Susye Weng-Reeder’s Post

Friday Brain Droppings: - I understand that kids aren't exactly the picture of internal consistency, but damn. "Wibbly wobbly Wowen, an elephant sat on Owen" is hilarious. "Owen Owen Bo-Bowen" tho? UNACCEPTABLE. - Recently had the opportunity to interview for the Head of Content role at a pretty awesome agency. My presentation went well enough, but I realized something the next day. I'd basically given a sales presentation for a content marketing role. Why didn't I approach it as content? BLEW IT. I'm not even good at selling! Why is the default strategy to do this linear, rote sales deck for an interview? It was a learning experience, for sure. - DID YOU KNOW there have been 50k layoffs in tech alone this year? It got me thinking about how people are feeling about their financial and professional stability. I set up a 2-minute survey, totally anonymous. DM me if you're interested in taking it. It's also just in my previous post. - SCHOOL ENDS NEXT WEEK WHAT THE ACTUAL F? HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

I don't think I'm the only person dreading LinkedIn right now, I mean it's the same story everyday, layoffs, how much of a shit show the job market is, and so on. in the quest to write an insightful article about the industry, I found gems written by professionals that changed my perspective. So I compiled a list of few articles that explains the industry better and I think will be helpful, go check it out.

Write drunk, edit sober (or in this case, click publish before you can overthink it). After only 6 hours of sleep in 48 hours (travelling across the globe, jetlag, and work-induced delirium), my brain thought it was a *brilliant* idea to write my first Medium article in two years. So here we are. I spilled my unfiltered thoughts on surviving 2025 as a product manager - or anyone in tech, really. There might be some spicy takes, including my beef with Hang 🤙 Xu on UX vs PM (who’s taking whose job, again?), and my go-to hack for networking as someone who hates it. If you’re navigating tech winter, layoffs, or just trying to figure out your next move, this might give you something to chew on 🧀 Would love to hear your thoughts—do you agree, disagree, or have your own survival tips? 👉 As you can guess, link in the comment!

🚨 Wake-Up Call for the Modern Workforce! 🚨 With major layoffs hitting companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, it’s clear that the job market is evolving. Now more than ever, it’s essential to invest in yourself! 💪 📚 Consider these options: -Start a blog and share your expertise ✍️ -Offer freelance services in your niche 🌐 -Create and sell online courses 🎓 -Launch a podcast to build your brand 🎙️ -Develop and market an app 📱 Don’t wait for the next round of layoffs to push you into action. Diversify your skills and income streams today! #PersonalBranding #InvestInYourself #CareerGrowth

As I celebrate my birthday today, September 10th (Virgos FTW), I’m reflecting on an 11-year journey through digital marketing—a journey filled with challenges, growth, and resilience: — Early Career: Started by grabbing coffee, picking up designer handbags for my boss, and juggling roles as a social media manager, AE, and marketing assistant. It wasn’t glamorous, but it taught me resilience and the value of hard work. — Mid-Career/2020 Pandemic: I worked hard at agencies for most of my career, but then, I faced uncertainty after being laid off during the pandemic. I transitioned to freelancing, focusing on SEO content writing and strategy. The lesson? Tough times often lead to significant growth.. — 2022 Tech Layoffs: Found my footing in an in-house tech role, only to face more layoffs in 2022. Adapted quickly, relying on the resilience I had built over the years. — 2024: My passion for digital marketing and commitment to excellence has remained constant throughout these ups and downs. Whether driving SEO, strategies, creating impactful content, or helping others grow, I’ve always aimed to lead with empathy, creativity, and dedication to innovation. — Looking Forward: As I enter another year, I’m grateful for the lessons learned and the growth achieved. The digital marketing world is a roller coaster, but it’s where I’ve found some great friends and new skills. Here’s to another year of embracing challenges and continuing to grow. If you’re looking to collaborate on strategies that push the boundaries of SEO and content marketing, let’s connect. 💜 #digitaljourney #mystory #careergrowth #contentstrategist

