30 days to the job you love - Day 10

With 200,000+ tech layoffs in 2023 and more being let go in early 2024, it is easy to get discouraged. Personally, I have many friends who were and are affected. For those whom I worked with, I am grateful that our paths crossed.

For 30 days, I will post a tip each day to encourage you and give you some suggestions on how to stay motivated during your job search.

Day 10

Growing up in wartime, my dad witnessed how everything can be taken away from a person in an instant. When I was younger, he often taught me: “Life is impermanent. So, don’t get too attached to your money, your job title, or your possessions. The only thing that can’t be taken away from you is your knowledge and your attitude. Therefore, always invest in learning and strive to add value wherever you go. If you have knowledge and a positive attitude, you can overcome almost any circumstance and rebuild everything from the ground up.”

My dad's words became ingrained in my head. When I first came to United States, I faced a serious setback. As a teenager, with no money and no knowledge of English, I had to figure out how to survive on my own when the family that was supposed to take care of me decided not to anymore. During that bleak period of my life, I didn’t know what my future would be. It was too scary to think about the future. But I knew what I could do in the present moment - learn as much as I could during the time I had.

I had a headphone on even during my sleep so that I could listen to the radio and learn English. I worked hard, prayed a lot, and figured it out as I went. With a lot of hard work and determination, fast forward a few years later, I graduated from the University of California at Berkely, one of the most prestigious universities in the US, with an Electrical Engineering degree.

My story might sound like a cliché, but it’s the hard truth. I learned two things from my experience:

First, even though the unknown may be scary, you can figure things out by taking one step at a time. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” By having faith and focusing on what we can do in the present moment, we can overcome obstacles in our way.

Second, learning always pays dividends. As Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” The more we learn, the more valuable we become. The more we know, the more value we can add to ourselves, to the people around us, and to the next company that will be lucky to have us.

Facing the unknown of losing one’s job can be difficult. But instead of worrying about the future, why not invest some time into learning and developing our skillset? This may be a season that allows us time to grow our potential. Choose learning today and give ourselves the gift of a brighter future.

“The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” – Dr. Seuss

“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” – B. B. King