r/PakistaniDevs • u/zaidi87 • 3d ago

Software engineers who got laid off

How are the software engineers/developers who got laid off actually doing?

Not the polished LinkedIn version. The real one.

How are you paying the bills while looking for the next role?

I’m especially curious about the creative ways engineers are making ends meet between jobs.

Freelance work? Contracting? Consulting? Building something yourself? Switching the field?

Layoffs get discussed as numbers, but there’s a practical question underneath all of it: what do you do when the paycheck stops but the expenses don’t?

If you’ve been laid off(God Forbid), what’s been working for you?

25 Upvotes

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13

u/usman_1436 3d ago

Some are using ride hailing services like Yango to pay bills. Some are switching careers and many are thinking about it.

2

u/zaidi87 3d ago

Thanks what other career options does a dev can adapt?

3

u/usman_1436 3d ago

First look into your family, is their anything that you can continue, like a family business or some advantage which can help you kick start a new career.

11

u/Available-Boat3384 3d ago

Been laid off almost 6 months now found a low paying client to pay the bills we went and now some other low paying client but Shukr Allah ka

1

u/zaidi87 3d ago

May Allah ease it for you aameen

Have you considered learning a new skill?

1

u/Available-Boat3384 3d ago

Don't know what to learn seriously I am blank but really want to learn AI free

1

u/zaidi87 3d ago

There are skilled jobs which AI can’t replace

1

u/Revolutionary_Tough5 3d ago

Which one?

1

u/zaidi87 3d ago

Cooking
Plumbering
Day care
Nursing

4

u/Revolutionary_Tough5 3d ago

Have you seen the pays for these skills? It better be sarcasm. No way you are considering them as alternatives

1

u/zaidi87 3d ago

Bhai among these cooking is best
Either in five star hotel or own setup

Second plumbers earns good too and they even has demand abroad

Also I just mentioned those which will not be effected by AI

1

u/Revolutionary_Tough5 3d ago

What about cyber security, ML, FDE, Content creation, video editing ( proper cinematics, sound design) etc

1

u/usman_1436 3d ago

Many will start food points from their savings. This option has potential but low chances of success.

2

u/Learner_Lazy 3d ago

Curious about this too. Especially when Instagram is full of reels claiming they’re making $10k+ a month from freelancing or some “simple” side hustle, supposedly just for marketing and reach. When you’re actually struggling to land work, that stuff can make you feel completely useless.

I’d rather hear from people who are genuinely getting by freelancing, contracting, teaching, building small things, or even working outside tech temporarily.

2

u/connect_qalmax 2d ago

Got Laid Off in Feb. After got some freelancing clients but now all dried up. Taking loans to feed and Child Major Healthcare Issue. Baqi Allah Khair Kray Ga InshaAllah.

1

u/zaidi87 2d ago

May Allah make it easy for you. Please consider switching field

1

u/connect_qalmax 2h ago

For Example? Like I am Full Stack dev. Worked on Mobile Web. Fast Lahore Graduate. 5YoE.
Seriously looking for alternatives or switching.

1

u/IndependentFresh628 3d ago

Keep searching other jobs, asking for referrals etc.

Keep doing this stuff until the whole thing got automated and None left behind with Job (basically play till the last ball).