My best *BAD* Comms advice: 1. Be “delighted” and “thrilled” in *all* quotes. → Sounds natural. 2. Redline articles; send to news editors. → Really strengthens relationships. 3. Announce layoffs in December. → Makes holidays special. 4. *Only* use stock photos. → Really resonates. 5. One-way broadcast, always. → Engagement is overrated. 6. Google alerts > internal comms. → Builds trust reading in the news first. 7. Spill “off the record” beans. → We're friends, right? 8. Only measure 'impressions'. → *Super* actionable. 9. Promise *excellent* coverage. → You're a wizard. 10. Accept all stakeholder edits → Simplifies. Sounds better. 11. Always pitch *full* media list. → POWER move. 12. Skip training/prep sessions. → Practice ≠ perfect. 13. Keep PR mysterious. → Education is overrated. What have I missed? 🤣

You are looking my website SEO in action—the top 24 keyword search terms that have brought people to my site over the past 12 months. Notice anything? This is a result of actually talking about the crappy state of the UX job market rather than hiding from it, and hiding it from people. Once the mass tech layoffs became a pattern, I tried to make sense of what the heck was going on with any available data, reporting my conclusions so people could make informed decisions about their careers and finances. The layoffs have had a cataclysmic impact on my business since Q2 2023. Things are starting to pick up ever so slightly along with the small yet noticeable increase in hiring activity in recent months. Acknowledging the elephant in the room has certainly been a choice—one that some may not appreciate. It definitely hasn't helped my bottom line, but my integrity remains intact.

Wondering How I Navigated Tech Layoffs in 2023 and Found Success as a Full-Time Digital Creator & Marketing Engineer? After facing an unexpected career shift due to tech layoffs, I redefined my path and found new opportunities in luxury travel, digital content creation, and brand partnerships. In my latest blog, I share the steps I took to go from navigating uncertainty to landing paid partnerships as a digital creator. Have you faced similar challenges? Whether you’ve had to pivot or are exploring new career options, check out my story here: https://lnkd.in/get6ctya I’d love to hear how you’ve navigated your own career shift. Let’s connect and support each other! #CareerChange #DigitalMarketing #ContentCreation #BayAreaTech #HotelCollaborations #PivotingAfterLayoffs #BrandPartnerships

The news of significant layoffs at Adjust is a reminder of how quickly things can shift in the tech landscape. For many impacted clients and professionals, this is a time of uncertainty. To Adjust clients: Whether it’s ensuring smooth transitions, maintaining high service standards, or preparing for industry shifts like the Google Sandbox regulations, we’re ready to step in and provide the support you need to achieve your goals. To those affected: if there’s any way I can help—whether through connections, introductions, or guidance—please feel free to reach out. Let’s work together to navigate this period and support the continued growth of our industry. Let’s move forward together.

WHAT HAS THE PANDEMIC TAUGHT US: 1. We need to diversify our skill sets and not be focused on one type of expertise alone. The more you are open to gaining knowledge the better your survival skills. 2. We can't be complacent no matter how many years you have given to an organization. If the circumstances change they will let you go no matter where you stand in the corporate ladder. Examples are layoffs at Google, Facebook, Microsoft, etc. 3. Resilience is the key to doing better than yesterday. Improving what you think you are an expert at and sharpening your skills to perfection. It may be as simple as your verbal and written communication skills and from there on the sky is the limit. 4. Hobbies can become your profession if only you focus and improve on it. During the pandemic I took up epoxy art and craft and though I have not converted it into my profession I am able to gift people stuff that I created. 5. We lost a lot of family and friends and the memories are cherished forever. Let us not forget what they lived for and what they had taught us during the years they spent with us. Let their legacy live on through us. 2020 and 2021 had been tough on all of us, however, these years made us realise how puny we are and how hollow our egos can be. It has also taught us to be strong, cherish everyday of our lives, and do more for society and the people around us instead of focusing on ourselves. Spread positivity, spread joy, and think beyond "I" and "me".