting paid, but the upside is that you can do as you like. Take advantage of the opportunity. Start a podcast, write a story, or maybe tackle that backyard deck project — something with a reasonably near-term and achievable goal or milestone. Whatever you do, though, choose an activity that requires you to exercise your creative power; after all, creativity is the heart of technology work. Stay creative and you’ll not only strengthen that muscle — you’ll build confidence and more easily develop strategies that help you get to your next thing.
3. Get caught up. Whatever your previous position was, if you held it longer than a year or two, you have probably fallen behind in areas that you weren’t actively exercising. For example, if you were working on a project involving PHP or javascript, it may be time to look at newer languages and practices such as Typescript. You have the time now to add skills to your resume that may come in handy when an opportunity does arise.
4. Manage your expectations. Some recently laid-off folks, no doubt, will be able to slide into new positions quickly. But for many of you, it may realistically take a while until you land somewhere. If you assume you’ll be working again in a week or two, it can be deflating if that doesn’t happen. It’s also option-limiting: if you’re sure you’ll be working again by Monday. . . and then the next Monday. . . and the next, you won’t commit the time or psychic energy required to follow all the preceding recommendations. Plan as though you’ll be unemployed for a while — the worst that can happen is that you are working again sooner than you’d expected.

Take it from somebody who’s been around for a while: the economy will keep doing what it does, reaching new heights only to spiral downward before bouncing back up. Inevitably, even if the overall demand for skilled technologists rises, certain jobs will disappear forever — perhaps even yours. In such a situation, unemployment can feel like sitting in a tiny boat on a turbulent but empty sea, lonely, always worried that the next swell will take you down. I hope that the strategies I’ve outlined here will help keep you afloat until your next port appears on the horizon.