Hey there, I'm Devin!
Most of the time you can catch me deep in the world of internal comms at Workshop (yes, the Happy Mondays folks!), and while I love AI, there are just some comms questions that need a human who really gets it… that’s me!
Hi Devin — trying to find a job since I got RIF’d in July, and I really need to know if I should dumb my skill set down for a lower-paying role or keep looking.
First and foremost, I’m really sorry to hear this. I’ve come across so many incredibly talented internal communicators who’ve been in this position, and I know it can be such an abrupt shift that impacts not only your professional life, but your personal life too. I’m sure you’re already diligently looking for roles, but I’d also recommend joining communities and networks where opportunities are a bit more filtered — spaces like CommsChat can be a great place to find roles and feel less alone in the process.
Second — no, I don’t think you need to “dumb down” your skill set, but sometimes it does require looking outside the box a bit. I’ve noticed an uptick in roles with more creative or unique titles lately (lots of storytelling and experience-driven ones!), so instead of only searching for one specific job title, I’d encourage you to seek out roles that align with your strengths and interests, even if the title doesn’t perfectly match where you’ve been before or what you originally thought you wanted next. Remember, your skills don’t disappear just because the market is tough! Best of luck!
