Getting Caught in a Layoff Is No Good

   Today I met a friend for lunch. When we met up I could tell immediately something was wrong. He didn't delay in telling me that he had just found out that his company was going to be laying off folks and he was on the list.

   My friend is a very experienced, very solid programmer and will have no problem finding a new job. However, he's still hurting. He said that working for startups nearly his whole career he has lived through many company layoffs but until now, never been one of the victims.

   I can relate to how it feels as both my wife and I have been layoff victims in years past. I was a consultant so I knew it was coming when I'd been unbillable on the bench for too long. But it still hurt when it happened.

   It is never good to leave a company unless it is on your own terms.