I refer to the thread about possible cuts in August. I wouldn’t want to spread any rumors but my manager’s behavior towards me has also changed significantly. He is more critical and moody, which I understood as a red flag that I should look for a new job. Maybe I’m just anxious but I prefer to be prepared. I'm wondering if people who were cut before could have guessed that this would happen due to these small subtle signs?
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The last poster is DEAD on correct. And there is other very good advice in this thread. In hindsight, I saw all the signs, but didn't really pay attention. Eventually my manager did give me a hint that my name was on the list....he gets credit for that, but all the stuff leading up to that (assigned to weird projects, etc) was unforgivable. I was the best worker in the group, but was the wrong s-x, age, race, and had passed my midpoint in pay (because I was good). Unfortunately Cisco evaluates people if they are "promotable", which is massively short sighted. Some folks enjoy the level they are at and just want interesting work...nothing wrong with that. Plenty of other companies love that and it's best to move on.
- If you joined your team through re-org, expect it.
- If your manager inherited you from your previous manager leaving, proceed as if it could happen.
- If you are not in your managers inner circle, expect it.
- If you are that “independent” worker who needs little to no oversight on getting your work done, expect it.
- If you meet above points 1 and 3, and you are in the top 1/3 of your pay grade, start interviewing NOW.
The signs……
Your manager may all of a sudden develop “cross training-itis” meaning they want you to tell other people everything you know.
You may start seeing other people get new and interesting projects and you may literally get no work.
The workers in your managers inner circle may all of a sudden become elusive.
Your manager might pair you with someone of your team that they know is a slacker and most likely to get cut. This is because you’re getting cut too and the project you’ve been assigned is a dead end. This is a baby sitting effort.
The clues are real. Don't listen to others that a manager has other issues. We all do. When they start reacting differently to you than they have in the past, it is a sign that you are on their bad or negative side. Almost all managers have no coping mechanism to hide it with a good poker face. In my experience, they say you are doing a great job all while telling another co-worker to plan for the work transition. My manager didn't know everything he was filtering was coming to me. I knew I was on the list from my co-worker. It was months away, so I geared up my job search. The day I got the paperwork, I met directly with HR. In the layoff paperwork, it states if you have another position outside the company, that you can immediately leave and receive the full severance. I signed the paperwork, handed HR my badge, credit card, laptop, password, etc. I walked out with the HR rep and started the other job a week later. No work transfer or anything. I was gone and free.
The clues are real. Don't listen to others that a manager has other issues. We all do. When they start reacting differently to you than they have in the past, it is a sign that you are on their bad or negative side. Almost all managers have no coping mechanism to hide it with a good poker face. In my experience, they say you are doing a great job all while telling another co-worker to plan for the work transition. My manager didn't know everything he was filtering was coming to me. I knew I was on the list from my co-worker. It was months away, so I geared up my job search. The day I got the paperwork, I met directly with HR. In the layoff paperwork, it states if you have another position outside the company, that you can immediately leave and receive the full severance. I signed the paperwork, handed HR my badge, credit card, laptop, password, etc. I walked out with the HR rep and started the other job a week later. No work transfer or anything. I was gone and free.
the cuts are not "possible" - they are guaranteed and target 5% of the workforce. yet again.
if you have a manager that has minimal decency they will confidentially tell you to prep yourself.
if you work for a sub-human sshol* they will not and you'll get a surprise 1:1 at the scheduled date that will be inevitably leaked here. it will happen, it is ingrained in the sad Cisco culture people put up with and the pathetic management culture perpetuates.
Cisco was good to many of us for a long time, but it is garbage damaged goods now, just kept together by second choice management hires and people afraid to leave because it was their safe heaven. it is a toxic environment scaring even key contributors into wondering if they'll have a job next quarter.
People - if you did something good at Cisco - better realize your shelf life with the HR algorithms that run the yearly show, pretty up you LinkedIn and be amazed by how many recruiters will call you...
Time it too. if you survive this round, market yourselves big come July next year, ace the interview, say you can join in September, and take the severance pay and start a job that will appreciate you (i hope).
Managers are really people too...and have some power. They can be moody b$tches too ya know...BIGLY.
Pay attention to your instincts particularly if you are 50 years or older. I picked up on much the same and chose to leave on my terms not Cisco's. It is much easier to get a job while you have a job especially if you are an older worker.
Could be a million reasons why. He probably didn't get laid or his wife/GF turned the tap off.....
Don't live in fear is my advice to you. If they LR you then get another job. There is a whole world out there. Every cloud has a silver lining and could be the best thing that ever happened to you.
It is possible that you may be part of LR. But are you carefully watching all previous months? May be there are other reasons like :
- His/Her (boss's) spouse or boy/girlfriend dumped him/her
- Boss got Covid
- Boss's kid got bad grades
- Did not get promoted
- Like your boss, boss's boss is moody & critical towards your boss
- Boss is on LR list - he somehow found out
- Boss's portfolio drop by 50% when market was up.....
- Boss suffering chronic depression
May be others can suggest better reasons for your boss being "more critical and moody"
if your mgr starts to wear red shirt or red pants or red shoes, that's a signal that you'll be LR'ed.
Could be your hypersensitive.. I used to be the same way..always over analyzing every manager movement..