Thread regarding IBM layoffs

"I also highlighted how I had mentored and helped junior engineers in my resume, and how I had successfully worked with overseas teams..."

Call it ageism if you want, but when you're in your 50s you are expected to play the role of a senior staff member, management or otherwise. This means that there are few jobs out there right now for 50 year old engineers who want to act like hungry 25-year old startups. There are, however, a smattering of jobs for 50 year old engineers who are willing to be seasoned citizens and help out younger team members.

I was in my mid-50s when I decided to retire from an Engineering career. After 6 months I decided to go back to work because I wasn't ready for retirement. It took me 6 months to get 2 offers. I had been out of work for a year. I got both offers due to the recommendations from former colleagues who worked there.

I worked for a few years and my contract expired, so I started looking again and found a new contracting position in 2 months. This time I didn't know anybody in the company.

I kept my positive attitude because I didn't need the money. I think that attitude helped me in the interviews because I was cheerful and interested. I asked them a lot of questions to show that I'm selective. If you're depressed, anxious, and desperate, I think it's going to hurt you.

I also highlighted how I had mentored and helped junior engineers in my resume, and how I had successfully worked with overseas teams. You have to show that you're able and willing to work with anybody, to fight the biases that you're old and difficult to get along with.

Similar background here - same age. I am in my sixth month, seems very hard. Will have to make hard compromises soon as I am running out of money

welcome to the 2030 agenda, bring in millions of migrants, destroy the working middle class, and the they become reliant on the government. easy to manipulate then

No one is really talking about the ADP employment reports they put out every week. If you read the report without listening to the news commentary, you’ll see a very disturbing trend. IT is experiencing negative growth for quite a while and this has been happening for many months.
Honestly, if I was in your shoes, I would look outside IT but somewhere you can use your skills. One thought that comes to mind is contact home builders and be a contractor for houses that want networking installed. You can run the cables and do related work.

Tbh, the economy is very bad right now.

First, I am sorry you are in this position.

You have gained valuable experience -- both in IT and business. The key is finding the right business that values what you have to offer.

In addition, you also have transferable skills: problem solving, analytical reasoning, critical thinking, adaptability, project management, teamwork, communication, writing, listening, creativity and attention to detail.

One option to freshen up your resume is to take some classes from IBM Skilsbuild. There are a number of good course that are free.

Start here ==> https://skillsbuild.org/adult-learners

Digital Credentials ==> https://skillsbuild.org/adult-learners/digital-credentials

There are courses on AI, Cybersecurity, Data, IT Project Management and more.

My guess is once you complete a course, you'll get a big sense of accomplishment and a boost of confidence. You could also earn a digital certificate that you can add to your resume. It is also a good talking point in interviews to say you are a life long learner and keeping your skills up to date.

Pulling for you!

I'm coming up one month and I'm already feeling my body go into anxiety mode. I have savings but yours is not the only 50+ IBMer out of work for more than a year story I've heard. I'm non tech so I'm unsure if that is good or bad. Perhaps I have more leeway in terms of jobs but the wages are much lower.

If you are looking for someone to blame, you need only look into a mirror.

In the US at least, the powers that be got our entire society into a panic over covid. Much of our society stayed home from work, kept kids out of school, didn't bother going to grocery stores and restaurants and churches and stuff like that. Remember social distancing? Those godawful face masks?

Many foolish people (you know who you are, admit it) thought that they could "temporarily" shut things down for a few weeks, collect some of that sweet "government" cash (benefit payments), and then happily go back to work "after the storm has passed". A new president and all, someone um, less controversial than the old one...a grandfatherly figure who smiles a lot and says sweet-sounding words. Start nice and fresh...after all, the sun will rise again. (Said, by the way, by a CONSERVATIVE commentator on local talk radio where I live.)

Except...the real world doesn't work that way. You wanna shut the economy down, then it stays down for a while. You break it, you buy it...the Pottery Barn rule, as the politically inclined likes to call it.

Looking for an IT job? Look for businesses that are doing really well. You'll be looking for a while, but those businesses will always be in need of good IT people. Don't bother looking anywhere else...the others are probably not hiring anybody, least of all those expensive IT people. Consider volunteer work...it doesn't pay, but oftentimes it looks really good on a resume.

Just look at boeing. Company is falling apart because of all the h1b people.

Joe Biden destroyed corporate America or should I say Obama?

I was 52 when I was RA’d last year and despite having an engineering degree and a MBA from a Top 20 school I have not been able to find another job. Thankfully I saved aggressively over the years so don’t necessarily need to go back to the workforce from a monetary standpoint although I’m still willing to work.

Realistically speaking, in the current economy you need to take whatever you can get, either inside or outside the IT field. Nobody wants to talk about it, but IT is like law right now and aerospace engineering many years ago...it's overloaded, with an excess of talent from all over the world who are willing to work cheaply. For specialists it's not so bad...if you specialize in something and your skills are in need, there you go. But if you're the "jack of all trades, master of..." type of person...there are lots of those people available.

I once found a Facebook page for my old IBM manager who got RA'd a few years after I left. He was a 50+ year old man...he ended up becoming a high school math teacher.

to post @hvm+1ssxFD75

and if those 7 Indians sc--w up, you can get at least 12 more for the same price. Indians are a dime a dozen, since they have little quality to speak of, but lots of fake certifications (bought from the street vendors), starting with AK. But they all want H1B visas to get to the US, which IBM HR and Consulting execs love to do, so AK can get another medal from the Indian President glorifying his hiring achievements.

I was 58 when RA'd. Resume was out there got calls and did tech interviews over the phone. You know when you ace the questions. Sent out thank you emails for their time. Followed up with the companies if didn't hear nothing in 2 weeks time. Got the usual answers either told position was canceled or we hired someone. Bottom line companies want to say they interviewed some people in an age group so they won't be held with age discrimination. Cheaper to get someone out of school.

Why would I want to hire you when I can hire 7 Indians for the same price.

You might want to consider contract work (if you haven't already) - that seems to be the one bright spot in a declining tech industry (with more and more layoffs anticipated particularly in the US). Look into an industry that is growing like healthcare or education.

Keep your chin up. I've had to re-invent myself within the tech industry as well, and it can be done. You just have to stay focused. Good luck.

52 you are done my man. Sorry, but after 15 months you need to think about doing something else.

System admins still exist, it’s only in smaller companies.

If you were sys admin you are last out door.

Less pay smaller companies.

We can’t get rid of the
Shell answer man because he knows about 0365, vision systems, security cams, wireless and coding for our finance systems.