That California Girl

In summer 2024, I got laid off.

And strangely enough…I wasn’t devastated.

That might sound odd, but after 1.5 years of constant restructuring, shifting priorities, and emotional uncertainty at work, I had already braced myself long before the official announcement.

Here’s how I navigated losing my IT job in Berlin- and how I coped better than I expected.

The slow burn before the layoff

At a time like this, where many tech giants have made headlines over mass layoffs and significant budget cuts, it was no surprise that our industry was no longer “safe.” For at least half a year, our office conversations were dominated by whispers and speculation about layoffs. My colleagues and I held our breath during every company-wide announcement.

People were let go in quiet waves- from leadership roles to entire departments. We usually found out through farewell emails or word-of-mouth. Meanwhile, All Hands Meetings focused on new restructuring plans decided at the higher management level.

There was a heaviness in the office: frustration, uncertainty, detachment- and sometimes indifference. It seemed as though some of my peers were just coasting through and biding their time until further notice.

Over time, throughout the restructure, I could no longer see where my role as a product marketer fit into the bigger picture. Like many digital transformation and product-led growth strategies that boomed during the 2020-2023 pandemic years, especially in traditionally non-tech corporations, the urgency around digital product roles seemed to be fading. Despite my gratitude for still having a secure job at a time when the labor market has been tough and unstable, I felt a lull in my professional development. Although I kept trying to find ways to reinvent my purpose in contributing my work, I felt stuck but didn’t dare to quit.

I started to anticipate my own layoff, and slowly, I accepted it.

Why I didn’t quit

As an expat living in Berlin for nearly a decade, I understood my rights within Germany’s social system. If I were laid off, I would receive unemployment benefits and a notice period. If I quit voluntarily, I would lose that safety net.

So I decided to wait it out and bide my time.

When the layoff finally happened, I tried and negotiated severence, secured garden leave, and received a three-month career counseling program to transition out.

Instead of panic, I felt relief. I had prepared mentally and practically. However, I still recognized that this was only temporary and bought me the luxury of time to think clearly about my next move. I was fine- for now.

The unexpected gift of time

For three months, I was technically employed- but not working.

I could’ve jumped straight into job applications, but life had other plans. I was planning my autumn wedding, and loved ones were visiting from abroad. So, I gave myself permission to pause.

My logic was simple:

• Use this time to recover emotionally
• Focus on my wedding and family
• Step out of the negative mental space my job had created
• Then, strategically plan my next move to get back into the market

Looking back, that pause was everything I needed.

Why I coped well

There were three main reasons I handled the layoff better than expected:

1. I wasn’t happy anymore.

The constant restructuring had stalled my growth toward a senior role. The emotionally draining atmosphere had already taken its toll.

2. I wasn’t financially stressed.

Between severance, savings, and upcoming unemployment benefits, I had breathing room. That space allowed me to think strategically instead of desperately.

3. I had true rest time.

This wasn’t a vacation squeezed between deadlines. It was an open, unstructured time to recharge, travel, and reconnect with people I love.

That combination (with a bit of luck and good timing) created stability- emotionally and practically.

My 3-part recovery plan

I broke down my transition into clear stages:

Phase 1: Rest. Wedding. Travel. Family. Fun. Reset.

Phase 2: Reflect. Through career counseling, I optimized my LinkedIn + CV, clarified my professional narrative, refined my networking strategy, and explored where I should pivot careers.

Phase 3: Re-enter. Apply- confidently and strategically with a clear head.

Having a structure during uncertainty made all the difference.

To pivot or not to pivot?

At one point, I seriously considered switching into UX design to become “more technical” and therefore “safer.” But, after researching the Berlin job market and observing peers who pivoted into technical roles like product management or development, I noticed a harsh reality: even after six-month bootcamps, many struggled to land junior roles.

Starting from zero would mean lower pay, intense competition, and uncertainty. Instead, I chose to double down on my existing expertise in product marketing and grow upward into seniority.

Sometimes the brave move isn’t reinventing yourself- it’s committing more deeply to who you already are.

Investing in myself

Even though I decided to stay in my field, I wanted to explore my toolkit. I invested in formal certification within product marketing and began self-learning graphic design. I’ve always been curious about content marketing and offering freelance services as a side option.

Losing my job reminded me of something important: security isn’t just about employment, it’s about skills, and no matter how comfortable we feel, we should never stop learning.

Feeling ready…until I wasn’t

Thanks to Germany’s employee protections and the time I intentionally gave myself, I re-entered the job market around February 2025 feeling confident and strong. I thought I had done everything right.

What I didn’t expect was how much the next nine months would test my resilience, confidence, and sense of identity.

But that’s a story for Part Two.

Have you ever stayed in a job longer than you should have because of fear of the unknown?

Let me know in the comments- I’d love to hear your story.