#career

I have over 15 years of experience, and I’m given the title of “Associate,” meanwhile someone with less than 2 years of experience is given the title of “Advanced.” I took the new D&S training. But frankly, this is BS. Heard that HR made all of the decisions and can’t even explain to management how the assigning works.

Companies like AWS, Meta or any FAANG and mostly other companies for that matter, ki-l your job when they either fire you or do mass layoffs.

In contrast, working at Pearson, they ki-l your own career! Most people are either ignorant or overlook it. The stakes are very high with low pay when you work for Pearson. You are literally low balling your own career, your prime working life for a company that is highly unstable and no growth!

Please tell me you didn't do that to your kids!

That's the only reason I'm going along with rebadging. After that, all my time and energy go toward finding something else.

Advice from someone who has been through all of this:

If you haven't seen your peers disappear before you should expect various emotions, but the more important to remember is that your days are also numbered. You might last 12 month, perhaps 12 years, but the day will come and you will go through all of this nonsense (unless you found something better before). Plan accordingly. Denial or kicking the problem down the road does not help you. There is no medal or reward for loyalty or dedication. You are an expendable resource, much like a computer system. While they might like you, you too will be replaced when it makes economic sense to them and their bigger picture. It doesn't need to make sense to you and it can defy your logic. Use your time to improve and enrich yourself, just as the company does for itself. No-one else will do it for you.

Good luck.

It’s heartbreaking. Do they even stop to think about how many lives they’ve turned upside down with this?

i am in the beginning of my career happy that i saw this from the start and know i understand the real face of corporate i would never give my best or stress/ attach myself to a job . we are just a number will always remember this

maybe i am being overly optimistic but that ask srini anything was the realest conversation this company has had since early Legere. Just tell us the truth we’re adults. Good for Srini. But I still don’t know what I need to do to assure I won’t get laid off. Like I know that’s not bulletproof but how can I increase my odds and know if I’m on the right track in my career? Am I moving the ball forward or backward? That’s all I need to know and I’ll stop stressing and drink the kool aid again. Please srini we’re thirsty over here

I was offered the move to Cognizant last week and will be allowing the offer to expire EOD tomorrow. I wanted to put this out there as encouragement for others who are deciding to do the same that you are not alone. To those who are taking it, it is completely understandable and I wish you luck.

Nothing I have received from either Cognizant or FIS in the last week has given me any confidence in this "plan". The whole rollout and execution was dystopian. Clearly well rehearsed for many months, but horribly executed. 10 min to get questions answered with a 3 min notice. A portal to submit questions to that spits back out legalese answers, and does not offer the opportunity to schedule a 1-1 with an HR representative as was promised on the calls. Quite frankly, even if I made the move I would anticipate being back in this same position before the year is out.

There is nothing that I want to do less than work for another company while simultaneously working my tail off for FIS who could not have been clearer that my services are no longer required. Years of service , knowledge, and loyalty lost because of a poorly thought out executive level deal. The existing workloads are already out of hand, and now they will only get worse. The increasing reliance on AI and India gives me no confidence in either company.

It is obviously a risk to simply walk away, but the known alternative is not appealing. I hope this is not FIS' "Titanic" moment, but it's hard to believe otherwise.

I am in non hub and not told to move yet and I am unable to make up my mind whether to move or not. I casually applied for jobs and I am close to getting an offer. My best guess is 25K lower and it involves a 3 day 1 hour commute each week for life. I can’t move closer to new workplace due to kids schooling and my spouse might quit. We have no home to sell.
Should I. A. Uproot my family while spouse quits and go to Plano to start fresh on my own? B. Take the new job, spouse quits and settle down where I am? C. Reject new offer, keep renting and continue the grind unless told to move?

There are personal and financial challenges for each decision and I got no comfort in any of these options. Any advice if you have gone through something similar?

It’s important to always keep a Plan B. These days, AI is reshaping many roles across the job market. In the case of FIS, the situation is different—they’re facing internal challenges and financial pressure, which is why layoffs are happening.

During times like this, it’s wise to avoid major financial commitments such as buying a house, an expensive car, or any investment that requires high monthly payments. Focus on saving, staying financially flexible, and preparing yourself for alternative job opportunities. If your role at FIS is stable and not outsourced, staying put until things settle over the next year to year and a half can also be a practical choice.

At the same time, start learning AI‑related skills and explore internal or external opportunities that align with future technology trends. With global conflicts and economic uncertainty, many projects are delayed, and the environment is challenging for everyone. Hopefully, things will stabilize soon

How do I become one?

The job market is terrible and is the only company that would accept me. Should I join as a CW or perm?

I dedicated 16 years of my career to Macy’s, believing retail was the same everywhere. Leaving was a daunting decision, but it transformed my life for the better. While I loved my job, the increasing expectations became overwhelming. Now, I enjoy a much-improved work-life balance and have discovered there is a life outside Macys.

Nobody's job is safe here. Not the top people (outside of the C-suite), not the new people, not anyone. You should always know what else is out there. Update the resume, look at postings, keep a feel for the market. I'm not saying interview every week. Just know what's happening. Your role exists because someone decided it does. That can change anytime. If the building burned down tonight, you think they'd keep paying you? No chance. So stay aware.

