#career

This is a true story. Had been working through an issue with the help of the TPO. As it was almost wrapped up, about ten weeks later, I reached back out via email to the person who had assisted. As the email was being typed, the Out of Office message caught my eye. It said, Hello, I am unavailable to answer your email because I no longer work for FIS as of (their layoff date here). Please contact (email point) for further assistance. Great work. Bob, nicely done. Did you make that person write their OOO message or did someone have to go along and add to everyone whose career you ended?

I did mistake, was all aware something big going to happen but instead of preparing for new role. I wasted my time working hard on task which were unrealistic to finish.

Where or What is your worth?
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https://experteditor.com.au/blog/d-bt-i-worked-for-thirty-eight-years-and-when-i-finally-stopped-i-sat-in-my-kitchen-on-a-monday-morning-with-nowhere-to-be-and-cried-not-because-i-missed-the-job-but-because-i-realized-the-job-was-the/

Hope you had time to digest this week’s news you can use newsletter.

What can I say that would resonate with you on moves we’ve made this week on change in our policies?

Would you take PIL when we NSI you because you don’t want to be living under constant pressure that you are more NSI away from being pushed out? Or would you still try PIP.
NRE coasters, what are you thinking ? Are you finally going to focus on your main job rather than building alternative career as a “Coach”

I know it's tempting, but IT jobs aren't as plentiful as they used to be. Not to mention lots of competition from so many laid off tech workers. Depending on your skills and age, it could take months finding something new.

Oklahoma launched a new initiative for job seekers. It offers tuition-free commercial driving license instruction. A state grant, named Rapid Response, covers the $4,300 course cost. This 28-day program prepares individuals for trucking careers. Graduates can expect minimum annual earnings of $60,000.

https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-offers-free-cdl-training-for-laid-off-workers/69488187

How would I go about doing that? Is there someone I should send my resume to?

How do you live with the fact that you may be called to report to any location any time, while you are still owning a home in another state and not getting a job elsewhere? Are you willing to rent your current home and go, drag it out as long as you can or bite the bullet and move this summer voluntarily in the anticipation of not getting fired later.

There are no guarantees to job or life but these decisions do impact family and children. What are you 700 virtuals doing?

The whole idea of having a real career at Wells Fargo pretty much disappeared around the turn of the millennium. Nothing’s changed since then.

Looking at applying for an internal role as a current TIAA employee, I see a few Nuveen roles. Curious if there’s any changes if being a Nuveen employee or if it’s virtually the same.

Ok i know this question is unanswerable because there are too many unknowns but here goes. I am early 60s. 30 years with Citi. Mostly 2/3 occasional 1/2. LEA a few years back. I'd like to quit this afternoon but financially I would be better off to stay a couple more years. If I stay they pay me for 3 years and I work. If I get RFI'd they pay me for a year. Does that make any difference?

Let me tell you how to survive and thrive at Centene (and anywhere else). First, be your own advocate. No manager is going to fight for you harder than you fight for yourself. Second, build relationships with the right people. Not the ones who are nice, the ones who can actually help you move up. Third, play the game. Sometimes that means saying yes when you want to say no. Sometimes it means flattering someone you don't respect. That's not selling out, that's business. Do it with ethics where it matters, but do it. Fourth, deliver results. Your degree got you in the door. Your results keep you there. Nobody cares about your GPA after year one. Finally, remember that no one else is looking out for you. Not HR, not your boss, not the nice person in the next cubicle. You are your own best advocate. Act like it.

Here's the thing. Dell isn't going to suddenly start caring about you. Accept that. Then use it. They offer education benefits? Max them out. Training programs? Sign up for every one. Tuition reimbursement? Take every dollar. Upgrade your skills as much as you can on their dime. Take on responsibility, not because they'll reward you, but because it makes your resume stronger. Then you have two paths. Path one, you become so marketable that you can leave for a better job with better pay. Path two, you become so essential that they keep you when the cuts come. Either way, you're in control. Stop waiting for them to be good to you. Use them.

Anyone who tells you IBM cares about your career is lying. There's no interest in developing people. None. The only focus is the stock number and the people at the top getting wealthier. Everything else is noise.

