- Cole McElwain relocated to California for a job at Blizzard in October.
- After simply 4 months, he was laid off after the gaming firm made a giant spherical of job cuts.
- McElwain says he would not remorse shifting to California, however the metropolis’s value of dwelling worries him.
That is an as-told-to essay primarily based on a dialog with Cole McElwain. The next has been edited for size and readability.
I utilized for roles at Blizzard for nearly two years earlier than touchdown a job there.
On the time, I might been working as an workplace assistant at Activision in Minnesota, however the Blizzard job was primarily based in California.
I used to be ecstatic once I first acquired the information. I might been eager to maneuver out of the chilly and over to Blizzard for some time.
I wanted to maneuver pretty rapidly after accepting the provide and had a few month to determine the right way to do the whole lot. The corporate did not provide relocation, so I donated most of what I owned, packed the remainder behind my automotive, and drove to California.
Simply 4 months later, I used to be laid off.
Dream job
Earlier than touchdown the Blizzard job, I used to be eyeing a spread of roles within the gaming business and networking.
Once I lastly acquired by means of the prolonged interview course of for the Blizzard job, I initially missed out.
Fortunately, a month later, the hiring group reached out to say the unique candidate could not take the position and provided it to me as an alternative.
I began in October, and the job was a lot enjoyable. I liked the group — everybody was extremely proficient — and I could not have been extra excited to only get to work.
The size of the layoffs was a shock
On the morning of the layoffs in January, I noticed the media stories earlier than I checked my emails.
I instantly knew that I might most likely be on the record as a result of I used to be the brand new man.
Whereas we knew that some layoffs would occur after the Microsoft acquisition, the size of the cuts — about was nonetheless a shock. I feel it got here as a shock to most individuals. Throughout my layoff name, my director was already almost in tears.
Probably the most irritating factor was that I felt like I hadn’t acquired my tooth into something but — it felt as if I wasn’t even finished onboarding.
I used to be nonetheless having access to numerous issues, and the group had at the least three within the pipeline we deliberate to create. Out of our group of 10 individuals, 4 had been reduce.
The Microsoft acquisition was behind my head whereas I used to be making use of, and whereas I do know the individuals who employed me weren’t conscious of what was coming, the timeline continues to be arduous to grasp.
I feel it is unfair Blizzard requested me to maneuver out right here simply to put me off 4 months later.
After the layoffs, I simply needed to get a beer with my pals, however I hadn’t had time to make any in California. My shut pals had been all again in Minnesota and I might have liked to only hang around with them after the whole lot.
Fortunately, I nonetheless had gaming, so I may get on-line and converse to them that means.
I am completely happy I moved to California — however I would not relocate for a job once more
Regardless of the whole lot, I am completely happy I moved to California.
I stay with my spouse, who works in California and might get by on my severance package deal for some time. I simply do not wish to get to snug as a result of it may most likely run out fairly quick.
It is rather more costly than Minnesota. The day I acquired laid off, I instantly began making use of for jobs as a result of my value of dwelling was so excessive — my hire principally doubled once I moved right here.
Discovering a brand new job is hard as a result of all people within the gaming business is laying individuals off. I am unsure if I am going to have the ability to keep within the business going ahead as a result of all of the laid-off employees are making use of for a number of aggressive roles.
I am nonetheless new to the business, so I do not know if I’ve the expertise to land considered one of these roles. It worries me that I is perhaps unable to remain in a sector I labored so arduous to interrupt into.
Even when I had been provided one other gaming job, I would not relocate for a task once more — I am too frightened about getting burned twice.
Had been you laid off after shifting for a dream job? Get in contact: bnolan@businessinsider.com
