SinclaireJames's journey

I was laid off unexpectedly on a day I had taken off as PTO, which I had requested well in advance and received approval for. I wasn't the only one affected, but I was among the few from my department. It feels personal, especially considering my boss had previously given me a negative evaluation that I successfully countered with evidence. I never faced a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP), but I noticed another colleague who was also laid off had one, leading me to suspect that HR targeted employees with any blemishes on their records. This year marked the first time in my nearly five years at the company that I received a mid-year evaluation. My boss showered me with praise that felt excessive and insincere, which raised my suspicions since my work quality has remained strong despite last year's review. I doubt HR even saw that mid-year evaluation. Being laid off is disheartening, especially since I believed this job was a perfect fit for me after two decades in my field. The way I landed the job, the workload, and the work environment were all ideal for me. I never felt anxious about my role, unlike my previous experiences, and I didn't have to engage in office politics to secure my position. Despite this setback, I have an interview tomorrow and two more lined up for next week. I'm trying to stay positive, but I can't shake this numb feeling.