She worked for a tech giant but kept working on a backup plan. When layoffs came, her income never stopped

Layoffs in the tech industry have changed how many professionals think about job security. For some workers, side hustles are no longer just passion projects or extra income streams. They are becoming fallback plans for uncertain times. One such story is that of Tejal Rives, who managed a full-time role at Amazon while slowly building a separate business with her husband before eventually losing her corporate job.

Rives, who worked in product marketing at Amazon, was laid off in October 2025 during another round of job cuts at the company. But unlike many workers caught off guard by sudden layoffs, she and her husband had already discussed what they would do if that moment ever came.

According to Business Insider, the couple had purchased a résumé-writing and career coaching company called Do My Resume LLC in 2024. What started as a side project gradually became something more serious. Rives hoped that one day she could leave corporate life and focus on the business full time.


She used strict time management habits to avoid burnout while balancing both responsibilities. Instead of trying to work all the time, she created fixed schedules for the business during evenings and weekends. Once that time was over, she stepped away from work completely.

“That helped me not get burnt out,” she said. “I didn't want to lose myself and take too much time away from things that brought me joy.”

Keeping side hustle separate from Amazon job

Rives said she made a clear effort not to mix her side business with her Amazon responsibilities. Client calls were limited to evenings or weekends, and some inherited team members from the business helped handle emails and customer communication.

She also advised people against trying to do too much too quickly. According to her, a side hustle should fit around a person’s real life and responsibilities instead of taking over everything.

“People should consider their own lifestyle and responsibilities. Kids, family obligations, etc., all come into play,” she said.

Even before the layoffs, the couple had already spoken about what their next step would be if her role disappeared. Since her husband was the primary earner in the family, they decided that she would focus on their business and become the primary caregiver for their young daughter if she lost her job.

After the layoffs happened, that plan immediately became reality.

LinkedIn posts reflected the emotional impact

In several LinkedIn posts shared after losing her job, Rives spoke openly about the emotional side of being laid off. She described the experience as a form of grief and said the emotions came in waves.

“My time at Amazon has come to an end,” she wrote. “The friends I made, the experience I’ve gained, and the lessons I’ve learned are nothing short of amazing.” She also admitted that she did not fully know what would come next but wanted to spend time focusing on herself, her family and her health.

Later, she revealed she already had a short-term plan in place. “I already have a plan, at least for the next 90 days. I'm going to focus on building my business,” she wrote.

Rives said she planned to create career-related content online, offer coaching sessions and freelance recruiting services while expanding her social media presence under the name “Caffeinated Tejal.”

In another post, she wrote about the emotional crash that followed the initial shock. “You question your worth, your place in society,” she shared while discussing post-layoff depression. “It’s not that the world doesn’t need you, it’s that someone gave you a clear sign that you are no more than just a number.”

Why the family says the decision worked for them

Months after the layoff, Rives shared that stepping away from corporate work temporarily had helped her family manage unexpected situations at home, especially while caring for their one-year-old daughter.

She explained that because she was not tied to a full-time office role anymore, she could focus on caregiving responsibilities without worrying about taking leave or affecting work performance. “This isn’t to say that I will never work again, but to say that this is currently working for us,” she wrote.