Layoffs Aren't Random. Here's How to Protect Yourself (Inside View From a Hiring Manager)
Most people treat layoffs like acts of God. Wrong place, wrong time. You got unlucky. That’s how it feels when your name shows up on that list. But from the inside, I’ve seen the decision-making process, and layoffs aren’t random at all. They’re predictable. Which means you can prepare for them before they happen.
I’ve been laid off. I’ve also been the one making the layoff decisions at Riot Games. And what I learned from both sides will probably piss you off because it means you have more control than you think.
Why Companies Actually Cut Staff
Here’s the truth that gets buried in PR statements: Companies don’t lay off people just because they’re broke. Even massive AAA studios are shedding staff not because they’re out of money, but because they overhired like crazy during the boom years.
During good times, studios hire aggressively. Art teams grow. Design departments expand. Marketing gets bloated. It feels like growth. It feels like things are working. Then the market tightens. Interest rates climb. Investors start asking harder questions. Suddenly those extra roles become the easiest way to cut costs and look financially disciplined in front of shareholders.
So when your company releases a statement about “difficult economic conditions,” what they really mean is “we’re showing investors we can make tough decisions.”
Once you understand this, you can start seeing the warning signs months before the ax falls.
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The Three Types of People Who Get Cut First
Not everyone on the chopping block. There’s a pattern. I’ve watched this play out dozens of times.
The invisible worker. These are people who do solid work but don’t make it known. They grind. They deliver. Nobody notices. When layoffs come, their managers literally can’t justify keeping them because nobody above them knows what they do. I’ve seen incredibly talented people cut while mediocre ones stayed, simply because the mediocre ones were better at showing their work.
The redundant role. If your job overlaps too much with someone else’s, or if it can be automated or outsourced, you’re at risk. Your company is going to pick whoever delivers more value or has stronger relationships. Redundancy is a death sentence in a layoff.
The misaligned employee. Your work doesn’t align with where the company is heading. Maybe they’re shifting from console to mobile. Maybe they’re killing a franchise. Maybe they’re pivoting away from live service entirely. Even if you’re good at your job, if it doesn’t align with the future direction, you’re seen as expendable. I’ve watched entire teams get dissolved not because they sucked, but because the company was moving in a different direction.
The brutal reality: Layoffs often aren’t about performance. They’re about visibility, strategic value, and alignment with the company’s future.
Three Strategies to Protect Yourself Right Now
Strategy One: Build Strategic Visibility. Don’t just do good work. SHOW the work. Share your wins and impact especially on LinkedIn. Document your achievements. When layoffs come around, managers need to justify who they’re keeping to leadership. If nobody knows what you do, you become expendable. If everyone knows your impact, you become valuable.
Strategy Two: Make Yourself Indispensable. Focus on solving problems beyond your job description. Learn skills that align with your company’s future priorities. That might be AI integration, mobile development, cross-platform scaling, or whatever your studio is pivoting towards. Be the person who’s already thinking about tomorrow while everyone else is heads-down on today.
Strategy Three: Build Genuine Relationships. Strong relationships with your team, your manager, and your broader network act as a safety net. Not the fake LinkedIn network kind. Real relationships built over time. When it comes down to a tough call, the people who have genuine relationships get the benefit of the doubt. But don’t network just when you need something. Build connections consistently. Show up. Add value without expecting immediate returns.
Your Emergency Playbook (If You Sense Layoffs Coming)
If you’re hearing rumors or seeing warning signs, move FAST.
First, update your assets immediately. Your resume, portfolio, and LinkedIn profile need to be current. Not eventually. This week. Your resume should highlight impact with numbers. Your portfolio should be polished. Your LinkedIn should have a professional photo and a headline that tells recruiters exactly what you do.
Second, activate your network. Reach out to people you trust for advice, referrals, or insights into upcoming opportunities. These conversations are not awkward. People understand the market right now. Most people will help. Start with people you have real relationships with.
Third, start exploring proactively. Being proactive gives you leverage and options. You’re negotiating from a position of strength when you still have a job. Companies know this. If you’re already in conversations when a layoff hits, you have momentum and choices instead of panic.
Reframe How You Think About Layoffs
Layoffs aren’t personal. They’re business decisions. Don’t let them shake your confidence in your skills or your value. Some of the most successful people I know got laid off multiple times on their way up. The difference is they treat layoffs as a career pivot, not a career ending.
A layoff can be the exact reset you needed. Maybe your previous role wasn’t aligned with where you wanted to go anyway. Maybe you were stuck in a position that was paying the bills but wasn’t building the right skills. Layoffs force clarity. Use that clarity.
One Action This Week
Pick one of these and do it today:
Option One: Update your resume and LinkedIn profile. Make sure someone hiring knows exactly what you’ve shipped and what impact you’ve had.
Option Two: Reach out to one person in your network. Not asking for a job. Just connecting. Checking in. Staying top of mind.
Option Three: Start learning a new skill that aligns with where your industry is headed. AI tools. New engines. Emerging platforms. Get sharp on something that matters.
The best time to prepare for layoffs isn’t after they’re announced. It’s right now. The companies that prepared for market downturns didn’t panic when they came. Neither will you.
For the complete layoff recovery playbook, check out our Laid Off from a Gaming Studio Guide.
Read our complete guide: Surviving Game Industry Layoffs
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who gets cut first when gaming studios lay off staff?
A: Three types of players get hit first. The invisible worker nobody knows about, the person in a redundant role that overlaps with three other people, and the misaligned employee whose values don’t match the studio’s direction. If you’re any of these, you’re already on borrowed time, layoffs or not.
Q: How do you build strategic visibility to survive industry cuts?
A: Make your work visible to people who matter without being obnoxious about it. Speak up in meetings, lead initiatives that ship, document your impact, and let your work speak louder than your job title. The people nobody remembers are the first to go when the spreadsheet comes out.
Q: What does making yourself indispensable actually look like?
A: You solve problems before anyone asks you to, you’re the person everyone relies on for specific expertise, and you’re impossible to replace without serious pain. This isn’t about working 80 hours a week, it’s about being strategically valuable in areas the company actually cares about.
Q: How do you build genuine relationships that matter during layoffs?
A: Network across departments, not just within your team. Be the person who helps others succeed, share knowledge freely, and show up for your teammates. When layoff time comes, people remember who treated them well, and that social capital might be the difference between staying and going.
Q: What’s your emergency playbook if you get cut?
A: Update your portfolio and resume immediately while the details are fresh, activate your network the same day, start exploring proactively, and remember layoffs aren’t personal, they’re business decisions. The studios doing the cutting would do it to you in a heartbeat if their margins required it.