S
S

shipsinking

SDR

Fire Starter
Contributor

Layoff Advice

My org just went through a 10% reduction in headcount. Reasoning behind this was because we missed 3 quarters in a row. Q3 looks good but I imagine that this isn't the last time layoffs will come. 

From experience, does an H1 layoff round normally indicate another coming in H2? 
🧠 Advice
☂️ Layoffs
☁️ Software Tech
19

23 comments

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Sunbunny31
Politicker
8
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
So many factors in play here. How big is the company? Who was let go? Were any in sales? Does the company have a history of doing this in down times (2008?). Hard to know.
Best thing is to do your job, maintain your quota and good standing. Unless they want to go out of business, they will need sales reps.
shipsinking
Fire Starter
3
SDR
~250 employees, series B, ~75m ARR, did not go through 2008, ~25% of layoffs came from sales
butwhy
Politicker
4
Solutions Engineer
Girl - you in danger. If Series B was in 2021, they are going to have a hard time finding Series C missing numbers like that. Downround usually means another, larger RIF. Also 250 is way too big for Series B, the burn rate must be insane.

Update the resume and even though it sucks, keep your eye out. If leadership goes quiet or there is a sudden product pivot that makes no sense, you know what's coming.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
^^ exactly.
In the meantime, keep at it and do your very best. Gasty just posted a "who's hiring AEs" post that might also give you a place to start looking elsewhere at the same time.
DataCorrupter
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Great answer.
Agreed with all these points. If they cut people and it doesn't result in more revenue ("efficiency" or "productivity per rep") over the next few quarters, then another cut will come sooner than later.
Gasty
Notable Contributor
6
War Room Community Manager
I want to tell you No, but then, I see your username…
CuriousFox
WR Officer
5
🦊
👀
oldcloser
Arsonist
5
💀
You make your number, you'll find some immunity to all of it... most likely, anyway. Do you. Do you well.
Justatitle
Big Shot
4
Account Executive
Companies usually try to make 1 cut and then they hope revenue stabilizes. I don;t know where you work and all but it's kind of industry wide right now. control what you can and try to ignore this noise because worrying about it does nothing.
AnchorPoint
Politicker
4
Business Coach
The "why" is important.
SoccerandSales
Big Shot
4
Account Executive
A lot of factors to know for sure, but the “shipsinking” username makes me feel like you are not in for a fun H2
detectivegibbles
Politicker
4
Sales Director
Made it through an H1, was told we were the crew going forward, laid off 5 weeks later.

I’d recommend updating resume and applying asap.

Start with @Gasty list of who’s hiring.
braintank
Politicker
3
Enterprise Account Executive
Yes
Pachacuti
Politicker
3
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
I take it you survived.
Its never a bad idea to be interviewing. Its easiest and best to find a job when you already have a job. That's about the extent of my advice.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
3
Sales Rep
Control what you can, hit your number and try to make it hard for them to lay you off. But also keep your pulse in the market so if the worst happens, you have connection to make a quick transition
Maximas
Tycoon
2
Senior Sales Executive
Unfortunately Yes,all what I recommend though is to do your best in a hope to evade the layoff circle!
Diablo
Politicker
2
Sr. AE
Mostly yes but there's no guarantee. As sunbunny said, there are so many factors associated including what actions is the company taking, how they see things to move, what's the timeline etc. that your manager can share with you unless you have a common townhall.
Focus on your number and keep killing the quota.
CPTAmerica
Opinionated
2
President/CRO
No way to know for sure unless you're in the room where those decisions are happening.
When it comes to layoffs it's best to cut deep to start in hopes there will not be another. However, not all leaders see it that way. Some choose death by a 1,000 paper cuts.
SportsSalesGuy
Tycoon
2
Enterprise Account Executive
Most likely yes, especially if Q3 doesn't go well. Have you guys gone through a merger recently?
shipsinking
Fire Starter
1
SDR
No merger as of recent
SportsSalesGuy
Tycoon
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Interesting, with the economy and tech industry the way it is. If they do one layoff that may be it for the year Maybe end of year they will do more.
If it was a merger I would say thats usually how it goes within first 24 months of a merger and usually its 1-2 rounds of layoffs. Especially with the market the way it is.
quotascammedeverytime
Opinionated
2
account executive
I’d say yes
pirate
Big Shot
0
🦜☠️ Account Executive
Some companies just lay off people all the time. Seems to be a bit of a trend right now that no one is really doing too well either. Could be safe until next year but would interview just in case

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