I began working here over 10 years ago. At first I thought it was great. Now it’s like pulling teeth when I wake up in the mornings knowing I have to work. I don’t know when I started dreading it. When I started becoming disillusioned by all the c-ap we’ve been put through. Layoffs always have me worried. I know I shouldn’t be because I’m prepared. It’s the thought of having to start over. I am not sure if I should take things into my own hands and get out while I can, or if I should ride it out until I’m axed and I hate that I can’t decide.
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You should go to one of those coder dojos and get a job in java script. Check out the clever programmer or some other YouTube scam
@bgp+19QDru1o has great advise.
I’d add to it the more you wake up and look in the mirror seeing someone whose soul is dying and you aren’t doing anything about it the more you’re destroying your confidence and drive.
When you say you don’t want to start over, the first time you see an executive at his new career helping customers use the self checkout at the Home Depot you’ll know the potential cost of staying in one place too long and not growing yourself. Frequent controlled reinvention is painful but it can also be an effective survival strategy.
I left Cisco twice.
I took the early retirement, best decision of my life! Big weight off my shoulders and I am spending quality time with my friends and family. Last week, I turned down a future employer because for once I feel free!
Leave. Why spend all your time and effort on something your heart is not in.
I was LR'd at the 17 year mark. Just a G9 most of my time there. They were still giving good bonuses and RSUs most of the time there. I am in a great financial position because of that run of generous stock options. We had great VPs and Directors for many years and few org changes For most of 2000 to 2016 I worked all the time but loved the culture.
Cisco was my life and it was fantastic.
Challenging. There was then a big BS power-play stir up on executive ownership of our popular and sucessfull small team and funding. Our boss finally had enough of the BS (he actually told us this over beers) on defending our turf and moved on. Great decade run. The new clueless management took our funding and completely trashed the platform we had developed which then resulted in their LRs.
I took another job internally but did not fit in. Once the management team shifted, the LR targeting of us +50 folks began. Pitiful; what a waste Cisco.
I had another job the very next day after my LR package ran out. Now three years later, and moving around a bit, I am on yet another great team, at a much smaller company.
It is out there if you look for it.
I still keep up with a few friends that are still there at Cisco and they are honestly miserable and staying for good money, low accountability, and working from home.
A once great Cisco culture, the 2000s are indeed long gone.
You decide.
I guess you didn't qualify for the CEP back in Oct. But maybe you can hang on long enough to qualify for the next one. It is just hard to say when that will be. I was at Cisco for 15 years and 7 years ago there was a "early retirement" (ER) offering, but I had not been at Cisco long enough to qualify for it. Last year there was another ER and I took it and after a month long job search I found a new job that pays $50k more a year.
Leave now! Competition is paying $$$$$$
- it's easier to find a job if you have a job
- it's easier to negotiate a higher salary if you have a job
Don't job search while unemployed. Recruiters will low ball you.