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Podcast Episode

How to Survive Getting Laid Off, and Come Back Stronger with Steve Jaffe

I'm a software engineer - what next?··24 September 2025·39 min

About this episode

S01E15 The One Where You Get Let GoLaid off? You’re not alone, and it doesn’t mean you're broken. In this week’s episode of I’m a Software Engineer ~ What Next?, we talk to Steve Jaffe, ad industry veteran and author of The Layoff Journey, about how to bounce back after losing your job — and how to find real clarity in the chaos.Steve's been through four layoffs — from the dot-com crash to 2023’s tech contraction. The difference? Now he knows how to handle it. Hosted by tech recruiter James Wilson and software engineer Matt Sinclair, this episode is all about: -Why most people handle layoffs wrong -The 7 emotional stages of being let go (and why you shouldn't skip them) -How layoffs can spark growth, renewal, and even joy-What hiring managers really think about CV gaps -How to turn a layoff into your career pivot moment-Advice for engineers, hiring managers, and anyone who’s felt lost after being let go. Show Notes Steve’s book The Layoff Journey - https://thestevejaffe.com/ The Kubler-Ross Model – Stages of Grief - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_stages_of_grief The "Bullsh*t Jobs" theory by David Graeber - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_Jobs Guest: Steve Hosts Matt James More from us https://whatnext.dev/ https://quantumfaxmachine.com/