I left a decent job to join Cisco eight months ago. With the job market the way it was then, it didn't even occur to me that there might be cuts any time soon. Now I'm at risk of being laid off less than nine months after being hired. I've done my research and I know that being here for under a year gives me zero security when it comes to cuts. As far as career mistakes go, I think I can count this as one of the bigger ones.
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You usually get a 2 year grace period at Cisco. But that being said - welcome, Layoffs happen every August - November here (Either stealth or announced).
We buy a lot of acquisitions. They come with a lot of un-needed employees (since we usually just gut the acquisitions and keep what is profitable). So layoffs are an every year experience. We're like the junk-dealer of Tech. Buy startups, take the pieces that are useful, try to integrate them to our offers, throw away the rest.
Cisco does keep the layoff packages well managed to compensate and so that we aren't all pulling our hair out with worry (and so folks will stick around). If you get LR'ed, you usually end up with 6 months of pay, help with placement, help getting a new role in growing segments, and some medical. Even in this economy 6 months is usually enough to find a new role in Tech.
Twitter is probably hiring. LOL
A contract guaranteeing no LR for 24 months after hire should be a requirement.
When you find a company that gives you a contract guaranteeing a job for 24 months after hire, let me know and I'll go to work there. At least Cisco's signing bonus paperwork stipulates that if you're LR'd in the first 12 months, you get to keep the signing bonus. Other companies require you to pay back 100% of the signing bonus if your employment ends for any reason before you complete the 12 months.
When the hiring freeze started I knew it was a matter or time.
There is no hiring freeze at this time. The ELT said they're prioritizing internal hires, but they also said that the talent whatever project hasn't worked as well as they hoped.
I hope you are right about the two years. I'm a year in and won't care after two years because I'll be near retirement age anyway
Cisco usually does not layoff new hires. You have an unwritten "no LRs before 2 years" rule. After the first 2 years, everything is game. However, if you know what's good for you, then you should start looking for an alternative future. Welcome to Cisco, the purgatory of the tech industry.
First, welcome to Cisco. This may be your first lay off and I can 100% promise you, it will not be your last. The good news, decisions aren’t made based on last in, first out. Bad news, decisions are usually made on “best buds” and how much you make because there’s a number leaders need to make to cut costs. Hang in there, LR packages are some of the best I’ve seen in my 20 years here. If you are cut, it’s not the end of the world, I promise. Hang in there.
"Anyone looking for another alternative then working for someone and again being in a position of risking of being laid off?"
Most of the people I know impacted by corporate layoffs attempted to create their own consulting companies and couldn't generate enough revenue. A few transitioned to teaching high school but had to downsize their home and lifestyle.
I guess the lesson from Corporate America is to become a doctor? More freedom and independence
Anyone looking for another alternative then working for someone and again being in a position of risking of being laid off? How about being in an industry where you can make money, help people, control your time and don't have to worry about being fired....
It's all well and good to know about this board, but I think the OP, like anyone else at any company, would be inclined to trust the company that is putting significant energy and resources into filling an open position. So Cisco can talk about transparency all they want, but it's usually just lip service. A contract guaranteeing no LR for 24 months after hire should be a requirement.
Same boat. I’m applying and networking to get ahead of it and looking at my options if I get LR’d. But this is all part of due diligence when job hunting and applying. I knew it was a possibility and considered my options. When the hiring freeze started I knew it was a matter or time.
The only question you can ask yourself is, did you read this board before applying ?
You didn't know Cisco conducts layoffs all the time? Some are publicly announced while others are not announced even internally.
With all respect, if you did your research you might have found out this is pretty par for the course for Cisco.
In the same boat as you
I know that being here for under a year gives me zero security when it comes to cuts.
Source?