#careerswitch

Tech role. Anyone test the waters in the job market yet?

I'd like to hear if there is anyone here quit their job at Cisco to start a growing midsize company. I am thinking about it, because I find Cisco culture toxic and highly receptive. I have never worked in such a large company before and I have never felt this unmotivated in my job.

Any post-Cisco experiences? Hopefully in the lighter side

I’ve started applying for jobs outside of 3M. Some of them ask if there is anything to stop me from doing the work (like a non-compete clause or similar). Does anyone know if this is a thing for 3M? I looked on the company portal and of course can’t find anything.

It’s been exactly one year since my short meeting that ended my time at USAA. I stopped by here to see how things are going, and all I can say is I feel bad for everyone still stuck there. Even when I left, getting work done was already a nightmare, and from what I can see, it’s only gotten worse since then. If you can, I’d seriously suggest trying to leave. My layoff ended up being exactly what I needed to get out of a toxic place and find something where I don’t dread even the thought of work.

Unless you’re Clay Magouyrk, Mike Sicilia, or have a personal connection to them, no one here is safe. Everyone is replaceable!

And the sooner you accept that, the sooner you can start looking for a new home. You’ll be far happier somewhere that actually values you.

It’s Sunday and just a reminder you don’t have to live in fear, deal with RTO, the obsessive micromanagement, the constant nitpicking of everything, the extreme cheapness and duplicity.

Use whatever resources are available for training and development and channel those to an external opportunity.

I did it and I’m better for it. This place will survive without you. Or it won’t. Who cares. That’s someone else’s problem. Not yours.

Put yourself first, get up, and walk out that place, and never look back.

I only worked at DXC a short time, but long enough to see what it's really like. If that place ever had a good reputation in the industry, it's destroyed now. I hate that I have to put its name on my resume. It doesn't help me. In fact, I have a feeling it probably hurts me.

For those that have left Macy’s what are you guys doing now? What other jobs are better than Macys? I want to leave the company but there isn’t much options for me out there. Been with the company for over 20yrs, would I be eligible for a package or anything of that form?

How did we all do with the job search? I was blessed to be able to snag a job pretty quickly. To the people who are left behind: you will NEVER have less work than you do right now, but you'll probably have more eventually. Private equity isn't going to spend income on additional payroll. If you're considering leaving I say look around, it's not so bad out here. Then again it took a shove to get me out the door so who am I to preach? Good luck everyone, may the grass be greener on this side.

Went to a smaller refiner - 20% compensation increase (salary & bonus). No giant corporate office full of "experts", "chiefs", "advisors", etc. Work done in house at the sites, no BTC's, GBC's, etc. Work is done efficiently and most importantly, correctly, the first time. It is a pleasure again to come into the office every day. No shuffling the deck of people every 6 months, so that "decision makers" can run /hide from how horrible things are run. No "ticketing system" full of unanswered, or supposedly resolved and closed tickets that still need to be addressed. The only thing I lost was saying that I worked at EXXONMOBIL! Seeing that most of my new coworkers came from places like XOM, Shell, BP, Dow, etc., it's was eye-opening to find out that saying you work for XOM may be more of a hinderance/anchor in your career, as you are thought of as a delegator of work/ticket enterer, as opposed to someone that does real work (how accurate)! Good riddance XOM!

What are some good jobs for nurses? I work at a busy hospital and am really stressed out and a friend told me to check out insurance jobs.

Any suggestions for best job sites to apply for new job? Friends say LinkedIn - but never had luck there. What sites do you use / recommend? Been out of work 6 months & $ is tight.

I see posts from people here that say they left Nielsen and they are happier and/or they earn more money at their new jobs. Some of you even say that you've "found freedom". For those of us that are looking for work it would be really helpful if you could let us know what job you were doing with Nielsen and where you went? Let us know if any of your Nielsen skills transferred over that your new employer may have been interested in.

here is a quick rant and i hope it helps someone…

i was sitting in a meeting at work when i made the decision that changed everything.
my boss was talking. i don’t even remember what about — something minor, some non-issue being stretched into a conversation because that’s what meetings are. and i was sitting there half-listening, the way you do after enough years, and i just looked at him and thought it so clearly. i cannot do this anymore. not another ten years. not five. not one.
which sounds dramatic maybe. but i’d done everything right. two degrees, years of showing up, taking on responsibility, being the person who got things done. i did what you’re supposed to do. and there i was in my 50s, still just making it month to month. still waiting for something to shift.
i walked out of that meeting — not stormed out, just quietly left — got a coffee, sat down with a notebook, and wrote one sentence.

i am never, ever working for anybody else as long as i live.

i had no idea how i was going to make that true. none (it turned out well) but that almost didn’t matter, not right then. what mattered was i meant it. fully, no asterisk. and i knew i wasn’t going to talk myself back out of it the next morning like i probably had before.

i wasn’t going to sleepwalk through my own life again. that part i was sure of.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

I know I should leave. Everything points to it. I have an open invitation at a friend's startup. But I'm stuck, unable to take the first step. I hate that I'm choosing to be miserable because I'm too scared to make a change. Dell is the only thing I've known for so long. I know many who feel the same way. It's almost like some weird type of Stockholm Syndrome at this point.

