Puzzled-Leader2372's journey

I was laid off recently during a meeting that had a Halloween background, which was quite ironic given the circumstances. This marks my second layoff; my first was back in 2023. I had been working as a Software Engineer at Company B for over three years, where I was contracted through Company A. Things started to go downhill for Company B in early 2025 after they filed for Chapter 11. Layoffs began in mid-2025, and my team was gradually dissolved from July to October. In July, our project was put on hold, and my boss was let go, which made me think my time was up too. Surprisingly, I managed to hold on until October when my contract finally ended. During those months, I was essentially on the bench, focusing on my master's program and company courses, but I always had the feeling that I was next in line for a layoff. When the day finally came, I joined a meeting where an HR representative delivered the news with a Halloween-themed background, which initially made me think it was a joke. She explained that due to the company's tough situation, my contract would be terminated, but they offered a mutual agreement for compensation, which is a common practice in my country to avoid negative layoff statistics. They owe me a significant amount for unused vacation days, as I only took six days off in those three years. Now, I plan to take some time off during the holidays to recharge and prepare for interviews while finishing my master's degree. To anyone else going through this, stay hopeful and remember to save a portion of your income for tough times.