Thread regarding Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) layoffs

Well, OP, it took me 7 years to find the job of my dreams after hp. Had 6 roles in between hp and now. Contracting was the biggest part of it all. I was 49 when I took the bullet and was at hp almost 25 years. Sorry but you sound like the whiner I was upon my lay off. Don't expect sympathy and get over yourself. There are much better companies than hp but it could take a while to find one. It will take a while to figure it all out but you will if you work it. A strong resume and the determination to apply for 100s of jobs will get you there. Networking into your next job is overrated. Indeed.com knows me well and my LinkedIn profile now gets regular hits from recruiters. Drop the chip from your shoulders and get on with life. Once you heal, you will do well but you have to heal first.

I understand your predicament, my father and his father worked in the same company their entire life, that's the way things were up until the 90's when things changed and I entered the work world. Companies loyalty to its employees started to stray, but so did employees loyalty to companies. It's a dog eat dog world and you have to be on your toes at all times. The mentality of it won't be me they let go is wrong, I was let go last summer, I'm over 40 with a family to support but I prepared myself for the inevitable. I had a feeling the company was about to start laying people off once they sold the software group and took action. It took sometime but I started looking before the axe came down. The axe will continue to come down until this company truly turns itself around but I don't see that happening.

Keep your head up, look for some short term consulting and always remember the companies best interest (Especially HR) is not you, it's the board and shareholders.

Good luck with your search!

Have you used your free career services resources with Lee Hecht Harrison? I found it very helpful, if even just to have a "coach" that I could talk to about my search and get feedback on what I could be doing better. I just turned 40 this year, was laid off in July and am starting my new job in 2 weeks. Prior to getting this job I was told "no" no less than 8 times! Keep at it, this is your first time out in the market in 21 years, as you interview more you will hone those skills and a door will open.

Go get a masters in something technical (like CS, EE, or Math) and teach. There are not very many CS/IT/EE professors at community colleges, and the PhDs turn up their noses at working at community colleges even the pay is better than what they get as post-docs. Plus, your industry experience will be valued.

Have you considered becoming a teacher? Many people in tech who were laid off 10 years ago turned into educators teaching subjects like math, chemistry, science, computers, etc. Most states are in need of teachers and have programs to help professionals transition into teaching by way of alternative certification. It's also a noble and rewarding profession.

I am sorry, but as @rsn said... You are simply one more. I'm in exactly the same situation as you since July as well. Things are very tough out there. I can count with the fingers of a single hand the professionals I know >40 that have been able to transition to a similar job in less than 6 months.

I had to relocate first, and had to wait almost 5 months to have the funds and coordinate the whole move of my family. The double rent and expenses were a tough period, but it can be done. I agree with you... Unless you have some very specific skills needed by potential employers, getting relocation benefits nowadays is pretty hard - and if they do, they are usually small lump sums that although appreciated, are never good enough.

I know this will sound far from comforting, but... There are A LOT of people out there with your same situation... and it will get much worse with the current and upcoming round of layoffs everywhere (not only HPE). So... You better start looking at multiple alternatives, because to my best knowledge, manna falling from heaven only happened once... Sorry about the harsh comment, dude, but it looks to me that you need to start diversifying your strategy, because whatever you have been doing evidently is not working...

This is what worked for me... I checked with my close network of professionals/friends if there was the chance of doing short term, focused projects for them. Things that they really needed, but didn't have the bandwidth within their teams to make things happen. I got hired as an independent contractor/consultant for a few gigs related to doing value stream mappings, reporting, dashboards, and things like that. I was able to do a few gigs like those while still actively looking for jobs, so that kept me busy for around 7 months. Those short assignments also helped my resume look more "external focus", and were excellent examples and conversation topics during the interviews.

After 7 months, I landed a full-time job, but to be honest, I kind of liked more the short term gigs consulting role. I was basically my own boss, and defined my working hours. The drawback (I guess) is the unpredictability and employee benefits, but it was a good option for me through the transition.

OP, on your resume, have you tried highlighting the different roles and industries you have experience with while at HP by delineating them as separate entries instead of one 20+ year block of time? Try looking at LinkedIn for some samples from others with a similar background, such as former HP colleagues or customers. This tactic helped me tremendously when leaving HPE recently. Also gives you a good idea of the skills and experience listed by those in a already in the jobs you are applying for or with the companies where you want to work. Good luck in your search.