Emily Pitcher, 26, a content designer in Los Angeles, was laid off by Meta in 2023. She recounted feeling lost upon receiving the layoff email, as her work had always been central to her self-worth.

Facing repeated rejections in her job search, Pitcher pivoted to independent game development and social media content creation. She is now collaborating with a publisher to launch her game, Lily's World XD, later this year.

"If I could go back to the moment I was first laid off, I would tell myself that everything will be okay", she said.

Emily Pitcher. Photo: Business Insider

Here are five lessons Pitcher learned after her job loss:

Create Your Own Opportunities

After losing her job, Pitcher compiled a list of brands she wanted to collaborate with and proactively contacted them. This initiative led to her first sponsorship deals and helped her develop negotiation skills.

She also shared her layoff experience on TikTok. A few months later, Pitcher created a video discussing her feelings of loneliness and loss of purpose. The next day, she received about 100 messages of empathy. This network helped her secure additional voice-over work. "I never thought I would do this job, but it currently provides a source of income", Pitcher said.

Shift Your Mindset

Pitcher stated she spent much time in bed, feeling fearful after her job loss. News of tech industry layoffs led her to believe opportunities at large corporations were scarce. According to Pitcher, even with experience at a major company, thousands of others had similar resumes.

When she saw no opportunities, Pitcher decided to forge her own path. She noted, however, that she had an advantage by not carrying a mortgage or the pressure of supporting a family.

Learn New Skills

When conceptualizing Lily's World XD, Pitcher had no programming experience. After her career setback, she asked friends to teach her basics and independently sought resources on YouTube and various forums. Pitcher explained that without acquiring new skills, she could not have transformed her designs into a finished product.

Don't Wait for Perfection

Pitcher observed that many former Meta employees wanted to start their own businesses but ultimately returned to traditional employment. A game developer advised Pitcher to share her project even if it wasn't complete. Despite only having a few designs on Figma and no coding knowledge, she still posted a video introducing her idea.

This video garnered several million views. User feedback helped Pitcher believe in her project and provided data to guide the game's direction. "Start before you doubt yourself", she said.

Separate Personal Value from Company Affiliation

Working for a Fortune 500 company once boosted Pitcher's confidence and made her feel valued. When she lost her job, she went through a period of impasse. Later, she reconnected with an employee still working at Meta. Upon hearing Pitcher discuss her game project, this individual expressed a desire to pursue work he was passionate about, rather than being a cog in a large machine.

The encounter helped her re-evaluate her path. "From then on, I believed I was building a foundation for a bigger future", she said.

Ngoc Ngan (According to Business Insider)