A techie’s unexpected layoff has sparked a discussion online, highlighting the uncertainty many employees face amid ongoing job cuts in the industry. In a video shared on Instagram, Dan Carino recounted how he was let go from Meta during what he believed would be a standard one-on-one with his manager.
“I was let go from my job at Meta, and I have 60 days to find a new job or I’ll be kicked out from the UK,” Dan said, explaining that he was on a skilled worker visa.
Describing the moment, the techie said that he had gone to the office prepared with updates on his projects, expecting a normal discussion. However, the meeting took an unexpected turn when another person joined the call. “I realised, oh, okay, this is this kind of meeting,” he said, referring to the layoff conversation.
He added that he remained calm, noting that his previous manager had been laid off a month earlier and there had been rumours of job cuts at the company. Following the meeting, he was asked to immediately hand over his equipment and badge and leave the office. He also recalled a brief moment when his manager asked if he wanted to grab snacks before leaving, to which he agreed.
In the comments section, Dan shared additional details about his situation. He said he was nearing the end of a 6-month probation period and had only a few days left when he was informed that his employment was being terminated due to performance.
“This was a surprise to me because I received ‘Consistently Met Expectations’ in the performance review 3 months prior, and I didn’t get any indication that my employment was in danger,” he wrote, adding, “The notice period is 1 week. I was not required to work out the notice period.”
Now, with his visa cancelled, he has a 60-day grace period to secure a new role in the UK. “I entered on a skilled worker visa, and they told me, Meta, the HR person, told me it’s cancelled now, and I have a 60-day grace period to find something,” Dan said in the clip.
Social media reactions
The video has prompted a wave of reactions from users, many of whom expressed sympathy and encouragement.
One user wrote, “You got this, Dan! I believe in you. But, man, coming prepared and then this… You should have taken more snacks, though, you can never have enough.”
“Damn all my tech friends are getting the axe, even seniors. You got this brother another one will pop up soon,” commented another.
“If anyone can do it, it’s you. So sorry this happened to you will keep an eye out. No one is safe,” wrote a third user.
“Sorry to hear this bro. Went through a very similar thing. Hope you find something soon!!” said another.
