With the widespread news of tech company layoffs, it looks like the industry is entering the inevitable downward phase in the economic cycle.

This is the second-and-a-half time I’ve experienced this in my career. The first was the dot-com bust in the early 2000s. The second was the global financial crisis of 2007-2008. The “half” was the blip at the beginning of the pandemic, which while it impacted many, ended up being more of a realignment for those of us fortunate enough to work in technology, with many more opportunities created than destroyed.

While I remain optimistic for our field, this will be a painful period for many, both those directly affected by layoffs as well as those for whom uncertainty and the specter of a broader recession loom. And all before we’ve really had an opportunity to mentally recover from 2020 and 2021.

If you have been impacted by layoffs, please know that there are a lot of people who want to help, me included. One of the best ways I think I can help is by connecting those who are hiring with those who are looking, and those looking to help in other ways with those who might benefit.

Though the current macroeconomic climate is one that will leave many organizations cautious about hiring, savvy organizations with solid business fundamentals will recognize it as a hiring opportunity.

If you are in this position and you are hiring data and AI talent, including AI-savvy marketing and business roles, please reach out to me and I’ll do my best to connect you with quality candidates. And if you are looking for a job, please reach out as well and I’ll do my best to connect you with companies that I learn are hiring.

If you’re neither hiring nor looking but would like to help in other ways, consider mentoring or coaching someone, or leading a study group in the TWIML Community for those who want to learn new skills. Let me know if any of those are of interest.

If you have other ideas for how I might be able to help out, please let me know.

Thank you for considering how you can help those in our community who have been impacted by layoffs. I look forward to hearing from you soon.