I never thought in a million years Executive Assistants would be part of the LR’s. Well, here I am after 10 yrs of assisting different leaders. So, I was just offered to move with someone who was not LR’d. Not sure I want to stay at Cisco after this horrible situation. I may take my pkg and run… or should I stay???
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The EA market is TIGHT right now. There are hundreds and hundreds of EAs fighting for the same job and you have no guarantee you'll find anything. I personally know of EAs looking for 6-8 months with miserable pay options. Personally, I'd stay and then based on what things look like in the next 6 weeks, freshen the resume and LinkedIn and see what's out there. Being unemployed right now is not wise and 6 months a very short period of time.
I would also advise that you need to accept that no one is safe from LRs. At Cisco or any other company these days. No matter how important or critical you are to the operation.
Specific to your situation, I would try and get a feel if the exec you will be supporting is on the hot seat for the next round. if so, then it will be rinse and repeat further down the line (perhaps you will not be given a choice next round). And decide accordingly. Do you want the same stress going forward or just rip the bandage off now and take your chances with finding another position outside Cisco
If you are a female and hot then you will find a job. If not who wants a male or a 50yr old aging woman as their assistant.
A good EA/PA is worth their weight in gold. You'll be highly valued in other organisations, too. I say this as a Sr. Director who left Cisco for FAANG.
Your leader got laid off and instead of offering you seamlessly a new position they a) laid you off and then b) gave you an offer for another leader.
Now with many SVPs, VPs and directors being cut, I would think that many admins are cut. It surprises me that they found a new position for you.
Do you feel hurt and that's why you have doubts on accepting the new offer?
Legal’s EVP LR-ed her own EA. 2 SVPs followed suit. Folks with 15+ years dominated the trimming
Best advice for a career woman: NEVER, EVER work for a woman boss.
I (man) worked for a few, never had a problem, but women colleagues were punished.
Run Dorothy, Run!
Take it and run. Packages will eventually get smaller. Your mental health will thank you.
Legal’s EVP LR-ed her own EA. 2 SVPs followed suit. Folks with 15+ years dominated the trimming. Nothing vaguely resembling culture left in that org.
Be realistic. What exactly does an EA do ? Schedule meetings, attend meetings on behalf of executives and take notes , what else ? A red badge can do that
if you keep the same employee #, pay, etc etc...you basically just got transferred
do you really want to be in this job market?
Well if you think you can easily find this position in another company just take the package and move you don't have to deal with this constant layoff stress not good your health, this constant chopping has gone beyond insanity its really driving me crazy
There's actually a lot of good advice on this thread! I personally would take the move, but realize things might not work out over the next few months, or you get targeted early next year, so I'd go with the 'buying time' and start seriously looking around for your next opportunity outside Cisco.
Well you can try your luck in the job market, I can tell you most of tech company today has very few positions like executive assistant, Cisco is a old style company, it is slow and don't care so much about efficiency, generally speaking, most of who stay over 10 years in Cisco very tough to land a new job successfully in today's job market.
Job market is not so nice. I’d stick around and prepare just in case for the next one
Really depends on how quickly you think you can land a new role and if you aren't in dire need of salary.
If needed work ASAP then likely better to take internal.and buy some time. If you have prospects or a 2nd income that will allow for some gap time then take the package.
Stay, take the job and buy some time. Plan your exit on your terms. It’s much easier getting another job when employed.
Run.
My take is that if you were thinking of leaving anyway, take the package, run away, give yourself a minute to breathe on their dime and then go all-in on job hunting.
If you weren’t thinking of leaving, stay. All this hurts so bad right now, but the reasons that you stayed up until this point remain.
Stay if you enjoy the role and the compensation is good. Worst case, you're LR'd again in the future and can take the package then (who knows if it will be the same, but it's been pretty similar for a long time, a little worse than 4 years ago but still a great package).
LR's happen these days. It always happens in Cisco. Small companies may be less prone to it but not a great economy either these days.