Ask HN: How did you sense you were on the chopping block?

We're talking layoffs, firings ... whatever you wanna call it, but losing your job

I had less and less to do. The company had pivoted, still had no revenue, and my job function was less necessary.

I was hunting for work within in the org, but was remote so was operating at a disadvantage. I would ask the product manager for work, then do it (typically an integration and documentation) then ask for more.

It got to the point where my manager asked me to stop bugging the product manager.

I felt a vague disquiet, but having never been laid off before, didn't quite recognize what was coming.

Sadly I never saw it coming, but should have.

First place, was bought buy a major corporation. They clearly told us they bought us just for our client base. The place had 2000 people at that building when I started. 10 years, and annual layoffs later, I thought I was essential. They had a layoff, woot I am safe this year. Then they laid me off as well as about 100 others, they decided they did not cut enough on prior layoff. This brought the location down to 100, a year later it closed.

Second layoff, was a company I had only been at a year. Biggest sign I had was the new director and my boss did not get along. She and everyone under her was laid off.

Oh well I am better now :-)

Company was going thru a split (selling a large division off), the project I was on was going to get axed for sure, its just that it would take 6-12 months for the company to realize that and actually do the downsizing. When I put in my notice my manager was happy because he thought he would have to lay me off in 6-9 months.

If you're at a publicly traded company, pay attention to large shareholder changes and/or things that need to go through SEC and lawyers. It should be obvious what some potential outcomes are and the length of time for the SEC and lawyers to do their work is enough to start looking immediately and land another job.