Sacked women tech employees need to upskill, stay relevant: Experts
As tech layoffs affect hundreds of women employees too, top behavioural experts on Tuesday said those who have been laid off need to have a good support system and realise that it's not their fault.
image for illustrative purpose
New Delhi, March 7 As tech layoffs affect hundreds of women employees too, top behavioural experts on Tuesday said those who have been laid off need to have a good support system and realise that it's not their fault.
Many women tech employees have lost their jobs in the recent layoffs.
According to experts, women have always felt a lot of pressure with less outlets to let out their stress as they try to bottle their emotions, trying to create work-home balance, taking care of their families and ignoring their mental health.
According to Tara Mehta, Clinical Psychologist, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Hospitals, Mumbai, losing jobs to layoffs is going to cause some amount of stress and dysfunction in one's life.
"It's very natural for this to have an impact on any individual gender. It's going to cause some amount of disharmony in their plans for the future. It's going to result in anxiety and stress and all these are natural, regardless of the gender," Mehta told IANS.
"These times can be stressful, which is why staying connected with family and friends who radiate positive energy is crucial," she noted.
Divya Mohindroo, Founder, Embrace Imperfections and a counselling psychologist, told IANS that as a working women, she would suggest that the fastest way to end your pain and suffering of any kind, specially with matters related to stress and anxiety is to accept the reality of what is occurring even if it feels bad.
"Professionally, I would suggest that start making a list of potential employers, research about available opportunities and companies, look for avenues to upskill and even diversify into other sectors," Mohindroo told IANS.
Approach employers while being mentally prepared to describe their situation while pitching their candidature.
"It is also important to network with friends, ex-bosses and colleagues to ease your situation and understand that many people like you are sailing in the same boat and every individual has their own set of problems that is why self pity is not a feeling to stay with," she elaborated.
More than three lakh tech employees have lost jobs in recent months globally, including thousands in India.
According to Vishakha Bhalla, Clinical Psychologist at Max Hospital Gurgaon, they need to gather strength from past obstacles in life and affirm to themselves that they are capable of getting through this as before.
"Get busy with small and achievable goals that will make you ready to accomplish bigger things. Make a list of pros and cons of this situation and analyze what can be changed and how you can approach with alternative but practical solutions," said Bhalla.
Start your day with optimism through physical exercise/yoga/meditation to release muscle tension.
Shreya Chakraborty, CEO and Founder, Techfin, an edtech startup, told IANS that preparing for the future by investing in rebuilding and reshaping ourselves with regard to skills instead of going through repetitive thoughts of regrets of job loss is the way forward.
"This is the time to upskill with new technologies and be relevant. Instead of regretting the loss, consider this as an opportunity to do self-development both mentally and technically," said Chakraborty.
