Log in or create a free Rosenverse account to watch this video.
Log in Create free account100s of community videos are available to free members. Conference talks are generally available to Gold members.
Layoffs
Summary
A recent wave of layoffs has left some very talented UX professionals unemployed and many others feeling anxious. Given that research and design are often among those functions cut early and deeply, that anxiety is reasonable. For this installment of Rosenfeld’s Advancing Research Community call, we focused on layoffs—what to do if you’re worried, how to implement a strategy in preparation for potential job loss, and what to do if it happens to you.
Key Insights
-
•
Over 120,000 tech industry layoffs have occurred this year, with recruiters being the hardest hit role so far.
-
•
Layoffs cause collective trauma affecting individuals, teams, and communities, and navigating grief stages is important for recovery.
-
•
The stigma around layoffs exists but is starting to unravel as it becomes a shared experience across the industry.
-
•
Keeping a weekly or quarterly habit of tracking accomplishments and project details helps significantly when building portfolios or resumes after layoffs.
-
•
Viewing your current job as a temporary tool to fund your life goals rather than an identity helps manage layoff risk and focus career strategy.
-
•
Active networking and community engagement are critical to building support systems before job loss and improve hiring chances.
-
•
Layoff trends and job market health vary widely across industries; healthcare and government sectors tend to be more stable.
-
•
Negotiating severance packages is possible and advisable, ideally with professional legal or coaching support.
-
•
Career pivots into UX research are still viable but will face increased competition and shrinking entry-level opportunities.
-
•
Innovation in career paths such as independent consulting, entrepreneurship, or cooperatives offers new ways to thrive despite market downturns.
Notable Quotes
"If you were blindsided recently, I’ve been there. I just really appreciated a kind voice because I didn’t hear a single word they said."
"Layoffs are a collective trauma – it’s okay to acknowledge the emotions and grief you feel."
"Your job is a tool to get what you want out of life. Don’t make it more than that."
"You do not have to go publicly thank the employer who just laid you off. They’ll be fine without it."
"Keep your LinkedIn profile updated and compelling so you’re findable for passive job opportunities."
"Don’t force yourself into a job you know isn’t right just because you’re unemployed."
"Build relationships before you need them. You can’t create them when the house is on fire."
"Taking time to intentionally create a career strategy helps avoid reactive decisions based on fear."
"Negotiating severance is absolutely possible; consider legal advice or coaching when doing so."
"This is a moment to rethink identity beyond UX and get creative with income streams and career paths."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"You don’t have to overhaul your process to be inclusive; small changes embedded across stages make a huge difference."
Gabriela BarnevaOperationalizing Inclusive Design in Design Ops
September 11, 2025
"We observed a safety risk on a construction site and that helped open a door to honest stories that people wouldn’t have shared otherwise."
Amy BucherHarnessing behavioral science to uncover deeper truths
March 12, 2025
"No surprises. Tell participants everything they’ll be experiencing from who will be in the room to if the session will be recorded."
Marisa BernsteinIt Takes GRIT: Lessons from the Small, but Mighty World of Civic Usability Testing
December 9, 2021
"Change is the only constant, so designing insight sharing with self-directed learning is critical."
Jerome “Axle” BrownHow to Use Self-Directed Learning to Ensure Your Research Insights are Heard and Acted Upon
March 11, 2021
"We are making things for human beings, and we too are people who must own that responsibility."
Husani OakleyBias Towards Action: Building Teams that Build Work
June 14, 2018
"Hidden disabilities like mental health and ADHD often cause people not to disclose their needs, so anonymity is key."
Rebecca ToppsPlanning and conducting remote usability studies for accessibility
September 10, 2020
"Design systems raise the floor for quality and speed but on their own they have no soul and risk inhibiting innovation."
Peter MerholzDesign at Scale is People!
June 11, 2021
"AI doesn't make bad ideas more dangerous. It makes unfinished ideas more convincing."
Beth ChappellLeading through ambiguity: Supporting a design team relearning their craft
June 9, 2026
"I often think of myself as a stakeholder strategist because sometimes the design title doesn’t quite capture it."
Chris Govias Mai-Ling Garcia Emily LessardPerspectives on Civic Design
September 23, 2021