I've got maybe three years left before I can retire. Three years of showing up, doing my job, and going home. That's all I have left to give. My enthusiasm died somewhere around year fifteen and I stopped trying to find it again. But here's the thing. I still do good work. I always have. I just don't do the games anymore. The office politics, the performative enthusiasm, the pretending that meaningless projects matter. I do my actual job, I do it well, and I leave. The rest of it, the game, that's for people who still care about climbing. I don't. I just want to get to the end with my sanity intact.

Finding entire skill set is obsolete. World is completely different than the one we lived in. No one understands what I worked on for 15 years and if I can bring any value to them.

Oracle Friends — It’s Hard, But It’s Time to Move Forward

I’ve spent nearly 30 years in this industry, including a meaningful chapter at Oracle. It was a place where I found purpose, built lasting relationships, and took pride in the work I did. Like many of you, I’ve experienced layoffs along the way, not because of performance, but because of timing and circumstances. Sometimes, it really does come down to being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

We’ve had the privilege of working alongside some incredibly talented people. Many of us have built strong careers, earned advanced credentials, and dedicated years—often decades—of hard work. That kind of commitment isn’t easy to step away from. But the reality is, long tenures at a single company are no longer the norm. This is a competitive, fast-changing industry, and staying relevant means continuing to learn, adapt, and grow.

At the same time, it’s worth pausing to acknowledge what we’ve achieved. Many of us have been able to invest in our futures—through 401(k)s, IRAs, and equity—and build a level of financial stability that gives us options during moments like this. Take time to review where you stand and appreciate how far you’ve come.

And maybe most importantly, don’t lose sight of what truly matters. I’ve seen too many talented people work endlessly, only to never fully enjoy the rewards of their efforts.

So as we move forward, let’s keep perspective. Not everyone has had the same opportunities we’ve had. Be grateful, take care of yourself, and make time for the people and experiences that matter most.

Wishing you all strength, clarity, and success in whatever comes next. And yes, it’s ok to let Oracle go.

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I have over 15 years of experience, and I’m given the title of “Associate,” meanwhile someone with less than 2 years of experience is given the title of “Advanced.” I took the new D&S training. But frankly, this is BS. Heard that HR made all of the decisions and can’t even explain to management how the assigning works.

Companies like AWS, Meta or any FAANG and mostly other companies for that matter, ki-l your job when they either fire you or do mass layoffs.

In contrast, working at Pearson, they ki-l your own career! Most people are either ignorant or overlook it. The stakes are very high with low pay when you work for Pearson. You are literally low balling your own career, your prime working life for a company that is highly unstable and no growth!

Please tell me you didn't do that to your kids!

That's the only reason I'm going along with rebadging. After that, all my time and energy go toward finding something else.

Advice from someone who has been through all of this:

If you haven't seen your peers disappear before you should expect various emotions, but the more important to remember is that your days are also numbered. You might last 12 month, perhaps 12 years, but the day will come and you will go through all of this nonsense (unless you found something better before). Plan accordingly. Denial or kicking the problem down the road does not help you. There is no medal or reward for loyalty or dedication. You are an expendable resource, much like a computer system. While they might like you, you too will be replaced when it makes economic sense to them and their bigger picture. It doesn't need to make sense to you and it can defy your logic. Use your time to improve and enrich yourself, just as the company does for itself. No-one else will do it for you.

Good luck.

It’s heartbreaking. Do they even stop to think about how many lives they’ve turned upside down with this?

i am in the beginning of my career happy that i saw this from the start and know i understand the real face of corporate i would never give my best or stress/ attach myself to a job . we are just a number will always remember this

maybe i am being overly optimistic but that ask srini anything was the realest conversation this company has had since early Legere. Just tell us the truth we’re adults. Good for Srini. But I still don’t know what I need to do to assure I won’t get laid off. Like I know that’s not bulletproof but how can I increase my odds and know if I’m on the right track in my career? Am I moving the ball forward or backward? That’s all I need to know and I’ll stop stressing and drink the kool aid again. Please srini we’re thirsty over here

I was offered the move to Cognizant last week and will be allowing the offer to expire EOD tomorrow. I wanted to put this out there as encouragement for others who are deciding to do the same that you are not alone. To those who are taking it, it is completely understandable and I wish you luck.

