Laid Off: Community Engagement Manager at Square

"I am still wondering if it was some sort of big mistake. From my point of view, there were no signs."

Mar 12, 2025

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In today’s issue, I talk to former community lead at Square Max Pete about being laid off — unceremoniously — right after closing on his first home.

Max Pete, 35, was laid off on Friday, February 21st, 2025 with nothing but a generic email.

He had been working as the Community Engagement Program Manager at Square for the past year and a half, and didn’t see it coming.

There was no Zoom meeting or human interaction, just an email and then immediately losing access to his work computer.

“It just felt cold and hard, and I wish I was able to speak to a person and not just get an email.”

Max was also laid off just a week after closing on a new home and moving across the country with his wife.

“My first thought was just, ‘Are you kidding me?’ It felt almost comically bad timing, like something out of a movie,” Max said. “But after that initial shock, I realized that the house wasn’t just a financial decision, it was a commitment to my next chapter. It gave me something to look forward to rather than just feeling like I was in freefall. Of course, there was stress, but I reminded myself that I’ve navigated uncertainty before, and I can do it again. Plus, having a new space to set up and make my own has actually been a great distraction from the chaos of job searching.”

Who was the first person you told after getting laid off? How did you tell them?

My wife, I yelled out "Babe, you're not going to f*cking believe this."

Can you share a bit on what you were working on at Square? A few wins or successes you were especially proud of or excited about?

I was a Community Engagement Program Manager which meant that I worked with our Square Sellers in our online community. I put together and developed engagement programs for our sellers to learn, grow, and connect with one another to help their businesses. My main projects during my time there was focused around new member onboarding, rebuilding our gamification in the community, and developing member recognition programs. I loved my work and loved being able to support our sellers. It was so fun getting to connect with them on a daily basis and it just felt like such a special role.

What was the vibe like among your coworkers who were also laid off?

We were all texting each other and then got on a group FaceTime call afterwards. All of us were in shock and sort of just sitting there in silence. But I am glad that we were close enough to have each others’ numbers because I don't know what I would have done if we couldn't have chatted afterwards.

We have been in a group text chain ever since and I am so glad that we get to stay in touch and have this form of communication to support one another.

What resources and communities have you found helpful in the aftermath of the layoff?

Fortunately, my own little community that I built on LinkedIn. I also love The Community Community, a Community for Community professionals (that’s a lot of community). Beyond this, reaching out to friends to hop on calls, using Headspace, and getting fresh air have all been helpful to me.

I love getting to share my story and as a reminder for anyone else going through this, we will get through this. Yes it sucks right now and dealing with uncertainty is never fun, but we're going to come out of it stronger and with better jobs. It's not an if, but when. Keep pushing.

You work in community — what advice would you give to folks recently laid on how to network in a way that feels genuine? That might actually help them connect with people in their industry? For instance, a lot of readers in the Substack Chat and Discord ask for advice on how to approach cold messaging hiring managers on LinkedIn.

Instead of just asking for a job, I’d suggest asking thoughtful questions about their career path or even a specific challenge they’ve tackled. I’ve found that people are far more receptive when you come in with genuine interest rather than an immediate ask. Also, giving before you get. For example, sharing an article, offering insights, or even just engaging with their own content can go a long way.

For cold messages, keep it short, specific, and respectful of their time. Something like, ‘Hey [Name], I really admire the work you’ve done at [Company] and would love to hear any advice you have for someone navigating [specific challenge]. No worries if you’re busy, but if you have a few minutes to connect one day, I’d really appreciate it.’

What did you do about health insurance?

I'm still keeping mine because I have a couple months on it still.

What about when that ends?

My goal is to have something lined up by then, but I also know that if I don't my plan is to use a healthcare marketplace and sign up for a cheaper health insurance until then. I know it isn't going to be ideal, but something is better than nothing.

You said it felt out of the blue. That even your leads didn't see it coming. Why do you think it snuck up on everyone? In hindsight, were there signs?

I honestly have no idea. I am still wondering if it was some sort of big mistake. From my point of view, there were no signs. I mean you can never truly be safe in this day and age, but still I felt like the work we were doing was making an impact.

You were laid off one week after closing on your new home and moving across the country.

Yeah, talk about timing right? I am glad it happened now versus before closing. Otherwise we would have lost the home. Even though it sucks, I am grateful that I spent the better part of the past year saving as much money as I could. I built up our emergency fund for 6+ months, saved other cash reserves, and made sure that when we bought, we didn't drain everything. So while I am taking a hit, it’s survivable. No resources layoff specific, but I have been using Origin which helps me track my spending and finances. This tool has allowed me better save money, make sure I am not overspending, etc.

Pre-layoff, tell me what it was like to buy your first house. What you're excited about for this new chapter.

I was just so excited to be making this milestone. I live in California now and it is so hard to even imagine buying a home here, everything is so expensive and out of our price range. So when we knew that we would move back to Philly and buy there, I felt great. We were looking for months and finally around Christmas we found our house and ended up putting in an offer and getting accepted on New Years’ Eve. It just felt like a nice way to cap off 2024 and got me excited for this year. Little did I know that in less than two months I would be losing my job.

How are you managing emotionally? Home ownership is a huge success. What's it like having a major milestone coincide by the sudden loss of your job?

Every day is filled with ups and downs so far. I feel excited then the next minute I get super anxious and down, and then back to being optimistic. I am super grateful to reach this milestone and trust in myself to make it work. But I am not a fan of living in uncertainty and unfortunately going through a layoff is exactly that.

A few people have mentioned the importance of an emergency or rainy day fund in the event of a layoff. Is that something you had planned for, given this wasn't your first layoff?

Oh yes, this was a big focus of mine. Especially after my first layoff in 2023. I made it a point to save 6+ months of expenses in a HYSA which I didn't touch unless absolutely necessary. I worked super hard to make this a reality. I grew up in a household where money wasn't talked about, we rarely had extra money, and often times lived in debt. I never wanted this for myself, so I made sure to try and protect myself as best as I could.

On that note, this was your second layoff in two years. Did you feel your first layoff prepared you at all for the second? What was different?

Most definitely. I strangely feel a little calmer this one. Even if I am still anxious, I know a little more what to expect as I went through my first one a little over a year ago. I know that it sucks, but I also know that I will get through it. It's weird to explain, but I feel a little more optimistic than first time around.

What have you been up to post-layoff? What have you found best protects your mental wellbeing and sense of self-worth?

Honestly, so far just reaching out to people to let them know what happened. Staying top of mind has been key for me and I want to continue to make sure that I do so. I am scheduling coffee chats, pitching myself for opportunities, and trying to keep busy. I know that there's a lot of advice out there to take a break, etc. and that probably would be good for my mental health, but I also know that I really enjoy what I do for a living and I want to get back to it. Having said that, I am making sure I get outside for plenty of walks and currently training for a 10-mile race in May.

What have been some of the most helpful things, for you, to not feel isolated in the aftermath of the layoff?

It’s easy to get stuck in your head after a layoff, so I’ve been intentional about keeping structure in my day. That means scheduling check-ins with friends, getting outside every day, and staying engaged with my community work even when I don’t have a traditional job. Talking openly with other people who’ve been through layoffs has also helped, because it reminds me that this is a shared experience, not a personal failure. I’ve also leaned into freelancing and creative work, which has given me momentum and a sense of progress while I figure out what’s next for me.