🚀 How to crush it among layoff rumors

4 strategies to secure your position and advance your career when things start feeling shaky

"Layoffs are coming."

Three words that can turn any confident UXer into a bundle of nerves.

Last week, my inbox was flooded with worried messages from my former design students across the industry.

But one really stood out:

"I've got a mortgage and two kids. I can't afford to lose this job. Help!"

Tough situation, right?

But let's skip the pity party and get down to business.

First things first ↴

Are layoffs really on the horizon, or is it just office gossip gone wild?

Let's look at some signs ↴

🚩 Red Flags (Uh-oh):

• Sudden budget freezes or travel restrictions

• Higher-ups leaving the company in quick succession

• Unexpected all-hands meetings scheduled out of nowhere

• Your usually talkative CEO is now tight-lipped about future plans

🔕 False Alarms (you’re probably safe... for now):

• Regular performance reviews (yes, even if they're more frequent)

• Restructuring that actually makes sense for the business

• Open discussions about company challenges

• Continued investment in employee development

If you're see…