Laid Off: And Autistic
"I realize this may be hard for most people on the spectrum, but it can literally be just one person. Knowing that even one person believes in you helps."
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In today’s issue, we talk to former chart editor Magenta Fox on Animal Crossing, having your work outsourced overseas, and how the layoff experience is unique for people with autism.
Magenta Fox, 37, was given a few months notice before being laid off from her role of Senior Chart Editor at market research firm EMARKETER in September of last year. She had worked there for five years.
Her role was being outsourced overseas.
“They welcomed the people from the Philippines in our all-company Slack while the people who they were replacing still worked there,” she said. “I realize why they wanted to do it, to make everyone feel welcome, but I wish everyone else’s feelings were considered as well. It seemed cruel, to tell us we were being let go, and then welcome with open arms these new employees who were replacing us.”
The layoff was also uniquely hard because it was the first workplace where Magenta had felt at home after disclosing that she was autistic. People seemed accepting.
“I could bring my whole self to work, and I felt good about that,” Magenta said. “It truly was the first workplace where I felt people had my back. But when I got laid off, that changed.”
She thought people would refer her to opportunities and help her network, but none of that happened. No one reached out.
“Here was a place where I felt like I was home, and suddenly it wasn't, and no one seemed to care.”
What was the company’s stated reason for the layoffs?
There had been other layoffs prior to ours so it wasn't unexpected, but I didn't think it would happen to me. I guess you could call it a "failure of imagination." They said my role would be replaced by a team in the Philippines, and that it was done so "the company could continue to grow at scale." To this day I'm not sure whether I buy that.
How did they handle layoffs?
They sent a mass email to everyone explaining the situation and said they would be scheduling appointments with impacted employees. I didn't log on until 10:00am that day, by which time my meeting had ended, so I had to reschedule. I guess I was lucky in that I got a few months notice, and in a way I appreciate that.
But there were other aspects in which it felt more like a hazing. For example, they welcomed the people from the Philippines in our all-company Slack while the people who they were replacing still worked there. I realize why they wanted to do it, to make everyone feel welcome, but I wish everyone else's feelings were considered as well. It seemed cruel, to tell us we were being let go, and then welcome with open arms these new employees who were replacing us.
Right before my layoff, they also established a new rule which stated that the only recommendations current employees could give were ones left on LinkedIn, pretty much forbidding us from putting any current employee down on a job application as a reference. Again, I realize why — legal reasons, etc. — but it's still really shitty, especially since a lot of the higher-up people I worked with day-to-day — researchers and analysts — still work there.
Did you see the layoff coming?
There had been two layoffs in the previous several months. The first one affected my direct manager and some of my teammates. After that, myself and the remnants of my team were assigned to two co-managers who almost never spent any meaningful time managing. When they did, it verged on micromanaging, at least for me. I also saw an increase in work right before. My workload increased dramatically, as our company also decided then to increase our deliverables.
A month or so before I found out about the layoff, things had gotten so bad that I had dreams I was drowning. I also noticed a change in behavior from some of my other co-workers. I was getting excluded from things. They seemed nastier, clique-ier. Slacks to them with simple asks I needed to do my job would go unanswered.
What was the first thing you did after receiving the news?
I texted my friend, then I took a hit from my vape. I went to a concert later that night. I remember eating calamari at Gran Torino in Williamsburg and silently crying. Then I went to the concert, still crying, and applied for jobs while the bands set up.
You mentioned that your layoff was unique in that you had a few months notice, and because you are autistic. That not being able to read people made the period between your being told you were getting let go and your last day both confusing and infuriating at the same time.
I thought I would be able to land something within those few months, not realizing how bad the job market was in 2023. I was doing all the right things, but I rarely got interviews. In fact, a co-worker who hadn't gotten impacted got a job that I had applied for! I'm currently trying to land a full-time role while at my contractor gig, and while my resume has gotten slightly better, the market hasn't. The only thing I have is hope, and I'm trying to keep that in mind and be grateful for the things I do have. The autism definitely had an effect on things too, in several respects.
