Tech Layoffs & Hiring Freezes | Day In Life of Google Software Developer Advocate

Welcome Back! Join me on a few work days as a Developer Advocate working at a Big Tech company! In this vlog I discuss, how I feel about Tech Layoffs & Hiring Freezes.
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► Timestamps
0:00 - Day 1 Work From Home
1:33 - Example Of Type Of Projects I Work On
3:44 - How I Feel About Tech Layoffs & Hiring Freezes
5:46 - Day 2 In Office
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[@DiamondFlame45]

Girl! I started working at a start up like 2 months and I was laid off! One of my friends got laid off this Tuesday from his company as well. Like you, I kept my resume update, build a small emergency fund, and am looking for new opportunities. Honestly, situations like these make me question corporate culture and company loyalty. I am just going to look out for me and have my foot in the door if a better opportunity arises.

[@GoddessY1968]

It doesn't benefit workers to be loyal to companies. It's a non reciprocal relationship in which the worker always loses.

[@DiamondFlame45]

@@GoddessY1968 That’s why when one is employed it’s best to keep your foot in the door if something better arises. Company loyalty is no longer a thing once they removed pensions.

[@GoddessY1968]

@@DiamondFlame45 Exactly I use to judge people who changed jobs every 3 to 5 years or less now I realize they had it figured out. If you want more money benefits etc change jobs

[@zgb3l]

I also came here to say that company loyalty is such bullshit, because the company isnt loyal to you either.

[@Avant402]

I totally agree!! Loyalty to these companies does not help the employees in the long run. This is not our parents workforce any more. No one is dying on the hill for these companies. But like everyone else I keep my resume and LinkedIn update. And I keep my savings up. Cause ya never know!

[@stevensong8784]

I started going to gym in morning last week. I thought I needed all day to study, but I realized I need to improve my physicality as well. It boosts your mental health.

[@Bukola1]

Exercise is so essential! Its a pillar for me to have good mental health

[@AndrewHitti]

So glad to see you posting another great vid!! Your advice is spot on as always 🔥🔥

[@Glamdotzan]

Just want to say i used some of your tips for some interviews and received an offer for a product owner role that i’ve been doing for 1 month now ❤️

[@Iloona974]

In which video does she share does interview tips?

[@hellodaniesblog]

Congratulations! Any tips for someone looking to land a product owner position with little experience?

[@Bukola1]

Amazing!! Congrats 🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿

[@CareersInReview]

Yes the layoffs and hiring freezes are scary but you’re doing all the right things! Always refreshing to see your videos ❤️

[@Bukola1]

Thank you 🥹🥹

[@kojo7485]

@@Bukola1 Greetings from Raleigh North Carolina.

[@TiffInTech]

Such a great video as always! Every time I watch your vlogs it makes me want to move to NYC :D Thanks for sharing some example type of projects too!

[@MelloneeKecia]

Definitely enjoy watching your videos and so glad I found your channel, subscribed and been watching ever since 👍🏾👏🏾🤗❤️

[@laurentruong]

Just started watching your videos for guidance on my data engineering journey. Would be awesome to hear a complete debunk of the future of FAANG/MANGA, among startups, mid tiers, top tiers, in tech. Keep up the great work, Bukola! Thank you.

[@GlowinginTech]

Glad you spoke about layoffs and hiring freezes, its such an important topic. Great tips for growing a resilient career and financial situation through this time!

[@felixc.programs8209]

Love your videos! You motivated me to switch career, start my Tech KZbin channel, and start passive income. I'll keep watching your future videos!

[@susandanielkareem]

Great video Bukola, Love the supergoop sunscreen🔥

[@np18]

Love your channel sis💛

[@purplegal05]

I got laid off 3 months ago and now the interview loops I am in are all stalled due to layoffs and freezes. A lot of people are on summer vacation too so I am hoping that things stabilize in September

[@scoopersammy]

Sending you positive vibes and good luck for your job hunt

[@ninabeena83]

Same here 😔

[@jaydenrussell7491]

well this Thursday you will officially know if were in a recession, if that's the case well hope you get hired soon.

