Thread regarding IBM layoffs

One year gone - and lovin' it

Just crossed the one year anniversary after leaving. Making a lot more money, much better benefits, vastly more relevant tech and improving my skills. Is it perfect? Nope. Every company has issues. But at least they're because the company is growing and innovating, not because it's trying desperately to remain relevant while milking dead-end technology and offerings.

The only way the new CO-CEOs will be able to save the company is to wait until Ginny is really gone, and then break up the company: services (sell to an offshore outsourcer who can fix the cost structure), dead-tech that still has cash flow (websphere, mainframe), and the much smaller piece that still is relevant and have a chance at succeeding. Not a bet I'd take.

To all my peeps still there, the word is out on the street that most of the good people have left. If you have marketable skills, get out now - especially if you've been there for a while and are way underpaid. If your skills are marginal, it's even more important to get out while the economy is so hot someone will help retrain you.

My only regret? Not leaving sooner.

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Post ID: @OP+13DaPw3k

2 replies (most recent on top)

Totally agree with OP.

I was ”Resource Action” two years ago, 14 days notice, 1 month severance. I had been with IBM for close to 5 years, before that, worked on a company that IBM acquired in 2013 for more than 10 years (they told me those years didn’t count). Many of my colleagues that came from the same old company were laid off the same time and get the same treatment.

Looked for job at that time was very stressful, the technology I used in IBM was outdated, so I had difficulty answering some technical questions in job interviews.

After two months of job searching and dozen of interviews. A big bank offered a contract position to me. I showed them how fast I could learn, solved a few problems that had bothered them for a long time. After three months, they converted me to permanent position. Now I get better pay, salary raise and big bonus at the end of the year. And I am learning new technologies that I got asked all the time when I was looking for job.

When I was at IBM, we were in constant fear of lay-off. I saw a lot of work we did before were moved to team in India, and our team in US was getting smaller and smaller.

In the new company, we do have layoffs (they closed some retail banking branches because more and more people use online banking). I am not worry because I see they appreciate experience and do not discriminate against older workers, plus, the new skills that I continue learning give me confidence that I can find a new job easily.

So Good luck to you all, and remember, if you get laid off, maybe it is a blessing in disguise.

My advice, connect with your friends and colleagues in LinkedIn, write some good words of recommendations for each other. I think those recommendations from my fellow IBMers did help me in getting my job.

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Post ID: @ugj+13DaPw3k

@OP, can you share which company you went to? I am looking to leave (currently in Lab Services) shortly, just need to find something serious. Thanks.

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Post ID: @ggu+13DaPw3k

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