Yes, it is normal, and you are not alone in it. You cannot control whether layoffs happen, but you can control how prepared you are: a savings cushion, skills you can prove, relationships outside your team and an up-to-date CV. Preparation turns vague fear into a plan you can act on.
What people tell me
I got my first developer job not long ago, and since then I keep reading about layoffs at big tech companies and startups. Every time there is a company-wide meeting or my manager schedules a call, my stomach drops. I am the newest person on the team and I assume I would be the first to go. It is affecting my sleep and my focus at work, which makes me worry even more.
A composite of the messages behind this question, with personal details left out.
Key takeaways
- The anxiety is common, especially in a first job; it does not mean something is wrong with you.
- Separate what you control (skills, savings, network, CV) from what you do not (company decisions).
- A small emergency fund does more for this fear than any amount of reading layoff news.
- Being useful and visible on your team is good for your career whether or not layoffs come.
- If anxiety affects sleep and health for weeks, talk to someone; that is a strength, not a weakness.
Yes, it is normal
Almost every junior developer I talk to has felt this at some point. You worked hard to get the job, you are still learning, and the news keeps showing people with far more experience losing theirs. Being the newest person on a team makes it feel even more personal. The anxiety is a reasonable reaction to real uncertainty, not a sign that you are weak or unsuited to the industry.
But anxiety that runs all day is exhausting and makes you worse at your job, which is the opposite of what you need. The goal is to turn the vague fear into a short list of things you can actually do.
Separate what you control from what you do not
| You cannot control | You can control |
|---|---|
| Whether your company cuts costs | How much of a financial cushion you have |
| Market conditions and funding | Whether your skills are current and provable |
| Decisions made above your manager | How useful and visible you are on your team |
| The news cycle | How much of it you consume |
| Who is chosen in a layoff | Whether your CV and network are ready if it happens |
Every hour spent on the left column adds worry and changes nothing. Put that energy into the right column.
Five things that actually reduce the fear
- Build a small emergency fund. Even two or three months of basic expenses changes how a layoff rumour feels. If you support family, start smaller but start. This one step helps more than anything else on this list.
- Keep a running record of your work. Every month, write down what you shipped, fixed and learned. If you ever need to update your CV quickly, it is ready. It also helps at review time.
- Be useful where it counts. Ask your manager what matters most to the team this quarter and focus there. Reliable engineers who work on important things are not immune, but they are in a stronger position.
- Keep relationships outside your team. Stay in touch with classmates, former colleagues and people you meet at events. Most people who find work quickly after a layoff do it through people they know.
- Limit layoff news. Reading every post about cuts does not make you safer. Check once a week if you want to, not every hour.
Do not assume newest means first
It is natural to assume the newest person is always the first to go. In practice, layoffs are often decided by team, project or cost centre, not by joining date. Junior engineers are also cheaper, and many companies want to keep a pipeline of early-career talent. You cannot know, so do not carry a verdict that nobody has given you.
Talk to your manager, carefully
You can ask your manager about priorities and your performance without asking "Am I going to be laid off?" Try: "I want to make sure I am focused on what matters most. How do you see my work so far, and what should I improve?" You get useful feedback, and often reassurance, without putting them in an awkward spot.
If it does happen
A layoff in your first job hurts, but it is not the end of a career. Many strong engineers have been through one early. Read I was laid off from my developer job. What should I do now? now, while you are calm, so you know the plan exists. The job search roadmap and its cheat sheet are there if you need them.
When to get help
If worry is affecting your sleep, appetite or health for weeks, talk to someone: a friend, family, a doctor or a counsellor. Many employers also offer confidential support programmes. Asking for help is a practical step, not a failure.
If you are still stuck
Read How do I overcome imposter syndrome in my first developer job?, because the two feelings often come together. If you want to talk through your situation, join Sefism and, as a member, book a 1:1 session.
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