Why I'm rethinking my dream of working for a tech giant
Have you ever dreamed of working at a top-tier tech company?
If your answer is YES, then we share the same vision.
From the moment I started my career in human resources, I aspired to work as an HR professional in one of the world's most prestigious tech companies.
My target list has always included:
Meta
Google
LinkedIn
WordPress
Amazon
Salesforce
Even now, as a human resource manager, that dream still lingers. However, since 2023, I’ve started having second thoughts.
If you’ve been following tech industry trends, you’ll notice a disturbing pattern, many big tech companies frequently lay off employees, often without a clear reason.
Even when the market is strong, layoffs still happen. This trend has also started affecting up-and-coming tech companies.
If a company has a habit of downsizing, is it really a safe place to build your long-term career?
I have my doubts.
The Meta layoff trend
Take Facebook (Meta) as an example.
If you examine its history, you'll see a pattern of layoffs justified by reasons such as a weak market, increased competition, or a so-called lack of skills.
It’s unsettling.
In 2022, Mark Zuckerberg cut Meta’s workforce by 13%, letting go of more than 11,000 talented employees.
In 2023, Meta conducted the final round of a three-part layoff cycle, affecting many of the same employees.
In 2024, the company laid off staff from WhatsApp, Instagram, and other business units.
In 2025, just when many thought the layoffs were over, Meta slashed another 4,000 jobs, impacting 5% of its workforce.
What’s worse, some of these employees were let go despite being top performers.
Many worried that being labeled a “low performer” in company-wide communications could hurt their future job prospects.
Given this ongoing trend, is Meta really a company where you can build a long-term career?
Even if the tech market is strong, they always seem to find ways to reduce staff.
Amazon: Following the same path
Amazon is another company that initially seemed stable but later adopted a similar layoff culture.
Whether they picked up this habit from Meta is uncertain, but the numbers speak for themselves:
In 2022, Amazon planned job cuts of 10,000, targeting the devices division, retail, and human resources.
In 2023, the company cut 9,000 more jobs, bringing the total layoffs for the year to 27,000.
In 2024, CEO Andy Jassy announced that Amazon would eliminate 14,000 managerial positions to shift focus toward individual contributors.
In 2025, Amazon laid off 200 employees in its stores unit, small compared to previous years, but who knows what will happen by Q4?
I've highlighted only two companies here because I have concrete data on them.
But what about other tech companies?
The tech industry as a whole is going through a rough time, especially with the rise of AI, which has significantly disrupted many firms.
One major example is Deepseek, which was released earlier this year and had a notable impact on the New York Stock Exchange.
I almost forgot to mention another tech giant, Microsoft.
Microsoft has a history of layoffs.
In 2022, they announced job cuts across multiple divisions, though they didn't disclose the numbers.
From my sources, the layoffs were relatively small. However, in 2023, Microsoft laid off 10,000 employees, about 5% of its workforce at the time, the highest number in its history.
In 2024, they cut nearly 2,000 jobs in their gaming division after acquiring Activision Blizzard for $69 billion.
And in 2025, Microsoft implemented another round of layoffs in January, this time based on employee performance.
Despite these layoffs, I still consider these companies among the best in the tech industry.
However, if you're looking to work for them, proceed with caution. You don’t want to land a great job with amazing benefits, only to be laid off six to eight months later.
Check out this list from TechCrunch: Tech Layoffs 2024.
It gives a clearer picture of what’s happening. The tech industry isn't as stable as it once was, and if companies don’t adjust their strategies soon, their dominance could shift to another sector.
Even Google isn’t completely immune, though they seem to manage layoffs better than others.
Their job cuts aren't as frequent, but I’m keeping an eye on them. If I notice any major shifts, I’ll update this post.
If you're looking for more stable tech companies to work for, consider:
Salesforce
Google
Netflix
Apple
Adobe
NVIDIA
These companies have a better track record when it comes to layoffs. I've seen firsthand how job cuts can be a tough experience, so it's wise to seek opportunities where you can grow your career without constant uncertainty.
That's it for today!
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.