I started my career in 2004 and I have been laid off three times. The shame around the first two experiences was replaced with the shocking reality that I was now one of the 260,000+ tech workers laid off in 2023. The stakes were higher this time, the competition was stiff, and I could have easily fallen into a pit of despair. Thankfully the community had my back and helped me stay focused and supported during the most unnerving time of my life. This talk will discuss my community involvement prior to being laid off, my seven month journey to find new employment, and how staying engaged and active in the community helped boost my confidence and opened several doors to find my current gig. I’ll discuss some tips, resources, and strategy I used along the way.