When I first disclosed to people at EMARKETER that I was autistic, people seemed accepting and I felt at home. I could bring my whole self to work, and I felt good about that. It truly was the first workplace where I felt people had my back. But when I got laid off, that changed, as I alluded to earlier. I thought people would refer me to things, talk me up to people, help me network. Networking especially was never my strong suit, so I really did need all the help I can get. But none of that happened. No one reached out.
People texted me pictures from the holiday party and posted it on Instagram for me to see. I had to unfollow people on IG, and ultimately block or unfollow on LinkedIn because it just became so triggering. Here was a place where I felt like I was home, and suddenly it wasn't, and no one seemed to care.
You said that not being able to read people makes interviews and applications perplexing. For other people with autism on the job hunt, do you have any advice?
The one thing that's helped me the most is to have a solid support network in place. I do have a couple of friends who are understanding of my struggles, genuinely care, and want me to succeed. I realize this may be hard for most people on the spectrum, but it can literally be just one person. Knowing that even one person believes in you helps.
Another thing that's helped is not spending all day job searching. Make sure to take some time for your own interests, whatever makes you happy. I bought a Nintendo Switch Lite right before the layoff for the sole purpose of playing Animal Crossing, and while it sounds silly, that game has helped me more than I can say. I'm very proud to say that my island, Teaberry, has five stars, and each day I change outfits and slay every time.
Also, this might sound hokey, but keep a folder on your computer or in your email, somewhere, of compliments, either work-related or not. The added bonus is that the work-related compliments can be worked into your resume.
What're some things you wish people would better understand about people with autism and the interview process? Is there a way the job interview process could be more inclusive?
I've heard of some people getting job interview questions ahead of time. It's never happened to me, and I've never asked, but if I did get the questions it may help me prep better. Another thing that would help in general is more transparency in the hiring process. I feel like everyone, not just autistic people, would benefit from this, too. I know I'm not the only person who has been ghosted by a recruiter, or submitted a resume into the void. I realize hiring teams are swamped right now, but hopefully talent acquisition teams can consider being more transparent.
Are there any resources or communities for people with autism that you've found helpful post-layoff?
I really like the Instagram account @autism_happy_place. They describe things like autistic traits and meltdowns using cute drawings of penguins and other animals. I also follow Ellie Middleton on LinkedIn. She's autistic and also has ADHD, or auADHD as it is known in the neurodiverse community. She talks about how being diagnosed at a later age has affected her, as well as how being neurodiverse has affected her life. She's way younger than me, but she's who I want to be when I grow up, I guess.
What's something cool you've worked on since the layoff? Share something you're proud of.
Aside from my Animal Crossing island, I've also completed a Google Project Management Specialization offered by Google and Coursera. I'd like to take the Certified Associate in Project Management exam, but money for that is tight right now, and I'm donating much of my non-working time to the job search.
The main thing I've learned in the past year and a half is to stop and take a break if you need to. There's nothing you're doing now that can't wait or won't be there tomorrow. Remember that you come first.
Magenta is looking for proofreading, technical editing, entry-level project management, administrative, and legal administrative work — basically anything that involves heavy attention to detail. You can reach her on LinkedIn.
More from the Laid Off universe…
The first issue of the Trend Report dropped last week. An associate editor at Vox Media said their job was made redundant due to automation. “I was the one that stupidly engineered my own demise by helping them streamline processes.”
People started sharing their wildest layoff anecdotes in the Chat. “My company asked me to write an ebook about recovering from a layoff a few days before laying me off lol I turned it into a lead magnet for my first biz as a career coach.”
I interviewed MOODEAUX founder Brianna Arps last week, who founded her indie fragrance brand after her layoff. She’s offering Laid Off readers three 2.5mL deluxe MOODEAUX samples at no cost, just pay shipping. Use the code FREEBIE at checkout. The offer is active through December 31, 2024.
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Thanks so much for sharing your story, Magenta. So powerful, and tons of great insights for those of us who are neurodivergent. Receiving interview questions ahead of time would have been a game changer for me at so many career junctures. You’ll find another company that’s actually worthy of you, and I’m crossing my fingers this happens sooner vs. later. ☺️