The Laid-Off Assistant: Navigating Mass Layoffs In an Uncertain Industry
By Matthew Threadgill, Assistant at Disney Branded Television and THA's Co-Head of Journalism
“You never know what’s next in your career. Anything can happen.”
Rachel Jarrot, an Executive Assistant at MoreMedavoy Management, reflected on the unpredictable nature of Hollywood as she recounted her layoff from ABC Network in 2023. It’s a sentiment ringing true across the industry as professionals grapple with an unprecedented wave of uncertainty. From the April 2023 “bloodbath” at Disney to strike-fueled cutbacks at agencies to the abrupt closures of studios like Participant and Paramount Television Studios, layoffs are sweeping entertainment, driven by the financial tensions of the streaming landscape and declining cable TV and theatrical businesses.
In essence, one of the most gripping narratives of the industry today isn’t even on the screen— it’s unfolding behind the scenes as careers and companies hang in the balance.
As a result of Paramount’s ongoing restructuring, I was laid off from my role of Department Coordinator at Nickelodeon’s Noggin earlier this year. The experience brought dichotomous feelings: I felt an eagerness to use the setback to bring me closer to my long-term aspiration of being a creative executive, while simultaneously worried I’d drift further away from it.
In conversations with other laid-off assistants, I found these feelings were common. The profound disruption caused by layoffs challenges entertainment assistants’ sense of purpose, security, and career trajectory. Yet, it also opens surprising avenues for growth and reinvention.
The Unpredictability of Layoffs
As layoffs are often abrupt, impacted employees are often left in the lurch once they receive notice. “We weren’t really told at all that people were going to get laid off,” said Christina Watcher. During last year’s WGA strike, Christina was laid off from her assistant position in the Scripted Literary department at Independent Artist Group (IAG). “It was super, super shocking. They did it all in one day, and we had two days [left].”
In my case, previous rumors about Paramount layoffs made me wary of potential eliminations in my department prior to my notice, so I had my resume prepped and interview responses freshened up. However, even when you’re aware layoffs are coming, it’s not always easy to gauge who will be impacted across roles and departments.
“The team that I was a part of was a revenue generating team. They make a lot of money for the company,” explained Connor Seaman, who was laid off from his role as Executive Assistant at Paramount last month. “While there was word of layoffs, I was thinking, ‘Good thing I'm on the team I’m on, because if I was under this other team, I’d probably get cut.’ And then at the end of the day, the exact opposite happened.”
Suddenly losing work requires employees to scramble to adjust, and for assistants in particular, it can be a financial stressor given our modest salaries and the high cost of living in Los Angeles and New York. “Apply for unemployment immediately,” encouraged Christina. “I thought to myself, ‘No, I'll get a job right away,’ and then I didn't. You should not even feel bad about it.”
What Now?
Following the initial shock of the news, one may find themselves replacing the disheartened question of Why me? with the daunting one of What now?
After being laid off from her role of Executive Assistant in Current Series at ABC, Rachel particularly resonated with this thought. “The scariest thing about getting laid off for me was I've never wanted to do anything else.”
Rachel’s inspiration to work in the industry was sparked by her grandfather, a USC graduate who never got the opportunity to pursue film professionally due to familial obligations. After discovering the work of Current Programming excited her most, she set her sights on a career as a Current executive, strategically working her way from Paramount’s Page program to her role at ABC– a job she considered her dream.
“I loved my job. I loved what I was doing, and I was good at it. I had these incredible bosses and team who knew I wanted to do this and were investing as much time in me as I was investing in them because they knew that I was going to grow,” Rachel asserted. “It was hard.”
Contrarily, others saw their layoff as an exciting opportunity to focus on long-term pursuits. With aspirations to be a talent manager, Shareece Williams felt energized after being laid off from her role of Executive Assistant at BET. “I felt like I had gotten a lot of experience out of BET and needed to move on. I was very optimistic,” Shareece remarked. “I was all smiles, like, ‘It's all good, everything's going to work out.’”
Finding Ways to Cope
When you’re in the job market, finding a new job often becomes your full-time job: scouring job boards, reworking your resume, reaching out to your network, and writing dozens of cover letters. It’s a process that can be long and arduous, so it’s vital to find ways to cope.
For me, that was applying to jobs only while sitting at my favorite coffee shop, taking breaks to watch a comfort show, or working alongside my partner or a close friend. I also took time to connect with other laid-off assistants who understood what I was going through.
Furthermore, I found it essential to maintain a proactive mindset throughout my search— focusing on what I could control and letting go of what I couldn’t. In addition to standard job search techniques, I prioritized learning more about key industry players, scheduling and holding informational chats, studying relevant shows and movies, and building relationships across my network. These were all within my control and helped me work towards my next role while strengthening knowledge and skills that would help me excel in it.
In contrast, worrying if I’d advance in the interview process for a role I applied for, questioning whether my career would progress how I wanted it to, or dwelling on rejections only drained my energy and devalued my agency. Recognizing the difference between these two approaches and intentionally focusing on the former is crucial in sustaining momentum.
When Setbacks Become Setups
And to echo Shareece, it’s true– everything does work out. It just may not always appear as originally intended.
After departing IAG, Christina landed an assistant role at Industry Entertainment, then moved to Amplified when her bosses opened it. Now, she’s discovered she wants to be a manager, which she hadn’t considered at IAG, and aims to grow at Amplified. “To help creatives make their dreams come true is awesome,” noted Christina. “And the people I work for are so great. I cannot imagine ever leaving them. They've been loyal to me, and I want to pay it back.”
Now at MoreMedavoy Management, Rachel feels reaffirmed in her career goals and is determined to return to Current one day. “When you're laid off from a job you would have never left, it teaches you a lot about yourself,” said Rachel. “I always knew this [Current] is what I wanted to do, but now I'm really sure this is what I want to do. It changed the way I look at myself in conjunction with the word resilience.”
Five months after leaving BET, Shareece began a new role as a Talent Assistant at Authentic Talent and Literary Management, right in line with her goal. She attributes her landing the role to her positivity and drive. “I can't think of anything else I would do, because it's not just about the money, it's about what I really enjoy.”
Months after my layoff, I often describe it as a blessing in disguise. It led me to an assistant role on Disney Branded Television’s Live Action Development team— a position straight out of my childhood wishes, long before I even knew development was where I wanted to be.
“One person told me, ‘everyone in this industry gets laid off at some point,’” Rachel shared. “That executive had been laid off three times. And every time, it was because something was telling her she needed something else.”
These trajectories show that setbacks can be setups. During these uncertain times, the best thing for us all to do is keep moving forward.
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