This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Brittney Ball, a 36-year-old former Meta employee in Washington, D.C. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
When I got hired at Meta in 2020, it was life-changing for me as a single mom. It represented safety and stability — a place to work hard at and retire from.
So, when I was let go in February in a round of layoffs aimed at “low-performers,” it felt like a punch in the gut.
Nine months later, my severance and savings have run dry, I’m struggling to find a tech job, and I feel that the low-performer “label” is part of the reason. I’m no longer the same happy-go-lucky person I used to be, applying for jobs with excitement.
But my layoff is not just this bad thing that happened. It actually changed me for the better.
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I was devastated to be laid off as part of an effort to remove ‘low performers’
I was once a single mom in a homeless shelter. I taught myself how to code and broke into tech without a college degree. Getting hired as a documentation engineer at Meta meant everything, not only to me, but to my family. I made my parents proud. I was the success story.
I really loved my time at Meta and took a lot of pride in my work and the community I built. I served as the global lead for the Black@Pride ERG and assisted with its developer advocacy team for a brief period. I truly believed I’d stay forever.
We knew layoffs were coming, but we didn’t know who would be affected. Maybe my head was in the clouds, but I really didn’t think I would be.
I was shocked to be laid off, especially since it was part of a round of layoffs targeting low performers. I was always so proud of my work, and I just didn’t think I fell in that category. It was devastating, and I had no idea what to do next.
My mindset about tech has changed
I used to be naive and filled with excitement to work for a tech company, but since the layoff, I just see it as a resource to fund my life. It no longer feels like the secure space it once was.
I took about a month after the layoff to process everything and figure out what it meant for me. That’s when I conceived the idea to create my own tech startup, TechniDox, an AI-powered documentation platform.
It really began as a way to distract myself and a space to pour my passion into, but it’s gained some traction, and I’m continuing to build it in hopes that it will grow into something bigger.
I’ve been applying to jobs, mostly at smaller tech companies, but I haven’t gotten any offers yet. I have the skills and passion, so I’m unsure what the problem is. The low-performer “label” could be the reason I’m still unemployed.
I’ve found support through family, friends, and my LinkedIn network
I know the layoff is not my fault, but it’s been devastating not to be able to turn it around in a way that helps me provide for my family as a mom.
Unemployment services have not kicked in, so I’ve been in a gray area where my parents and partner have been helping me pay bills and for groceries. I’ve always been the independent type who doesn’t ask for help, so it was initially uncomfortable, but I’ve learned that I can’t always do it alone.
My best friend has dropped everything to be with me when I needed it, and my partner supports me by reminding me to get some sunlight and stay active. I have a team of people who want to see me succeed and are helping me to achieve it, and I’m so grateful for them.
My LinkedIn network has also been super supportive. I’ve been posting about my layoff, and people have reached out to offer résumé reviews, send me referrals, or simply tag me in a post with kind words. I had no idea that I had such supportive people watching me on my journey. That has been truly heartwarming.
My layoff has pushed me to try new things
I was so focused on Meta while working there that I didn’t upskill as much as I should have. I’m focusing on learning new things and putting myself out there.
I’m reviving an old YouTube channel and posting about my company on LinkedIn as I build it. I never attended college, so I recently enrolled at Trinity University and am working toward a dual degree in journalism and computer science. During this challenging time, I’ve been finding joy in learning about things that excite me.
Even though I haven’t landed a job, I remind myself that this is also happening to so many other people. The job market is hard, but I’m not giving up.
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