[@Plan2Code]

You are inspirational. #StayStrong

[@RodrigoGarciactg]

Great Video Bukola! As a junior web dev trying to break into tech the freezes and layoffs are concerning but this totally would happen rn lol it’ll make it that much better once I land that first job!

[@michaelzhang3595]

You’re my role model big sis!!!!

[@Bukola1]

Hey everyone thanks for your support on my videos! Let me know what video ideas you'd like to see below!

[@user-vu3vb8bz8i]

let's code something from your real tasks.😁

[@Random_Identity]

Job hopping vs loyalty in terms of building competency & skills for long term career development.

[@stevensong8784]

have you made a vlog if coding jobs will be oversaturated b/c more are going to bootcamps or self-study coding?

[@KimmieTheSquid]

I would love to see like a skincare routine in the future! Another video idea that I would like to see any of the struggles before getting the position that you wanted! Thanks I'm happy I stumbled upon your channel, I love your content! :)

[@keepingupwithmissjones]

Hi Bukola, great video! Could you do a video on what it’s like working with a scrum master from the viewpoint of a software developer? I’m in the process of becoming a scrum master so I’m interested to know what that’s like from the viewpoint of a developer. Thanks for another great video!

[@danielamaria1527]

Hey Bukola! please do a video about recession: how should we prepare financially and some skills worth learning for once the hiring freezes are over. 💗thank you 🙏🏽

[@Plan2Code]

Black techies unite ✌🏿👨🏿‍💻✌🏿

[@Bukola1]

🙌🙌

[@Plan2Code]

@@Bukola1 please, keep up the great work ✌🏿👑✌🏿

[@jejuisl7411]

Love your videos😍😍😍

[@emilyjane5276]

such an interesting vlog! I've always wondered why google cloud isn't as popular, it's something that we're pushing my company to use because we want to learn more about it!

[@moekaba]

Great Vlog

[@innocentia4554]

Hey girl, good to see you again, you were missed

[@Bukola1]

Awww thank you 🥹🥹

[@DazzleMe77]

Love your content although I’m in a completely different field of work! TFS🌺

[@Bukola1]

Thanks for your support

[@abrahamowos]

What's with the keyboard wood and mouse? Are they really better?

[@MsSassyMT]

Sounds like you have a good plan. Hopefully you'll be fine though.

[@dascientist777]

hope all is ok after this week

[@KasiaZ]

Hi :) lovely video - you are always so informative and watching you is just so soothing! I might have a question/discussion idea: I switched careers after 15 years (civil engineering/renewable energy projects) to IT projects (automotive) because I really do enjoy agile and developing fun stuff, but I just, for some odd reason, cannot 'click' with this job and industry. Company has values that I also share, people are absolutely amazing, but I am just not excited and thinking of ways how to connect with it. It is a good job overall and I am doing really well (at least according to my manager). Trying to figure out a root cause and how to fell in love with it, because I can't say I hate it as it would be untrue.

[@ayorinde5782]

same with me. I am an academic researcher as a Mechanical Engineer, also good in Machine learning. I tried working in a tech company, but could not really fit in, the culture and target is off for me.

[@KasiaZ]

@@ayorinde5782 thank you for sharing! I have a target/mission issue too!

[@smolboychief]

Is it bad I knew which week you were in the office based on the market cafe desserts 😅 they are so superior

[@moniam.2712]

I’ve been thinking of switching to tech from a different industry but news of all these hiring freezes and layoffs is very worrying…not sure what steps to take next 😆

[@Lonewolf-up4pc]

Same here !

[@Xperez17]

For the time being I would do freelance work, network with other industry people, maybe look into some kind of hybrid role that blends two different fields together that you have interest in. Also check out banks, Fintech is pretty steady. And military! Military contractors are great.

[@moniam.2712]

Thanks for the advice!

[@Avant402]

Same here, I’m actually networking cause I too what to change industries. But it’s very scary.

