The world of cybersecurity is both exhilarating and unpredictable. As an expat who recently embarked on a career in this field in Luxembourg, I was met with an unexpected challenge. Little did I know that my journey would soon intersect with the harsh reality of layoffs. In this article, I share my personal experience, coping strategies, and actionable steps to overcome the aftermath of a layoff.
The Shock of Layoffs: A Growing Industry, Yet Vulnerable
Working in the thriving landscape, doesn’t shield us from layoff. The cybersecurity market, while robust, witnessed cutbacks as companies restructured their investment strategies. No job is secure.
The Emotional Rollercoaster: As an expat, I felt the tremors firsthand. The initial shock was followed by a whirlwind of emotions: fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt. Questions raced through my mind: How would I survive in a foreign land? Could I bounce back from this setback? Should I just leave everything and go back home where I could easily get a job.
Navigating the Storm
First Acknowledge Your Emotions. They are real.
Acceptance: Understand that layoffs are not a reflection of your worth. They are strategic decisions made by companies to ensure long-term viability. This is the hardest step because the moment you go to the deep spiral of questioning your skills and experience its difficult.
Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself. It’s okay to feel hurt, but don’t let it consume you. Don’t try to analyse the whole journey to see if you could have done something differently that would have a different outcome. Seek support from friends, family, or professional networks. My family and friends were extremely supportive and understood me.
Practical Steps
Assess Your Situation:
- Financial Health: Evaluate your savings and create a budget. Cut unnecessary expenses.
- Legal Aspects: Understand your rights as an expat. Seek legal advice if needed.
- Job Market Research: Explore job opportunities within and beyond cybersecurity. Make a list of transferrable skills and roles that could match.
- Time: Understand how long you can be unemployed In your visa.
- Financial Support: Register with ADEM and see if you are eligible for benefits
Upskilling and Networking:
- Learn: Use this downtime to enhance your skills. Take online courses, certifications (there are many free ones), or attend workshops. I realised languages also plays a key role in technical roles and started working on my language skills as well.
- Network: Attend industry events, webinars, and connect with professionals. A referral couldn’t hurt.
- Update your resume and online presence. Be aware and make use of all job boards available (ictjobs.lu, moovijobs.lu, linkedin, indeed, eures). Use AI to prepare those killer resumes and cover letters.
- Volunteer: Could be anything related to profession or any cause. Helps you get out of your house and helping definitely brings joy.
Stay Resilient:
- Mindset: Cultivate resilience. View setbacks as stepping stones to growth.
- Health: Prioritize physical and mental well-being. Exercise, meditate, and maintain a routine.
- Luxembourg has beautiful hiking trails that helps me unwind and click beautiful pictures and get lost in nature.
Seizing Opportunities: Reinvent Yourself
- Freelancing: Consider freelance gigs or consulting. Your expertise is valuable.
- Entrepreneurship: Launch a cybersecurity venture. Luxembourg supports many startups. Infact house of entrepreneurs hosts sessions every Tuesday to talk about it. Worth the listen.
- Remote Work: Explore remote opportunities. The world is your office. There are beautiful co working cafes that could your office for the day, incase you want a change in scene.
To conclude, Layoffs are storms that pass. As an expat navigating Luxembourg’s landscape, I’ve learned that resilience and adaptability are our greatest assets. Embrace change, seek opportunities, and remember: setbacks are merely chapters in our expat adventure.
A guest article by Anitha Arulrajakumar