Amid recent layoffs in the technology sector, a Bengaluru-based CEO has shared his perspective on why such job cuts happen and what affected employees can do to move forward.
Pradeep Soundararajan in a Linkedin post addressed the issue following reports of layoffs at Oracle, offering a detailed explanation from a leadership point of view.
Earlier on April 1, reports emerged about Oracle laying off around 12,000 employees in India as part of a broader global workforce reduction.
He clarified that neither he nor the organisations he is associated with have any connection with Oracle, and that his observations are based on general industry patterns.
Explaining one reason, he said large companies tend to slow down as they grow. Systems and processes become more complex, and increasing workforce leads to more approvals and delays.
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“Large companies move slowly. Their systems are slow, their processes are slow. The more people they add, the more approvals, and the slower things become,” he said.
He added that layoffs are sometimes used as a way to restore efficiency.
“Once in a while, to regain speed, companies lay off large numbers. The remaining employees then start performing better due to pressure,” he noted.
He also pointed to leadership changes as another factor. According to him, projects in large organisations are often closely tied to specific senior executives.
“Every major product or project is like a CXO's (senior executives) responsibility. When leadership changes, new leaders tend to replace existing priorities with their own,” he said.
He also highlighted that some business divisions continue to receive funding despite not delivering expected results. Over time, if these projects fail to perform, they become financially unsustainable.
“One day the cost becomes too expensive and they decided to shut the light off,” he said.
He further noted that such decisions are often delayed.
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“Most leaders hesitate to take layoff decisions and wait for a technological shift or external reason to justify them,” he added.
Speaking about the way forward, he advised employees to remain positive and look for new opportunities instead of focusing on the setback.
“Be grateful for your time at the company. Don't get stuck in the loss,” he said.
He suggested that employees could consider moving to smaller companies that may value their experience.
“Look at smaller organisations that need your skills but could not afford them earlier, and try to negotiate a mix of salary and equity,” he noted.
He also emphasised the importance of self-reflection.
“Write a detailed self-review of around ten pages, listing what worked, what didn't, and what you would do differently in your next role,” he said.
He added that presenting such a document during interviews could help both the employer and employee understand suitability beyond a CV.
The CEO also highlighted the importance of learning across roles.
“Developers, QA teams, support staff, and sales professionals should learn from each other to become more adaptable,” he said.
Reflecting on the industry, he said leadership decisions often have a greater impact on careers than technology itself.
“Leadership changes are more disruptive to employees than technological shifts,” he said.
He added that even experienced leaders do not always succeed.
“Business leaders, regardless of their background, have only about a 50:50 success rate in the projects they handle,” he noted.
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He stressed that identifying failing projects early can reduce damage. “Leaders who shut down projects at an early stage create fewer layoffs and less impact on employees,” he said.
He also pointed out that financial investment alone cannot ensure success. “Money cannot guarantee a successful product; it can only buy time before a failing project is closed,” he said.
He further said that losing a job should not be seen as a failure. “It is okay to be laid off, but reacting with panic or fear can make things worse. Market conditions may change, but opportunities return,” he added.
Sharing his own journey, he said his views are shaped by personal experience. “I have gone through job loss, remained unemployed for months, and even borrowed money to attend interviews,” he said. He added that such experiences played a role in shaping his career.
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