Laid Off: Social Media Manager at Ellevest
"The most interesting things about people have nothing to do with their jobs."
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In today’s issue, I talk to Rona Akbari, former social media manager at Ellevest, on never truly experiencing job security, leaning on your community, and shooting your shot.
In January, social media manager Rona Akbari was at an all-hands meeting for her company, Ellevest, where she had worked for the past year-and-a-half.
She found out there would be layoffs, and those affected would get an email. It was about two to three minutes until Rona got hers.
“That window was nerve-wracking and ridiculous.”
A month after Rona was laid off, it was announced that digital financial advisory firm Betterment will acquire Ellevest’s automated investing business in April. “The move shows how difficult the once-promising area of digital advice has become,” Drew Carter wrote for Morningstar.
While the Ellevest layoffs weren’t directly attributed to the Betterment move, it’s not uncommon for companies to lay off some of its workforce after an acquisition. Just look at Grubhub, Salesforce, Humane, and Alamo Drafthouse layoffs from the last few months.
Rona talked a lot about the importance of leaning on your people in the aftermath of a layoff, whether it’s an industry Discord, a new LinkedIn connection, or the group chat with the girls.
“At some point, someone’s always looking for a job,” she said, referring to people she knows in the industry. “It feels like Russian Roulette. We talk about how bleak things feel these days, but we also discuss how we can support each other and connect to different resources. We share advice on how much to ask for, how to draft contracts, and connect one another to mutuals for job opps.”
What reasoning did they give for laying you off?
Business-related reasons. I forget because I kind of blacked out on the Zoom call. But we were assured it was not performance related. I believe them.
Who was the first person you told after getting laid off?
My best friends and I have a group chat called The Gorls. I texted them, "Gorls, my company’s doing layoffs today." One minute later, I followed up with, "Gorls, I got laid off."
How did your friends respond to your layoff text in the group chat?
Really sympathetically and supportive. Whom among us has not been laid off these days, am I right? I think the pandemic normalized talking about job loss because it was so omnipresent.
What did you do about health insurance?
I immediately booked all my appointments before the end of the month - dentist, doctor, etc. - to make sure I was covered. My dentist was incredibly understanding and willing to work with my situation. I love him! Shoutout to doctors who are empathetic and, unfortunately, forced to become insurance experts. Then, I enrolled in insurance through the Marketplace.
You said you felt it coming for a while - were there signs?
There had been a few quiet, one-off layoffs before this mass cut. By then, I had already started job hunting. I felt like the writing was on the wall. In the days leading up to the layoff, I also sensed a shift in my boss’s vibe. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but something about her communication on Slack felt off. That said, I have anxiety, so I sometimes read too much into totally innocuous things. Still, it was just a gut feeling I had at the time.
On that note, what's it like to work at a time when job security feels precarious? The anxiety that comes with feeling like you can lose your job at any moment, even if you're crushing it?
It's scary! I'm constantly like, "Are we on the verge of another Great Depression?" But as someone with a “creative job,” I've never felt truly secure. I wish this wasn't how our world works, but it is. Over time, I've learned to roll with it - getting jobs, losing jobs, facing rejection - even when I'm at the top of my game. I can trust my community to help me through it.
I know my value, I'm a go-getter. If I want something, I will get it. And if I don't get it, it wasn't meant for me anyway. And when I land a full-time, cushy salaried job, I know it'll be because a mix of timing, market conditions, and luck. And when things don't work out, I know it'll probably be because of those same factors too and not my failure as an individual.
Do you have any practices that help with the anxiety of feeling like a layoff is looming? And also to take care of yourself in the aftermath of a layoff?
When I sensed a layoff was looming, I focused on what I could control. I updated my resume, quietly applied to jobs, and started networking. I also began a steady part-time freelance practice, which became a valuable source of structure and income after I was laid off.
In the aftermath, I leaned on my community. My friends gave me emotional support, while my former coworkers helped by collating information that was useful for updating my resume and applying for jobs. They also offered great advice along the way and continue to forward me job listings they think I'd be a good fit for. The job hunt process can be extremely degrading but remembering my value and practicing gratitude takes the edge off.
It's clear you have a really strong support system and value the importance of cultivating - and leaning on - your community. Are there any specific communities or resources you've found especially helpful in the aftermath of a layoff?
Thank you! Getting laid off is rough, and announcing it can feel scary. But honestly, putting it out there and letting people know what kind of work you're looking for can really help. People want to connect with you if they can.
I’ve been part of
’s Link In Bio Discord and have met some awesome social media marketers through it, whether it’s just venting in DMs or grabbing coffee to swap advice. Posting about my layoff on LinkedIn and staying active there has also been a game-changer, helping me connect with others and find new opportunities, and reaching out to former coworkers for introductions and leads has been helpful.My best advice is to follow your curiosity and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Shoot your shot! Ask for that email, pitch that idea, grab coffee with someone new. Ask someone if they can refer you for a job through their company's internal portal, even if you haven't talked in years. Say yes to events, book talks, and meetups. You never know who you’ll meet or what doors might open. The worst thing you can do IMO is stay at home in your bed all day, although I love and value the occasional cathartic rot day.
Do you feel like your self-worth is tied up in your job/career? How do you work toward having a healthy relationship with work, your identity, and confidence?
There are monsters in all of our minds in this country, convincing us that our worth as humans on God's gorgeous green Earth is defined by how productive we are as workers. I've been trying to quiet that monster for years, but she still keeps yapping at me! My feelings ebb and flow. Sometimes I will call a friend and ask them to give me a literal pep talk (highly recommend). I also think it's important to go outside, meet people from different walks of lives, and touch grass, as they say. At the same time, I'm in my twenties and childless. I think my scenario would feel more dire or stressful if I had more people relying on me.
What's the best piece of advice or mantra you've received around not defining your self-worth by your job/productivity?
Your worth is not measured by your productivity. You are not your job. The most interesting things about people have nothing to do with their jobs.
What have you been up to post-layoff?
I've been staying busy with hobbies and freelancing! I recently learned how to ski for the first time, had the opportunity to guest lecture for a course at Northwestern University, and photographed an event at the Sundance Film Festival. I'm actively applying for jobs, interviewing, and getting coffees with people.
Rona Akbari is open to opportunities in social media strategy & management. She can also photograph in New York City or do video editing. Find her on LinkedIn.
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I resonate with Rona so hard!
thank you for this!