I am in Raleigh, too. I was on contract at a not-as-large-as-they-used-to-be computer company in 2008. I got a commendation for my great work. One month later they had a panic attack over the economic situation and I got the ax. Two weeks later I landed a direct position that lasted until I retired in 2017. Better pay and benefits. I still have the commendation letter to remind myself what vacuous a$$h0les run these companies. FWIW, every time I got laid off I wound up in a better position, so don’t fret.
This. Every single move that I've made - both forced and unforced - has wound up for the better. Even the jobs that I've *hated* advanced my career. And, I've heard the same from darned near everyone else I've talked to.
Funny how that works out.