Nothing I have received from either Cognizant or FIS in the last week has given me any confidence in this "plan". The whole rollout and execution was dystopian. Clearly well rehearsed for many months, but horribly executed. 10 min to get questions answered with a 3 min notice. A portal to submit questions to that spits back out legalese answers, and does not offer the opportunity to schedule a 1-1 with an HR representative as was promised on the calls. Quite frankly, even if I made the move I would anticipate being back in this same position before the year is out.

There is nothing that I want to do less than work for another company while simultaneously working my tail off for FIS who could not have been clearer that my services are no longer required. Years of service , knowledge, and loyalty lost because of a poorly thought out executive level deal. The existing workloads are already out of hand, and now they will only get worse. The increasing reliance on AI and India gives me no confidence in either company.

It is obviously a risk to simply walk away, but the known alternative is not appealing. I hope this is not FIS' "Titanic" moment, but it's hard to believe otherwise.

I am in non hub and not told to move yet and I am unable to make up my mind whether to move or not. I casually applied for jobs and I am close to getting an offer. My best guess is 25K lower and it involves a 3 day 1 hour commute each week for life. I can’t move closer to new workplace due to kids schooling and my spouse might quit. We have no home to sell.
Should I. A. Uproot my family while spouse quits and go to Plano to start fresh on my own? B. Take the new job, spouse quits and settle down where I am? C. Reject new offer, keep renting and continue the grind unless told to move?

There are personal and financial challenges for each decision and I got no comfort in any of these options. Any advice if you have gone through something similar?

It’s important to always keep a Plan B. These days, AI is reshaping many roles across the job market. In the case of FIS, the situation is different—they’re facing internal challenges and financial pressure, which is why layoffs are happening.

During times like this, it’s wise to avoid major financial commitments such as buying a house, an expensive car, or any investment that requires high monthly payments. Focus on saving, staying financially flexible, and preparing yourself for alternative job opportunities. If your role at FIS is stable and not outsourced, staying put until things settle over the next year to year and a half can also be a practical choice.

At the same time, start learning AI‑related skills and explore internal or external opportunities that align with future technology trends. With global conflicts and economic uncertainty, many projects are delayed, and the environment is challenging for everyone. Hopefully, things will stabilize soon

How do I become one?

The job market is terrible and is the only company that would accept me. Should I join as a CW or perm?

I dedicated 16 years of my career to Macy’s, believing retail was the same everywhere. Leaving was a daunting decision, but it transformed my life for the better. While I loved my job, the increasing expectations became overwhelming. Now, I enjoy a much-improved work-life balance and have discovered there is a life outside Macys.

Nobody's job is safe here. Not the top people (outside of the C-suite), not the new people, not anyone. You should always know what else is out there. Update the resume, look at postings, keep a feel for the market. I'm not saying interview every week. Just know what's happening. Your role exists because someone decided it does. That can change anytime. If the building burned down tonight, you think they'd keep paying you? No chance. So stay aware.

I'm starting to think about what's next and I'm curious where other people went after they left IBM. Did you stay in the same field? Go somewhere totally different? Move to a smaller place or another big one?

Been here long enough to remember when people actually wanted to work here. When leadership led and careers meant something. That place is long gone.

The people at the top made choices that slowly ki-led the culture. Now we just endure instead of feeling part of anything.

New hires show up bright eyed every time but give it a few months and that look fades. That's how long it takes them to figure out how things really work. The rest of us by now know not to give extra. Company will forget you the second it's convenient.

Wake up. If you're not job hunting, you're one of the few who isn't.

Never work for free. If they say do more now and it'll pay off later, don't believe it. Don't do extra unless the extra shows up in your check in a way of a promotion or a raise. It's not worth it because it never materializes.

I have a masters degree. Spent years and money getting it. Did the same job as people without one for less money. When I left, they hired someone with no degree at all. Then I learned they paid them ten grand more than I ever got. The difference? They're good at su-king up. That's the only skill that matters here.

Thought you had a future in this industry? Too bad. That's the message we keep getting.