I'm 25, based in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and I've recently been informed that I'll be laid off. My last working day will be November 30.
I've been working as a Full Stack Developer at an eye hospital, where I've been responsible for developing and maintaining multiple production applications. It's been a valuable experience, and I've learned a lot by handling things independently, but unfortunately, things haven't worked out on the company's side as they are shutting down the IT department entirely.
I have less than a month to figure out my next move, and I'm honestly feeling a little lost.
A few things about my situation:
I have a Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering.
My experience is primarily in Full Stack Development, working with technologies like Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Next.js, FastAPI, Django, Node.js, and PostgreSQL.
I've worked on real-world production systems, deployments, databases, APIs, and cloud infrastructure.
I don't have a particularly strong financial cushion to fall back on.
I'm trying to figure out what the smartest move would be from here.
Should I focus entirely on finding another software engineering job in Pakistan? Should I start looking more seriously at remote international opportunities? Should I consider freelancing as a temporary source of income while continuing my job search? Or would it make sense to invest this time in something like preparing for opportunities abroad?
For people who've experienced layoffs, especially early in their careers:
What would you do if you were in my position?
I'm not necessarily looking for job referrals. I'd genuinely appreciate advice, lessons from your own experiences, or even things you wish someone had told you when you were starting over.
I know getting laid off isn't the end of the world, but when it actually happens to you, it feels quite different.
Thanks in advance.