To My Amazon Colleagues: I Was in Your Shoes a Year Ago at Meta
A year ago, I was laid off from Meta in what they labeled a "performance-based" reduction. Today, I'm back at Amazon working on Alexa International. Today's layoffs hit close to home, and while I'm fortunate to be unaffected this time, I know exactly what many of you are going through.
Here's what actually helped me get through it:
* Family & health come first – A hug from my wife and "Good morning, Daddy" from my kids reminded me what's truly important. Don't lose sight of this.
* Don't waste time asking "why me?" – You'll never get a satisfying answer. Focus on what you can control.
* Act quickly, but thoughtfully – Take a moment to process, but remember: thousands are competing for the same roles. By 7 AM on the morning of Feb 10th, 2025, I had already reached out to at least 5 connections. I ended up getting my current job because of one of these contacts. Start moving early.
* Leverage your network without shame, leave the ego aside – Reach out to former colleagues, managers, friends. Most people genuinely want to help.
* Be flexible – I considered temp positions, longer commutes, lower pay. While I didn't take those routes, stay open to options—you have 90 days of employment plus severance for breathing room. Don't panic and take the first offer, but don't limit yourself by being too rigid either.
* Maximize your severance benefits – Professional resume reviews and LinkedIn optimization, extended fully covered healthcare (saved me $500/month for 8 months). Use everything available.
* Treat job hunting like a job – Dedicate 3+ hours daily to applications, networking, and skill-building. Don't spend more than 5 hours unless it adds value, though——you're likely already dealing with burnout, and you need to preserve your mental health for the long haul.
* Keep yourself busy – Deep clean your place, tackle those projects you've been procrastinating on. Staying productive beyond job hunting helps your mental health and gives you a sense of control.
* Plan for worst-case scenarios – For me, it was spending part of my savings then moving back to México with my family. Once I accepted that as survivable, the fear lost its power.
Edit: Per my wife's request, and adding a bit of humor (it's the Mexican in me)... Real talk: those unvested RSUs? They weren't yours yet. Let them go.
The reality: It's been a year, and I'm grateful—not just for landing back at Amazon, but for the perspective this experience gave me. To everyone impacted today: this is temporary. You're talented, you're resilient, and you will get through this.
This is what worked for me. Take it with a grain of salt, but I hope it helps.
If you need someone to talk to, review your resume, or just vent—I'm here for you.
"This too shall pass."
#amazonlayoffs #amazoniansupport #TechLayoffs #Layoffs
