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should I stay or should I go now?

with the state of affairs, and the state of the job market in IT in general, if you had a job offer for a similar salary, less but close, less benefits, hard to match the swoosh, would you take it, or hold out at the swoosh for the 'promise' of long term employment for the extra 20k+ per year, maybe 30k if staying, but of course high risk.

that might be a d-mb question, I think anyone reading this just laughed?


Celebrating One Year, Fiserv-Free

One year ago I quit Fiserv, and I am constantly grateful to have made it out, thankfully to a much better position elsewhere. 
There were many things not to like, but my #1 complaint about Fiserv was that I was implementing "products" that were either not fully developed or didn't work as advertised, and I had to face clients on a daily basis and try to tapdance these services to work.  Basically I was set up to fail by Fiserv, which was an absolute waste of my time, and I quickly knew it wasn't going to be a long-term fit for me.
I was complimented on my work and well-liked by my team members, but not once did I have a week where I hit any metric goal during my time at Fiserv (not in-office hours, not sapience hours, not delivery goals...which were supposed to be 98% success rate and thus impossible to achieve, especially with sh-t products).  Early on, I just freed myself from caring about metrics and that was the only way my mental health did not suffer, and I do not regret that choice at all.  They were paying me the same whether I hit metrics or not, and I could not be stressed out by the infantilizing concern that I wasn't at my desk for 7 hours a day or whatever it was at that time.  The weekly "dashboards" that management would send me on metrics would go straight to my trash folder, unopened.  
I survived a couple big rounds of layoffs somehow, but while I was already deep into my job search, I unsurprisingly received a "Needs Improvement" on my yearly review (because of metrics).  It was about a month later I finally got a great job offer, and put in my two weeks notice.  
Sharing my story in case it resonates with anyone who thinks they should leave but aren't sure they can - you should, and you definitely can. You can all do better than Fiserv, you got this.


Recruiter scam awareness

I recently accepted a Microsoft teams meeting from a recruiter who said they worked for a medical device company. It sounded like a real good deal until they wanted me to deposit an electronic check into my bank account. Of course I did not deposit the check. I told them that I put the check into my PayPal account and they went ballistic. They wanted me to use that check to purchase equipment for my job from their authorized vendor. This was a red flag so beware of the scammers out there you job seekers.


Where Layoffs Are Concentrated in New Jersey

New Jersey employers plan to eliminate over 4,100 jobs by March 16, 2026. Economists at Rutgers University forecast a small employment decline for 2026. The state's unemployment rate is expected to continue rising through 2027. Bristol Myers Squibb will eliminate an additional 247 jobs by late 2026. Other sectors like retail and health services also report significant job reductions.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/across-nj/nj-layoffs-see-where-job-cuts-are-deepest


Major Job Cuts Hit New Jersey Workers

New Jersey employers announced nearly 4,000 job cuts in the first two months of 2026. Amazon alone expects to cut over 800 jobs across several New Jersey counties. JPMorgan Chase and Citibank also filed notices impacting hundreds of banking positions. Bristol Myers Squibb and health insurers like Blue Cross Blue Shield will also reduce staff. An economics professor views these figures as small relative to the state's overall economy.

https://www.nj.com/news/2026/03/as-thousands-face-layoffs-in-nj-these-are-the-jobs-that-are-going-away.html


Layoffs in general......

Layoffs do happen often in this industry, but right now is especially bad for finding a new job. If you think there are layoffs coming start putting out the resumes and making connections now. I know people that have been looking for work for a year now, and they all say hiring is slow on the open market, and the best way to get a job is through your own network and making the right connections ahead of any layoffs. I am hearing stories of people applying for hundreds of jobs and not even getting a sniff of interest. If you have a good paying jobs with benefits keep it and start looking while you have a job. That has always been the advice people have given me, but it seems like it is more true now than ever. Good luck for those looking in this current environment.


What fifteen years taught me

I got into banking fifteen years ago and thought I'd seen it all. Market swings, mergers, rounds of cuts, new regimes. Through all of it, people kept their job searches quiet. That was the rule. You don't talk about leaving until you're gone. Something's different now. People I've never spoken to are openly discussing interviews they had. Comparing application strategies. Talking about recruiters like they're old friends. The silence is gone. Everyone's looking and nobody's hiding it. That tells me something fundamental has shifted. People aren't just unhappy. They're done pretending.


Not waiting on layoffs anymore

It is obvious layoffs are going to be massive. Maybe they will not happen all at once, but they are coming. I am done waiting. After 15 years here, I sent out my first applications yesterday and will keep doing it every day. It breaks my heart because I do like my job, but I will be damned if I just sit around waiting like sheep for sla-ghter.


