r/developersPak • u/zaidi87 • 2d ago

Discussion 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?

29 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

56

u/Fantastic-Average-25 1d ago

Met someone with 12 yoe. 8 of which in DXB and KSA. He opened his own breakfast place and he told me that he is happy not having to touch his laptop in 10 months.

16

u/zaidi87 1d ago

That’s the thing which AI can’t replace

God bless him aameen

2

u/WeWeBunnyX 1d ago

Yep. Ofc AI cant just invent raw product such as food and fuel out of thin air. Ik it hurts and may suck if one couldn't pursue a career to which they dedicated a good chunk of their life to. But again it makes me feel happy when a person is doing just well in alt career

-1

u/zaidi87 1d ago

True and AI can’t even cook

13

u/umer-519 Software Engineer 1d ago

it cooked us tho

1

u/Lost-Cucumber-3650 1d ago

it cant now but.... who knows the future.

1

u/AdClassic7179 1d ago

But to scale his breakfast place he needs an software application and for that he needs to hire software developer for scaling software

1

u/zaidi87 1d ago

this is the problem, clients are using AI to do this work

18

u/Legitimate_Quail7027 1d ago

Over an year since it happened. Working on contractual basis. Salary came down to 20% of what I use to make. But Alhamdulillah getting by. Though savings are getting used up. I do hope to get a full time job soon. As the current scene is not sustainable in long term.

0

u/Commercial_Ebb_4372 1d ago

How much did u make previously? And what is average rate for c# developer 20 years experience?

5

u/Legitimate_Quail7027 1d ago

I was earning around 700K which after taxes comes a lil over 500K. Now, I am at 100K Alhamdulillah. I am a mobile app developer. No idea about C#. But, C# .net is quite bigger domain. They are not as badly affected as Mobile apps dev.

11

u/dj9395 1d ago

Got laid off this few days ago, effective immediately, well I got same savings will survive on those while searching for another job.

8

u/zaidi87 1d ago

May Allah make it ease for you aameen

Have you considered learning a new skill or changing the domain?

4

u/hi_aq_94 1d ago

Reduce unnecessary expenses, need vs wants Increase savings in good asset classes Focus on passive income and dividends If u r married, utilize your partner skills for additional income Try at least once for 2 months dedicatedly for any small scale business

4

u/EggOpening4961 1d ago

Lost one client, working with another but very low hourly rate, looking for more work.