As layoffs, burnout and performance pressure continue to haunt India’s IT sector, a simple question by a 23-year-old software professional sparked a brutally honest — and oddly funny — discussion online: “What’s your backup plan if you get fired tomorrow?”
The young techie shared that despite being only 23 and working in IT, the fear of sudden job loss constantly lingers in the back of his mind. With stories of layoffs, performance-based exits and nonstop pressure to upskill flooding social media every day, he wondered how others mentally prepare for the worst.
“I am 23, work in IT, sometimes wonder how people handle sudden job loss, especially in today’s market with layoffs, performance pressure, and constant upskilling,” the user wrote.
He then asked fellow professionals a series of deeply relatable questions: Would they immediately start applying for another job? Take a break? Quit tech entirely? How much savings is enough to survive peacefully? And perhaps the most personal question of all — does getting fired damage confidence permanently?
The post quickly drew responses from professionals who mixed realism with humour while revealing the anxiety many young employees quietly carry.
One user gave perhaps the most practical — and harsh — answer.
“The backup plan is to immediately start looking for a new job. Backup plans and taking breaks are luxuries only rich people can afford,” the comment read.
The blunt reply resonated with many, especially in an industry where EMIs, rent and family responsibilities often leave little room for “career breaks”.
But while some responses were serious, others chose humour as a coping mechanism.
One commenter joked that if things ever went terribly wrong, there was always “Papa ki kirane ki dukan” to fall back on.
“Well I never pondered this option. Don’t even want to ponder but it’s the last safe net/cushion. Papa ki kirane ki dukan,” the user wrote, adding that as long as fate remained kind and hard work continued, things should eventually work out.
The comment struck a chord online because it reflected a uniquely Indian reality — many first-generation corporate employees still have family businesses waiting quietly in the background, whether it is a grocery shop, small trading business or local store.
Another user gave an even more desi answer: “chai-namkeen stall”.
But the internet, being the internet, quickly turned that into comedy gold.
“Job se jayada competition hai wahan,” another person quipped, pointing out that even tea stalls are now fiercely competitive in India’s startup-like economy.
Beneath the jokes, however, was a serious undertone. The discussion revealed how deeply job insecurity has seeped into the minds of young professionals, especially in the tech sector where layoffs and performance scrutiny have become increasingly common.
According to a report by The Economic Times, tech companies have slashed more than 92,000 jobs in just the first five months of this year, with over 45,000 layoffs reported in April alone. The report said that Meta, Snap, Microsoft, Oracle, Block, Amazon, Nike and GoPro are among the major firms that announced layoffs this year, citing AI-driven efficiencies and over-hiring during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The young techie shared that despite being only 23 and working in IT, the fear of sudden job loss constantly lingers in the back of his mind. With stories of layoffs, performance-based exits and nonstop pressure to upskill flooding social media every day, he wondered how others mentally prepare for the worst.
“I am 23, work in IT, sometimes wonder how people handle sudden job loss, especially in today’s market with layoffs, performance pressure, and constant upskilling,” the user wrote.
He then asked fellow professionals a series of deeply relatable questions: Would they immediately start applying for another job? Take a break? Quit tech entirely? How much savings is enough to survive peacefully? And perhaps the most personal question of all — does getting fired damage confidence permanently?
The post quickly drew responses from professionals who mixed realism with humour while revealing the anxiety many young employees quietly carry.
One user gave perhaps the most practical — and harsh — answer.
“The backup plan is to immediately start looking for a new job. Backup plans and taking breaks are luxuries only rich people can afford,” the comment read.
The blunt reply resonated with many, especially in an industry where EMIs, rent and family responsibilities often leave little room for “career breaks”.
But while some responses were serious, others chose humour as a coping mechanism.
One commenter joked that if things ever went terribly wrong, there was always “Papa ki kirane ki dukan” to fall back on.
“Well I never pondered this option. Don’t even want to ponder but it’s the last safe net/cushion. Papa ki kirane ki dukan,” the user wrote, adding that as long as fate remained kind and hard work continued, things should eventually work out.
The comment struck a chord online because it reflected a uniquely Indian reality — many first-generation corporate employees still have family businesses waiting quietly in the background, whether it is a grocery shop, small trading business or local store.
Another user gave an even more desi answer: “chai-namkeen stall”.
But the internet, being the internet, quickly turned that into comedy gold.
“Job se jayada competition hai wahan,” another person quipped, pointing out that even tea stalls are now fiercely competitive in India’s startup-like economy.
Beneath the jokes, however, was a serious undertone. The discussion revealed how deeply job insecurity has seeped into the minds of young professionals, especially in the tech sector where layoffs and performance scrutiny have become increasingly common.
According to a report by The Economic Times, tech companies have slashed more than 92,000 jobs in just the first five months of this year, with over 45,000 layoffs reported in April alone. The report said that Meta, Snap, Microsoft, Oracle, Block, Amazon, Nike and GoPro are among the major firms that announced layoffs this year, citing AI-driven efficiencies and over-hiring during the Covid-19 pandemic.
