Our company is mid merger. My position will almost certainly be eliminated in the next 4-6 months. I feel frozen and trapped.

7 Comments

1. AnonymousSeptember 5,2025 at 4:22PM UTC

   Devise a plan to incorporate selfcare like exercise outdoors, healthy meals and connecting with positive people who can support you (doesn't have to be family). Do research in your immediate community on companies that need your skills and experience. Target those companies with reaching out, informational interviews and possibly networking opportunities. Please note that networking is not "begging people to help you." Educate yourself on that and ways you can plug into the working community.

   Work on your anxiety with therapy while you still have benefits.

   Use Ai to help you with strategies to be successful. You must act on your strategies. Use this time of employment to ramp up your plans. Join meetup groups to get out of your head. Join professional groups to support your networking. Be proactive.

   We all have tremendous responsibility and needs. Success comes down to action and helping others along the way. Family responsibilities are a priority so keep perspective but don't make that a reason to shy away from engagement and growing a base of influence and career connections. Change your mindset.

2. AnonymousSeptember 5,2025 at 6:04PM UTC

   I’m so sorry. I was there and our vice president was what I thought at the time was very sympathetic and supportive in honestly acknowledging that all of us probably would not be kept, since we were merging with a larger organization. The reality was, that larger organization had quite a turnover, and because our company was smaller, are Employees typically covered more areas at a lower level. Those that didn’t quit ended up getting promoted. So you never know.

   Start doing CHAT GPT or other AI questions like pasting in your current position summary and asking “ where in the greater Boston area should someone with five years experience in the following role apply for jobs”

   You have a built-in network around you. Your coworkers are all going to be getting jobs elsewhere. Even if you’ve pretty much kept to yourself where you’re at, start soft marketing yourself to your colleagues. Bring your best self to work every day, physically, and mentally. whether you’re using email or Slack, insert positive language at the beginning and end of every written communication. You want to position yourself in your colleagues minds as the person they wished would also be working at their next employer. Even if you haven’t successfully developed close relationships in the past, you now have something new in common with all of them. Be sure you are positive when speaking to your coworkers. You can say things like “sure didn’t see this coming, but I’m going to stay positive, and I’m excited about my next opportunity, whatever it is.”

   Finally, look on, indeed for roles similar to yours. Look hard at the qualifications for those roles, even if they’re not physically located in your area. Then do a gap analysis and make sure that you would meet all of the requirements for that job, if only you lived in Boulder. There may be funding to you as a displaced worker if you need additional certifications. Good luck with all of this. Again, so sorry.

3. AnonymousSeptember 5,2025 at 7:10PM UTC

   Dust yourself off! You are not a product of your past, look toward the good in your future and take control of how your last chapter should read. Make a list, write down what you do and don't want. Asking for help is NOT begging. Reach out, you never know who may want to help you get out of your funk. You got this!

4. AnonymousSeptember 6,2025 at 12:17AM UTC

   start looking now. It's always easier to find a job when you have one.

5. AnonymousSeptember 7,2025 at 12:41AM UTC

   Be as financially cheap as possible. Keep a budget so you know what you Have to make to survive.

6. Sarah GreenwoodSeptember 7,2025 at 7:24PM UTC

   This is a really tough situation. Having self compassion at these times is really difficult, but very important.

   You may not have a large support system or network.

   Your employer sounds awful...

   But here are reasons I think you can feel confident:

   Your current employer not valuing your experience or well informed opinions doesn't negate them. You still have them, they hold value to other employers and they will help your job search.

   You have resilience, not only tolerating a difficult work environment for 10 years for your family. You have done this while raising special needs children. This showcases your professionalism, resilience and ability to manage multiple challenges simultaneously.

   I am generalising from my experience, so could be wrong. I suspect you have very well developed communication, empathy and compassion from your family situation. I am certain that the skills you have acquired outside your current role could translate to different career roles in future.

   If you look at your personal attributes in this light combined with your experience and expertise. I think you might feel more positive about yourself because there is a lot to feel good about.

   That being said, it's a really tough situation, and it's natural to worry and have a dip in confidence. If you have EAP access it might be helpful to support your wellbeing.

7. AnonymousSeptember 14,2025 at 9:17PM UTC

   Agree with Sarah's response fully, and would like to offer some addition to that.

   You cannot borrow tomorrow's troubles. Take action to what IS within your control. Prepare your resume, work with a trusted friend or family member to role play interviews, and take the time to pamper yourself with a self makeover (simply a new hairstyle or color and fresh cut hair; make-up, plus a professional well fitting outfit does wonders for your confidence and an interviewer will recognize a great potential hire). Get yourself out there. You can do this! BTW, exercise is the great anxiety eliminator. A 30 min workout is great for your mind and body. Get those endorphins! Plus that 30 min is only 2% of your day!