I am mentally preparing for the event that I receive a notice while the job market is still very bad. On the other hand, uncertainty is the worst for me. The manager wants great productivity, and these days I don't even know how I manage to function at work at all. How do you deal with this anxiety?
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"The way I handle the anxiety is realizing that even if I am LR'ed, it's a 6 month vacation followed by a new job and new experiences somewhere."
Depends on your age. Many former Cisco employees don't land other corporate jobs.
A resume gap will destroy your ability to negotiate with recruiters.
The job market is pretty normal right now. If you want to experience a real downturn in the job market, you should try working/finding a job back in 2001, when internet companies failed by the hundreds, and companies like Nortel closed doors and dumped their entire staff on the open market. Finding a job during that time period was he-l.....I lived through it. Every time I went to an interview, I'd recognize 3 or 4 friends in the queue.....no fun. The job market is sunny right now in comparison.
Buy bitcoin. It is going to a milli by 2030. Who needs work!
You could be golfing in Hawaii.
There is a Webex space in Cisco called Chickonomics where people are discussing finances and trying to help each other get control. There have been some conversations about saving, budgeting, etc that could be helpful as you're trying to figure out what is next so you may try and check it out as a resource to help get finances under control and address fears. Also Cisco has mental health people available 24/7 through the employee assistance program. I think you can find out about both of these on the Employee Connection site.
Hang in there.
Spend all your time interviewing now for new jobs outside Cisco
You will be much happier the rest of your working career
@pgz+1jYFrsmN a genuine realist. +1
Well, the job market isn't as hot as it was a year ago, but it's still pretty functional. The way I handle the anxiety is realizing that even if I am LR'ed, it's a 6 month vacation followed by a new job and new experiences somewhere.
Between the severance, unemployment, and anything you've got stocked away in savings/a 401k, you're probably okay for survival for 1-3 years.
Fear of being LR'ed probably translates for most into a primal fear of not being able to feed yourself and give yourself shelter. Once you do your own budget and finance math and realize that you'll probably be okay no matter what happens - it takes the edge off.
And I've noticed that most folks are just taking it as easy as possible during this time. Not many emails or messages or projects going. Lots of movement and uncertainty. Plus it is unlikely our previous projects continue after the shake up (as it usually goes).
Do your budget and finance math, it'll give you some breath. Notice that there are people all around the globe unable to eat, it'll give you some perspective. And notice that many people are feeling what you are to some degree, it will give you comradery.
Wish you all the best.
Have you noticed the extreme slow-down in project-related emails and team space activity. I have sound notifications turned on. Six weeks ago it chimed until late evening and usually woke me up. Now it's down to a slow drip. People are hunkered down for now.