After six months of looking on and off for a management level job in the tech industry, I was done. I accomplished what society expected of me. I pursued what I thought I should pursue. I bravely pursued a goal that was supposed to be mine but never was. I have dedicated my time, energy, and youth to a white-collar world that never stops devouring people like me.
it is complete.
Growing up in India, I did everything right. I was good at math and science. I gave up on my dream of becoming a writer and took a stable job as an engineer. I followed the path set by people like his CEO at Google, Sundar Pichai. I earned a master's degree from a top school at the University of California in a field that promised to put me at the forefront of change: robotics and artificial intelligence. I found a job in the self-driving industry, working on AI to make the world a better place. Then reality hit me and I had to look up.
I worked in the AI industry for a total of four years. Result: Absolutely nothing. None of the products I worked on ever reached the people they were meant to help. Technology leaders and evangelists enjoy preaching about helping society and serving those in need. But after observing not only their words, but also their actions, I realized that it was all a sham. There is no room for people who want to work on products that impact society. The current world of technology is centered around investor happiness, futuristic demos, and making executives richer than their wildest dreams. There is no place for ideals or idealists. For a while, I deliberately closed my eyes and endured. It was the only way to pay my bills and keep my work visa. But everything changed when the coronavirus turned the tech industry upside down.
By the time I was hit with layoffs in summer 2023, I had already gone through multiple challenges similar to other young workers. Just a few months after experiencing the old normal, I transitioned to remote work during the pandemic and had to support my family when business became difficult. A deadly wave of coronavirus has hit my country, forcing me to live far from home. All to hold on to meaningless jobs and dehumanizing visas. Unfortunately, I didn't wake up right away after I was fired. After all, it's hard to let go of the dreams you've built your entire life on. From July to December 2023, I applied to more than 500 companies and got an interview with less than 5% of them.I was guided by a recruiter and went through multiple interviews with several companies. They would pull those jobs out from under me and give them to me. I introduced them to people who came “highly recommended.”
In 2024, layoffs continue into the new year. Being an optimist, you have to wait and keep trying. The next role should be lurking just around the corner. Initially, I looked at the whole situation from within. I'm very smart and a good leader. So Competent. You should be able to get a job right away, right?
But when I zoomed out, another photo greeted me. I decided to learn from AI and look at all the data available. There are hundreds or thousands of people in the same layoff boat who are equally qualified and need the same job. Some people are in more desperate situations than me. When downsizing begins, companies end up hiring middle managers – managers of products, programs, projects, whatever that is – people whose roles are not tied to the “core” business. History repeats itself, and in the pursuit of a “lean” organization, those responsible for talent, culture, and other intangibles fall squarely under attack.
If these organizations stopped and looked at how history is unfolding, they would realize that by shedding “non-essential” staff, they could shift already heavy workloads onto the shoulders of “essential” staff and people. You can see that it is distributed in They may not have the will or skills to take on administrative duties. Burnout among those who survive is high, and the fear of another round of layoffs is palpable, resulting in anxious and demotivated employees. Organizations and leaders have lost respect and trust. A good lesson is to look back at what happened in companies in the 1980s and '90s after the mass layoffs associated with the advent of new technology. Shareholder interests and short-term goals can and have driven companies down in the past.
For many people who have been laid off today, software roles are the only way to get back into the tech industry. and Get visa sponsorship. But I'm tired of being told what to do and being forced to work on products that have no real impact. There's no guarantee that the next company won't throw me under the bus at the first opportunity. Modern technology companies have successfully shifted risk and responsibility from employers to vulnerable employees. Management takes no responsibility for the well-being of its employees and is surprised when people put off putting their heart and soul into their work. They forget that the only way to ensure “productivity” in the workforce is to make workers feel happy, safe, and valued.
Right before I was fired, I almost dug the company deeper into the hole. I had offers from some of the best business schools in the United States, but something always kept me from accepting them. I once paid to get a seat, but some fate/fate/evil dismissal prevented me from starting the course. I was lost, confused, and more than a little stunned by the turn of events.
That's when a friend helped me find a way out of the fog. A friend comforted me by saying that she never imagined I would stay in the corporate world anyway. She believed in my creativity, my ability to think differently and carve my own path. She helped me let go of my misconceptions and vague visions of the future. That conversation led to days and months of thinking, overthinking, and ruminating about the future. I found it easier to understand what I didn't want and didn't need anymore, and that was the tech industry. Then, as the new year dawned, I finally found the courage to let go.
I'm tired of technology, the hypocrisy inherent in technology, and the endless hoopla. I'm tired of being forced into histrionic behaviors to prove my worth. I am treated as a candidate for diversity and I am done with having to convince those in power that I am worth their time and money. I’m done with being seen as a risk, too young, too different. It frustrates me that even after so many decades, the corruption in corporate America remains so deep that it cannot be washed away. Simply, it's over.
Additionally, I'm not willing to give up everything I've gained over the past six months: my health, my sanity, my creativity, my freedom. I refuse to be forced into an office due to presenteeism. I refuse to bow to the demands of an emotionally insensitive, profit-oriented, short-sighted leadership team. If the fundamental issues with a company and its culture are not resolved, I will not turn a blind eye. I refuse to be treated as a second-class citizen or singled out as a potential “mother.” I refuse to assimilate and conform and become an “organizational person.” Because I know that no matter how hard I try, they will never truly accept me or treat me well.
I've been thinking long and hard about what I want to do next. What should my future be? What would my ideal job be? How do you want to spend the rest of your time on this precious, burning planet?
The answer is simple and right in front of us. It's about doing things that make people happy. Of course, jumping into self-employment and being my own boss is tough, but ultimately it's good for my mental and physical health. I found it fun to do freelance and consulting work independently. I love having time to volunteer and being an active member of the community. It feels great to benefit others in a tangible, tangible way. After emerging from the confines of the outdated 40-hour work week, I'm not willing to put back the shackles of white-collar employment. That's true. Once you see corruption, it is very difficult to reverse it.
We understand that not everyone can take time off from work. I admit that I may be one of the lucky few who can do that. Working in the technology industry has provided me with great and lasting benefits. It's a kind of financial freedom you've never known before. Years of experience in the technical field have allowed me to build a modest nest egg and now I have the dignity and confidence to dream of a better life without seeing myself as a burden to my partner. I'm always grateful for that.
I also learned that it's okay to be stagnant. As long as you slowly build a stable life, you'll be fine. It's okay to not want what others want. It’s okay to not be tempted by the system and to make your own mistakes and choices. It's okay not to pursue continuous growth. It's okay to stop living in fear of being left behind.
I want to move on to the next stage of my life. Of course, this is just one of many options I could choose from. However, I decided to choose the path that I thought was right. Something that beckons and comforts. It helps my family, my friends, and my community. What to give and what not to receive. Something that makes me stop and take a deep breath. I chose to rely on my privilege and the support of my family. I ignored the demands of corporate feminism and decided to let my partner take care of things for a while. I choose my mind, my body, and my peace.