[@lauren7006]

I am trying to decide if tech is a good industry and career for me to be in. Would you say there are a lot of hiring freezes and layoffs in the tech industry as a whole or is it just at this moment? I also heard there is a difficulty in finding tech jobs (even though I heard that tech jobs are booming right now 🤷🏽‍♀) Lastly, is this the only thing that makes you want to switch to another field? Sorry for all of the questions I just want to see what the job outlook is like and if going into technology is a good decision for me 😊 Thank you

[@msupazum4809]

Hi Bukola i love your content and how real you are....just one question please....what would you advise someone is starting there journey in software engineering now?

[@Aripoma]

not Bukola, but you should! Tech is not going anywhere. Not every company will survive, but we rely too much on tech for it to go anywhere.

[@msupazum4809]

Alexis thank you so much

[@livewed]

Can you make a video on how to become a data scientist ?

[@nessawithsmiles]

Do you already have a video on how you plan your week? I just started as a tech attorney and would love to know how you remain organized. :)

[@Bukola1]

This is really good idea! Adding it to my list, thanks!

[@LaraUAE]

@@Bukola1 get a notion sponsorship!

[@jadekareem7758]

The layoffs are insane. I see people tweeting about loosing their jobs every week. I’m also scared loool

[@Bukola1]

I'm hoping this is temporary but we'll see lol

[@mike619]

not temporary. I work Sr role in big tech and valuations are based on “future potential”.. not reality. so everything is coming down to where it really should be valued

[@stephenjason7575]

Good evening miss Bukola I am almost done building my first international webapp, we are still on the test stage I will like to show you after I done will you be interested in seeing it that my question and where can i send you the link

[@cy3366]

What other sunscoop flavors you recommend?

[@Bukola1]

I really like the vanilla too!

[@quansdayoff]

Hey Bukola, where are your meal prep containers from?

[@Bukola1]

I love them! They are from Amazon: geni.us/MEALPREPCONTAINERS

[@lowwastehighmelanin]

I was wondering how things were going for you at work under the circumstances.

[@Bettylulseged]

I got laid off from Microsoft recently. Not sure the recession is the reason for the mass layoffs. Believe companies are cutting projects they wanted to cut a long time ago and using the recession as a way out. Made a video about my experience as well!

[@catchloe_]

random but you’re gorgeous!

[@kisarunihofmannndosi5327]

If they lay you off they would fire one of their best employees and actually advertisers so then they simply wouldn't deserve you. I'm sure you got this. I do relate to your nervousness however :D

[@snail293]

I just got laid-off from my front end engineer job.. I've only been there 2 weeks.

[@Noranene_]

Hi Bukola where do you get tech news from?

[@Bukola1]

team blind has up to date news, but toxic community

[@karmendurbin]

What sucks the most is the people who were trying to get into tech now that will now be faced with hiring freezes after all of their hard work.

[@chillydill4703]

It seems like most people have forgot what happened throughout the history. Recession is normal, it has always been. What I remember from school it's something along like every 10th year or so and it lasts about 18 months. I remember 2008, that was a huge dip and now, just by looking at any graph (for example S&P500 or whatever) we have been on upward trend for the last 12 years. We should going into a recession.

[@erich7861]

Just because something happens regularly doesnt mean its not concerning. Being stressed out about it isnt "forgetting" about it. In fact, most millennials entered the workforce during the last recession. They definitely didnt forget. Second, the stock market is not the economy. The chart going up doesnt mean much to the average person which recessions hit the hardest. The wealthiest 10% own 80% of the stocks. The rich get richer as they say.

[@chillydill4703]

@@erich7861 Well, I don't want to argue about that... it's more a reflection of the information popping up lately, which I'm kind of concerned about. Don't know how long you have been or if you're even in the industry? I have been in the industry for very well more than a decade and worked through the last recession. The demand hasn't changed in 20 years and increases every year. It's nothing to be worried about. The stock market reflects the economy, you should know that.

[@erich7861]

​@@chillydill4703 No it doesnt. Literally economists determine if we're in a recession, which means by definition we're not in a healthy economy. You cant just look at the stock market and be like "no we're not, the chart is going up lol"

[@Africanbeautyy93]

You’re Gorgeous

[@thealys]

Also in Google hiring process....hope its successful and no pause in the hiring process ...ohh God help me

[@Bukola1]

Good luck! Officially they said they paused hiring for 2 weeks, but I know a few people still interviewing so who knows!