US Jobless Claims Slightly Decline Amid Market Weakness

U.S. jobless benefit applications saw a slight decline. They fell by 1,000 to 213,000. This occurred despite a generally weakening labor market. High-profile firms like Amazon announced recent layoffs. The job market shows slow hiring and few firings.

https://www.wral.com/news/ap/7d748-us-applications-for-unemployment-benefits-inch-down-to-213-000-as-layoffs-remain-stable/


The list of better options

I've started making a list of jobs I'd rather do than stay here. Stocking shelves overnight. Washing dishes at a diner. Answering complaints for a utility company. All of them sound amazing compared to one more shift in this place. That's where I'm at right now.


Curious to see where you went after Nielsen?

I see posts from people here that say they left Nielsen and they are happier and/or they earn more money at their new jobs. Some of you even say that you've "found freedom". For those of us that are looking for work it would be really helpful if you could let us know what job you were doing with Nielsen and where you went? Let us know if any of your Nielsen skills transferred over that your new employer may have been interested in.


Beware of the right to represent

For your job seeker out there, beware of the Indian recruiters who immediately wants you to sign a right to represent. Once you sign this right to represent, your résumé goes in the trash and they promote their Indian friends and family. Just don’t sign it and tell them thank you very much. It is a deceptive practice on their part. I have been the victim of this so I speak from experience.


Job market hellscape

The grass is always greener on the other side. Those of you still employed at this soul succubus better enjoy the paycheck while it comes because this job market is a dumpster fire from he-l. This is not the market of 5 years ago. If you haven’t been in it, you have no idea what you’re up against at the moment.


Applying for jobs

I've lost count, but the last time I checked I was above 300 applications, which still feels surreal to say out loud. I’m applying to roles I’m genuinely qualified for, the kind where my background, skills, and experience should line up, yet the response has mostly been silence. To say this makes potential layoffs scarier would be an understatement.


I love my team but I'm scared

This is the weirdest spot to be in. I actually enjoy what I do and the people I do it with. But the layoffs keep coming and they keep taking the best people. Every quarter I do the math. Who's left? Who went? Will it be me next time? I know the market is brutal out there so I'm trying to line something up. I'd rather leave on my own than wait for the tap on the shoulder.


Use this time wisely

I understand people are stressed, but it is still better to have a few weeks to prepare for layoffs than to be completely surprised when you least expect it. Update your resume, start networking, and get a feel for the job market. Do not get stuck in a waiting pattern when there are things you can do to help yourself, even if only a little bit.


Finding something else was brutal

I spent four months searching while employed and it was one of the hardest stretches I've had. The pattern was always the same. Clock out from the day job, eat something quick, then sit back down for round two. Applying, networking, following up. It felt like a second full time job that paid nothing. The market is strange right now. Companies post roles but they want a unicorn. Someone with twenty years experience who will accept a junior salary. Or they list requirements that have nothing to do with the actual work. I questioned myself a lot during that time. Wondered if I was the problem. Eventually I found a place that felt right, but it wasn't luck. It was persistence. I sent out over a hundred applications, had thirty screens, and got two offers. The math is brutal but you just have to keep going.


Got laid off this round. Weirdly, I'm relieved.

First weekend in forever where I'm actually relaxed. Started off feeling awful, then it just lifted. I know the job hunt will be brutal. I've been looking for months with nothing to show. But I've got savings to get by. Right now, I'm choosing to enjoy being free of that toxic place. You never see how bad it really is until you're on the other side.


Soon all Saks and Neiman's stores will close. Round two of closures included high profile stores

Chicago, Las Vegas, Honolulu, Tysons Corner, and South Coast Plaza are all top tier locations with lots of foot traffic in the mall and surrounding areas, if these locations are closing, I eventually see all locations going under. Please, if you count on Saks or Neiman's as your main source of income, start looking for a new job, I'm so sad for all the wonderful people I worked in the 24 years I was at Neiman's. Times are changing and not for the better. God bless everyone at Saks and Neiman's stores.


There is life after Oracle

It always felt a little cliché to come here after being laid off and see people posting about how they landed a new job a better job with more money, doing interesting work, and feeling valued by a new employer. Many would say their layoff from Oracle was the best thing that ever happened to them. Honestly, I used to think they were positively full of s*it. After months of rejections, all I wanted was my old Oracle job back. But it turns out those people were right. You will find another job, it will be at a better company, with management that appreciates you, paying A LOT more than Oracle, and with a healthier work/life balance. That’s exactly what happened to me a few weeks ago. So to those who are about to get swept up in the next round of layoffs (it's going to be significant) don’t panic. It won't feel like it at the time, but it will end up being the best thing that ever happened to you. Take a little time off, decompress, take a couple vacations, and then start the job search. There are better opportunities out there. I found one, and you will too.


Laid off in December. Received email from BNY recruiter about current job openings

I was part of the mass layoffs in December. The other day I received an email from a recruiter about a few contract to hire openings that they felt I’d be a good fit for. They found my resume on one of the job boards that I’m using. I stated that I was part of the mass layoffs and the recruiter stated the were aware and had roles they needed to fill.

It’s sounding like they know they sc--wed themselves and are scrambling to fix it.

What a giant slap in the face.