Can we have one positive thread for a change. Are there any people reading this board who left Oracle and found the grass to be much greener? I think a story or two like this would be inspirational for all folks who have been traumatized with layoffs and uncertainity.
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Things will be fine. I can relate to many of the posts. I had some excellent managers at oracle (who left) and then was put under an incompetent, aggressive psychopath. I left after 12 years, as I had enough and have actually changed jobs twice in the last 18 months. I’m content where I am now. Information and Cyber security skills are very much in demand, people can always cross train in to that area.
Things will be fine. I can relate to many of the posts. I had some excellent managers at oracle (who left) and then was put under an incompetent, aggressive psychopath. I left after 12 years, as I had enough and have actually changed jobs twice in the last 18 months. I’m content where I am now. Information and Cyber security skills are very much in demand, people can always cross train in to that area.
I did two stints at Oracle. The first stint was fine. The second was awful. The vibe there is well... kind of icky. The culture was one of fear-induced " Jump when I say Jump" that came all the way down from the top. I can recall literally running from one floor to another over yet another fire drill. Aggravating that a lot of us were putting in long hours and being stressed all the time while the guy at the top was on one of his yachts.
I voluntarily left. Since then all of the people I worked with have since been laid off at one time or another. For a time I bounced from a few jobs before landing at another firm which had a much better atmosphere. And now I am on my way to yet another company.
There is no security in this or most other industries anymore. Wall Street and boards of companies demand non-stop quarterly profits and will happily cut costs and people to meet those demands and if that doesn't work, sell the company to the highest bidder. That is the world we now live in.
I was a PMTS at Oracle, and was RIF'ed a few years ago. Found a new position in 2 months at a great company, took another month off before starting, and all I can say is that I'm better off in many ways, including:
- A 35% increase in salary + real increases every year
- A real annual bonus (10% - 15% of annual income, not the piddly 2% - 3% at Oracle)
- 100% remote, 100% of the time
- Executive leadership that actually responds to each and every question in an open forum
- Skip level one-on-ones (this was unheard of in my LOB at Oracle)
- Management that actually encourages me to grow career-wise
- Being able to use 3rd party libs without needing corporate architecture approval? OMG! Priceless.
My only regrets:
- I miss my former co-workers
- Not leaving earlier. Yes, the stock options kept me from leaving, but in hindsight, I would still have come out ahead if I'd left 5 years earlier.
Having been RIFd by Oracle after over 20 years, I can say that being in a smaller but growing company is the best thing that has happened in my career. It wasn’t until I moved to another company that I fully realized how awful it had been to be at Oracle. I now get general bonuses and pay raises, and I’m recognized bu my management for my work. Never had that at Oracle.
So yes, the grass is much greener outside of Oracle. To all those who have been RIFd I guarantee that you will be back on your feet very soon, and you’ll be in a new company and job role that you will love much more than what you had to endure at O.
When layoffs happen, it's a management failure and employees end up paying. Employees should never see it as a reflection on themselves. Just make sure that when they get into positions of power - to never ever recommend any Oracle products for their future companies. If the failed their employees, they will most likely fail their customers as well.
I left the big O almost 10 years ago now. People were shocked when I left. I think everyone believed I was a “lifer”. Lots of people asked me, aren’t you afraid to have to go out and learn something completely new and start from the beginning? Not at all. I was 13 years in at the time including time at a company that had been bought by Oracle. Left for a much smaller company.
Life on the outside has been great!!! Significant raises many years. Meaningful work with wonderful people. Lots of fun learning.
While I missed and still do miss my friends at Oracle, there are definitely many wonderful places to be!!! Don’t be afraid of the outside world, and don’t be afraid to go to a much smaller company.
Ignore the man behind the curtain.
Nothing to see here, move along!
I know several people, all long time colleagues, who stuck it out long enough to retire and are now happy, relaxed and enjoy life to the fullest. I, myself went into consulting, got a very nice long term contract contract (which just ended), made good money, enjoyed myself literally every single day, worked with some fantastic people. I am looking for a new contract, but if for some reason I cannot, I plan to retire as well and find something else to do.
I hope that answers your question. Life outside of the big red 0 is not bad at all if you are flexible and keep an open mind, you can do very very well.
Make sure you catch up on your skillset, acquire new ones and Don't give up.