[@thealys]

@@Bukola1 I hope for the best. Thanks sis

[@emmanueladetoro6941]

@@Bukola1 I'm on intermediate Python

[@georgejetson9801]

Downturns always happen. You just ride them out. Once you've got a few years experience and are good, you'll have places begging you to come work.

[@livewed]

A company contacted me through my school to offer me to be trained for 3 months( while being paid) as I am learning software engineering. They also require me to move to another state after the training. The salary is less than the 80k average. Any thoughts?

[@msToshKaz]

Yes grab it girl . Leading industry standards comes first . U can gain confidence in real world .

[@ilikefrenchfewd]

take it

[@livewed]

@A sister in Christ no

[@brookswashere3400]

Sounds fishy . I’d look for something close to home. What company is it?

[@livewed]

@@brookswashere3400 why is it fishy? If for example you were living in Ohio and google would ask you to move to NY or Mountain View would you find it fishy?

[@Emilyghe]

Def work/life/travel/apt content

[@Bukola1]

Yess!! this is type of content I want to make more of!

[@Emilyghe]

@@Bukola1 oh I forgot to say bf content too, as usual

[@blonded.6668]

Don't get fired suh

[@300zxster]

What is a software advocate?

[@Bukola1]

I explained in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4SceqGopqinpbc

[@Itsmilesbaker]

It’s been tough! I got laid off along with most of my team only a month after I started working.

[@Ashe0429]

I am sorry to hear that! What was your title?

[@Itsmilesbaker]

@@Ashe0429 Thank you very much, I’m a product manager!

[@CocoaCookies_]

They’re dragging their feet on formally announcing it, but what’s understood doesn’t need to be formally announced. The recession is here.

[@tsume184tg]

This is the perfect opportunity to look into nonprofit organizations. Yes the pay is dramatically lower, however, if you were to pursue a career with a tech company, it will look great on your resume and will show future employers you are passionate about the work and not just expecting a huge salary

[@Aripoma]

i think tech companies know most ppl are in it for the money and they cant do much about it. Im sorry but this is bad advice.. Non-profits rely heavily on donations to stay afloat. If there's recession, people donate a lot less so the first to go are non-profits. If there's a recession coming, you should not go to non-profit.

[@tsume184tg]

@@Aripoma It depends on the nonprofit as all nonprofits do not rely on donations. The nonprofits I have worked for always received 98% of funding through the government, as do for profit companies. I have been a Data Analyst, Business Analyst, along with a Financial Analyst. I have worked for some of the top Tech and Environmental companies. I have generally ran into the question of "what are you most passionate about this field" and I tie in my nonprofit work. I almost always get the position I want

[@Aripoma]

@@tsume184tg you’re assuming causation instead of correlation. unless every employer is telling you “we hired you bc of your passion” I’m not sure it’s causation

[@techlaland]

@@Aripoma No one works for the sake of relying on your passion. The main purpose of work is to make money, and tech offers the best opprotunity to make alot of it to give yourself the best possible life without having to struggle. Tech people and other individuals that work in high salaried occupations know the opprotunities are abundant in these fields because you easily find a job else by having highly sought after skills.

[@Aripoma]

@@techlaland I think you replied to the wrong person

[@anoukc6928]

[3:44]

[@TJTHEFOOTBALLPROPHET]

Because too many of us are now into tech.

[@Bukola1]

No that's not it lol!

[@TJTHEFOOTBALLPROPHET]

@@Bukola1 🤣🤣❤️ love you tho

[@TJTHEFOOTBALLPROPHET]

FYI: anything that you're trying to get the word out consider me on your team. I have two active communities standing by for you!

