Tech Professionals Face Uncertainty in the Aftermath of Layoffs
SINGAPORE: After being laid off from Meta’s Singapore office last December, a 31-year-old, referred to as G, faced a turbulent two months of job hunting, which led to two job offers. However, his optimism was short-lived as his offer was rescinded due to a company reorganisation.
G is just one of many affected by the wave of mass tech layoffs that began in late 2022. In total, 1,270 workers were let go from tech companies in Singapore between July and mid-November 2022, with the cuts continuing into 2023. In addition to Meta’s global layoffs, major firms such as Twitter, Microsoft, Google, Lenovo, Sea, and Carousell also reduced their workforce.
Months later, many laid-off workers are still struggling to find new opportunities. CNA spoke to five former employees, most of whom have applied to numerous roles but received little to no feedback. Relying on severance packages and savings, they continue to face an uphill battle.
One ex-Meta employee, who requested anonymity, applied for 20 to 30 roles similar to her previous position. She moved to Singapore from China in mid-2022, only to be laid off by Meta in December. Despite multiple interview calls and some progress, she was unable to secure a job offer, citing her salary requirements as a barrier for potential employers.
After months of fruitless applications, she returned to China and received a job offer for a similar role with a lower salary.
Similarly, G, who had moved from India to join Meta in July 2022, applied for over 30 roles after his layoff. Despite attending multiple rounds of interviews, he only received two offers early in February. The competition was fierce, with many companies rejecting him after several interview rounds. His offer, which he initially accepted, was rescinded just days before his return to Singapore.
Another ex-Meta employee, who has been job hunting since December, described her experience as mentally exhausting. She sent out tailored applications and participated in multiple rounds of interviews, but still had no job offers to show for it.
Industry experts such as Mr. Sachet Sethi, senior manager at recruitment firm Robert Walters Singapore, note that competition for tech roles is fierce, with many laid-off employees having “overpriced themselves” due to high salaries during the pandemic hiring surge. While tech sectors like cybersecurity, software engineering, and data science still face high demand, companies are being selective in their hiring practices.
Salaries in Singapore’s tech industry reached an all-time high in 2022, but recent layoffs and strategic business planning mean tech professionals now have less negotiating power when it comes to salary expectations.
One former Twitter employee, after months of searching, eventually secured a position at a start-up in January. She reflected on the need to adjust her perspective on job security, understanding that the stability once provided by large corporations is no longer guaranteed.
Meanwhile, others like Mr. Ian Tan, laid off from his position as a sales director at Lenovo, have turned to alternative paths, exploring new business ventures or side jobs. After initially struggling with the job search, Mr. Tan found a sense of freedom in pursuing new opportunities, including a consultancy role and a teaching position at a local polytechnic.
While the job market remains tough for many laid-off workers, these individuals are discovering new ways to adapt, either by changing industries or embracing freelance work, as they continue to navigate an uncertain economic landscape.
