Help with unexpected tech job loss
Hi Redditors!
I recently had a posting wanting to get advice on how to navigate a situation with my PI. TLDR: I had plans to apply for graduate school this cycle and they made an offer saying that if i get accepted in March 2027, would I be willing to defer a year to finish everything in the lab with a first-author paper.
While I just got news today that they received a termination letter from the department with an end date 6 months from now (late Nov 2026). In the meeting, my PI said that I had the shortest end of the stick in that no one will hire a tech for a year and it would be hard to look for work. I am kinda overwhelmed with all of the factors to consider for myself. Do I stay for the remaining 6 months ? Do I look for another job or tech job immediately so I can maybe get my name on their stuff in the next year?Do I pivot completely ? Do I delay my application timeline and apply next year? I just wanted to gauge the reddit crowd and see what are some viable options for me to consider and how I can make the best out of the situation.