[@manuelsteele8030]

I graduated into a recession in the early 90s and was unable to find job. So, I did a short internship and went to graduate school. After I got my MS in Bioengineering, I went into industry. In the late 1990s, the economy was booming in the first "DotCom" era. Use of programming languages like Java, python, VB6, SQL, etc. was growing rapidly in IT. I started as an entry-level software tester and became senior QA manager after only three years from job hopping. It was absurd how fast I ascended. But it all crashed with the "DotCom" bubble in late 2000. By late 2001, the job market was dismal. I had been in CO but interviewed all across the country. I drove to Silicon Valley, Chicago, and ultimately ended up in Florida (all by driving). This was before the "Zoom" era when interviews were done mostly onsite. I was lucky with a phone interview from Florida. But there was no "remote" work. I had to move to Tallahassee. After all that, I learned there is generally a harsh recession about every 10 years or so where the job market dries up badly with many unemployed workers competing for scarce openings. I earned multiple master's degrees from 2007 to 2019 to stay "employable". I see the working world as analogous to "mixed martial arts" where one can get hit from weird, unorthodox angles unexpectedly like in a layoff. To prepare for that, I used unorthodox defense by developing multiple skills in different areas - a "mixed martial" arts of engineering skills. I am a biomedical engineer, software engineer, electrical engineer, and mechanical engineer. I have master's degrees in each field of engineering. I also have 20+ years of work experience in different areas of software development: back-end, middleware, UI, database, cloud, mobile apps, etc. I don't confine myself to one language and stay flexible by mastering python, java, .Net, Android, iOS apps, SQL, NoSQL, AWS lambdas, data warehouse (Informatica, SSIS), etc. I also have an MPH where I did a project to study FDA regulations in the law school. This helps with FDA compliance engineering. The list is always growing. If I don't, I'll just get laid off and have a hard time finding a new job like in 2001. I also studied communication with a professor and graduate studies to discuss serious work issues like the #MeToo movement, dealing with corporate bullying, racism, etc. My unorthodox self-training techniques worked in the recession of 2008-2009. I was employed through all that. It is also working now. I have many job options despite the current recession. The job market can be cruel, so I learned to adapt by being unorthodox - a "mixed martial artist" of engineering with many "parachutes" to land on a new job if a layoff happens. Being older, I now have to worry about ageism as well. So, I keep learning and am working on a PhD in data science. It helps me keep up-to-date on new technologies while doing graduate projects with young people. I did a project on neural networks and deep learning just last night with undergraduates mostly in their early 20s. If someone confronts me about my age, I can show the different areas of training and the fact that I work well with young people in group projects. One has to think "outside the box" to survive when layoffs happen. But I recommend maintaining a sense of humor and good spirits despite harsh layoffs. Watch "Office Space" - a turn-of-the-century classic about layoffs in IT at a corporation. One software engineer told me he actually saw it as a "documentary" rather than fictional film - lol. The scene at the end when Peter was working on labor at a construction site reminds me of 2002 in Denver. I had to work on hard labor while interviewing to get my next job in that recession of 2001-2002. Best wishes to those on a job search in the recession of 2022.

[@livewed]

Why dont you teach about coding?

[@Bukola1]

Its a lot of work to make those videos especially with a 9-5 and the engagement (watch time) for education coding videos are low so I stopped making them

[@livewed]

@@Bukola1 you can sell it as a course

[@GoddessY1968]

I would pay for it

[@Sanctified.Homestead]

Welcome to the great reset. May the odds be with you.

[@Aripoma]

How often are you going into office these days? is google relax about the coming in 2-3 days/week policy?

[@Bukola1]

They are pretty relax but it really depends on your team!

[@care-a-lot1051]

Damn maybe I shouldn’t go to this coding boot camp after all 🫣

[@Sam-fg9lf]

Don’t worry. It’s not as many companies as you think it is. I checked that page that actively reports layoffs. What you can do is continue to code and learn new things.

[@Bukola1]

I think its still worth it to become a Software Engineer! Long term tech companies will still be insanely profitable and necessary part of life, and if that remains the case they'll still need to hire tech workers.

[@ilikefrenchfewd]

@@Sam-fg9lf exactly what I planned on doing. Continuing to build knowledge so I can pop out with a bang when it's time