I'm starting to think about what's next and I'm curious where other people went after they left IBM. Did you stay in the same field? Go somewhere totally different? Move to a smaller place or another big one?

Been here long enough to remember when people actually wanted to work here. When leadership led and careers meant something. That place is long gone.

The people at the top made choices that slowly ki-led the culture. Now we just endure instead of feeling part of anything.

New hires show up bright eyed every time but give it a few months and that look fades. That's how long it takes them to figure out how things really work. The rest of us by now know not to give extra. Company will forget you the second it's convenient.

Wake up. If you're not job hunting, you're one of the few who isn't.

Never work for free. If they say do more now and it'll pay off later, don't believe it. Don't do extra unless the extra shows up in your check in a way of a promotion or a raise. It's not worth it because it never materializes.

I have a masters degree. Spent years and money getting it. Did the same job as people without one for less money. When I left, they hired someone with no degree at all. Then I learned they paid them ten grand more than I ever got. The difference? They're good at su-king up. That's the only skill that matters here.

Thought you had a future in this industry? Too bad. That's the message we keep getting.

Younger people figured it out. You have to move around to get ahead. Companies aren't loyal so why should we be. Stay a few years and go. Nobody under forty five is getting a gold watch.

I put in thirty six years and walked away at sixty five. That was enough for any person. Since leaving I've stayed as far from corporate anything as I can manage. Meetings, performance reviews, office politics. Don't miss any of it. I'll say this though. The financial piece worked out. I'm comfortable and that's because I stayed. So I give them that. Everything else I'm happy to leave behind. Including the cars. I have zero desire to buy another Ford ever again.

You can't open LinkedIn without being hit with so, so many of those. The thought of entering the job market in current conditions is terrifying, to say the least.

Did they bounce back?

If you came up with a great idea, get in touch with the Intellectual Property department.
Not only could you get a share of any royalties, your name is on the patent - proving you innovated.

Maybe someone at Dell will forget about you - but other employers will see what you can do.

I just quit Walgreens after 25 years because we all know what is going to happen to this company , but I just want to tell you all do not fear is ok to reinvent your self. now I have a small business of my own and I fine I have more time with my family, thing always work out don't be afraid to stand on a thin branch just trust your wings

1.  Do you feel like there aren’t better opportunities out there for you?
2.  Are you actively looking but still job hunting?
3.  Are you just going with the flow and not really thinking about it?
4.  Or do you have hope that the company will turn around?

I am looking to begin my mech engineering career at L3Harris on Long Island (Amityville). I’ve seen conflicting views from this forum…Any advice or tips I should know?

If you’re in tech all is not lost, gloom and doom and all that jazz. There are other companies out there outside of finance and banking that also use AD, exchange, sharepoint, SQL, firewalls, linux, unix, routers, switches, vm’s etc….

Citi is not the only company on the planet that ever uses these things.
Finance is not the only sector on the planet that ever uses these things.

Expand your job search as this ship is sinking. It’s always mystified me that people will job search with only the big banks and call it a day, “there’s nothing out there and I know that as I searched the big 3 banks and didn’t find anything. No use to look any further elsewhere. I guess I’m just stuck at Citi.”

Best advice I can give: look now, not later. Searching while you have a job puts you in a way better position. You can be pickier, you're not desperate. Don't wait until it's too late.

Seriously. Just look at LinkedIn profiles of past upper management and others and you'll see how they took jobs in the industry immediately.

For those of you who landed your next best opportunity and are out of this purgatory....any tips?

I was laid off in November from the Midland office and it's honestly been a blessing in disguise. Fortunately I got hired on a new job very quickly but I do miss the people I worked with. With my new career path its so nice to be fully utilized and not be bottlenecked by discipline engineering and needing the approval of 3 different departments to do something. I forgot how nice it was to not work for a corporation.

D&S is worthless. They don’t do any planning for your career. You are lucky if they even know your name these days.

Does anyone actually get anything out of this other than disgust and insult?

This has to be one of the most bizarre corporate nonsense campaigns I have seen across at least 7 employers.

Is anyone following this directive?:
" And don’t forget to share your Career Week experience on Viva Engage with the hashtag #CareerWeek2026 - let’s spotlight the innovation and energy of our office! "

My office is still 90% empty, with no innovation or energy.

I left Cigna couple of years ago and there is an opportunity coming my way to join back. Honestly, I am tempted as I am 5 days a week in person in my current workplace. Going back to 3 days will be a big time saver . I also live just 10 mins away . But looking at the recent posts, I am not sure if I will regret this choice.

Care coordinator role for post acute care. Anyone have any info on the job? Yay or nay

I’m sorry to hear about all the layoffs people are experiencing. My advice is that because your experience is valuable, especially you folks who have been working here for 10, 20, 30 years, you should either A) Start your own company (for behavioral health, etc) or B) Do consulting on your own terms.

It’s obvious people with incredible resumes are being let go. It’s time we take our careers back and invest into something we’re truly passionate about.

Wishing you all the best!

I’m sorry to hear about all the layoffs people are experiencing. My advice is that because your experience is valuable, especially you folks who have been working here for 10, 20, 30 years, you should either A) Start your own company (for behavioral health, etc) or B) Do consulting on your own terms.

It’s obvious people with incredible resumes are being let go. It’s time we take our careers back and invest into something we’re truly passionate about.

Wishing you all the best!