Ep 32: My First Layoff 25 Years Later with Diana Alt

What I’ve learned since getting laid off at 26 and what still matters in 2025

In this solo episode, Diana reflects on the first time she was laid off, 25 years ago, on her 26th birthday and explores what’s changed (and what hasn’t) when it comes to career identity, layoffs, and job market fears. From the shock of losing a job in the early 2000s to helping clients navigate today's turbulent market, Diana brings clarity, compassion, and wisdom from both personal experience and decades of coaching others through transitions.

She shares the mindset shifts that helped her land her next role quickly, how the stigma around layoffs has evolved, and why job seekers need to focus on clarity, curiosity, and relationships, not just résumés and AI tools.

Whether you've been laid off recently or you're living in fear of it, this episode will help you feel less alone and more empowered to move forward.

⏳ Timestamps:
01:25 The story of Diana’s first layoff in 2000
03:06 Early signs the internet bubble was bursting
04:52 Identity after a layoff: “Am I still valuable?”
06:33 Panic, shame, and the emotional weight of being let go
08:06 Shifting from grief to job search strategy
09:27 What hasn’t changed about finding your next job
10:26 How stigma around layoffs has (thankfully) changed
12:10 Layoffs in 2000 vs. 2025 — what’s different now
13:56 Hope, resilience, and tuning out the noise

💡 Take action
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#CareerGrowth #WorkShouldFeelGood #Layoffs #CareerTransitions #JobSearchTips #MindsetMatters #ClarityConfidenceCareer