Joey DeVilla, a tech veteran, shares his recent layoff experience and insights on handling job loss in the industry. He discusses storytelling, coding, and his accordion adventures in Toronto. The discussion also delves into destigmatizing layoffs, building resilience, networking for growth, and the importance of support during challenging times.
Open conversations about layoffs can lead to new opportunities in the tech industry.
Maintain professionalism and empathy during layoff meetings to humanize the process and support all parties involved.
Deep dives
Coping with Job Loss
Experienced professional Joy De Villa shares insightful posts about handling layoffs, drawing on his personal experience of facing five layoffs in his career. He emphasizes the importance of destigmatizing job loss and encourages open conversations, highlighting how discussing layoffs can lead to new opportunities. By sharing his own story and advice, Joy aims to support individuals navigating similar challenges in the tech industry.
Handling Layoff Meetings
Joy De Villa recounts his constructive approach during layoff meetings, demonstrating empathy for the managers and HR personnel tasked with delivering the news. By preparing mentally and understanding the challenging position of those conducting the layoff, Joy shows the value of maintaining professionalism and goodwill even in difficult situations. His focus on humanizing the layoff process highlights the benefits of respectful communication during such challenging times.
Building Resilience through Networking
To enhance resilience after a layoff, Joy De Villa advises individuals to actively engage with diverse communities and events related to their field. He underscores the importance of cultivating relationships, both for emotional support and professional opportunities. By leveraging social media platforms like LinkedIn and sharing learning experiences publicly, individuals can enhance their visibility to potential employers and broaden their network.
Taking Proactive Measures
Encouraging proactive steps post-layoff, Joy De Villa suggests attending industry meetups, initiating such events if missing, and engaging in continuous learning. His advice emphasizes utilizing available resources, such as social media, to broadcast professional interests and connect with opportunities. By providing practical guidance on networking and industry involvement, Joy empowers individuals to take decisive actions for career advancement post-layoff.
Joey deVilla describes himself as an experienced, engaging, accordion-playing, golden-voiced developer advocate looking for a new role. He’s had a long career in the technology space and writes about his experiences in two long-running blogs, The Adventures of Accordion Guy in the Twenty-First Century and Global Nerdy. Recently, Joey became one of the many people in tech who’s lost their job in the last couple of years. That is the subject of our conversation today.