Recently things have been looking up for me. I had a bad run at Oracle. Was sabotaged along the way and eventually left when others were getting credit for the work I did. It's a bad place to work.

After leaving I had time to think about what had happened at the company. I posted several things on this site thinking that I might be able to warn some people who were still there. Perhaps some of that got through, perhaps not. It's difficult to tell what the result of that was, except for the harassment that ensued from trying to warn others.

But, I find that that harassment has a silver lining to it. I have learned a great deal about what was done to me and also about the people who were involved in it all. Over the years I have learned more about others who are associates of those people.

I have also learned a great deal about how they manipulate people, both at the company and elsewhere.

And in the past few years, after leaving the company, I have found that there are others, probably not in their network, who are using the same set of skills as they were. It has become very easy for me to pick these people out, as they all look for the same things and all function in the same way. Trivial really, once you know what they do and what to look for.

I have done some studying of my own, lots of DVDs, etc on the subject are available. I find it very interesting, although, I probably would not have pursued it without the steady stream of harassment that has come my way.

Recently, I have created a list of others that I have found with similar skills. Seems like everyone, really. It's really an epidemic although most people are unaware of it.

I have decided to pursue my list.

I am hoping that as I produce information on each one in turn, I will be able to share that with authorities and hopefully gain the trust of authorities with my skill in exposing those who manipulate people in this way.

I think it can be done, and really, these people have left me no other alternative.

I start this week and am really looking forward to it. No money involved, but there is knowing that I am helping others and that is very important to me. Maybe a couple of books might come out of it? Who knows?

Good luck to everyone.

Telecom has been harsh on workers for years, and it doesn’t seem to be getting better. If you have a way out, take it. I made the jump and the difference is night and day. There’s a whole world of jobs that actually value you.

Has anyone else landed a new role and been shocked by how much more it paid compared to Cigna? I moved into a similar position and my salary jumped by around $12k without added responsibility. It changed how I look at what I was earning before. Losing that job pushed me into something better.

Hi I’m currently at a company with higher pay but toxic manager. Thinking to return back to company with same title and pay when I left. Is it worth the switch?

Just joking. It is not even equal pay and benefits. But it is a much smaller, cozier company, the people in charge seem decent, overtime is not really a thing (I made sure to check), they are not doing constant layoffs, and it is an entirely different role. A change of scenery and pace is more than welcome, and I wanted to get ahead of what is inevitably coming - more cuts, offshoring, and mind-numbing stress. It’s a win in my book. Wishing you all the best.

I started with Edward Jones in 2018 and left in 2024; I am White male with a degree in finance and two of the big professional designations. Because of DEI, I never received a Good Knight, was never approached about an RTP, and never got my own office. All the while I noticed that EJ catered to the "lowest common denominator" and gave all kinds of assets/handouts, RTPs and offices to "persons of color" (an Edward Jones' term), female FA's and the "alphabet community". All to check the box of DEI, and I can say with the fullest of confidence, it was far from earned. For those of you who do not know if an FA shares/gives assets to a person who fits the DEI mold, the giving FA receives an additional 10% compensation. They seem to predominantly hire ill-educated, sales type people.

The training was a joke; it was all sales based. I never received legit training directly related to financial planning, investment analysis, portfolio management, etc. I learned all of that on my own through designations like the CFP, CIMA, and CFA Level 1. The culture is definitely a "cult" and talk about "fake friendships". It was definitely a weird social environment. Early on I stopped taking TAP trips, going to summer Regionals, and all of the other mindless meeting/events that EJ holds. I forgot to mention, I was offered a failing office from an FA that was terminated. I knew that FA and I knew how horrible to book was managed and wanted to nothing to do with it. I turned it down and they took it SO personal. If I would have fit the DEI mold, I would have been handed a "gold mine". I saw that on many occasions. It didn't really bother me, I believe in a meritocracy. I wonder how the clients would feel about it??

Anyways, I built a book from zero to Level 9, producing $850,000 in a 6-year time period. I took a million dollar check to transfer to a sophisticated firm and have transferred 85% of my book. The remaining 15% can stay put for all I care. It is nice to be around legitimately educated people who understand capital markets, investment management, and financial planning. This firm values quality over quantity and there is zero DEI cr-p. If you have formal education in finance, economic, business, etc, EJ is not the place for you. I stayed for longer than I should have due the COVID lockdown. That slowed my exit by about 2 years.

Is it better to stay working at Nike during these challenging times or would it be better to consider a Career change?
What other careers could Nike associates with our experience enter?

As for me, I'm on the fence because I can't stand living in Oregon. I'd like to move but have no idea yet what other careers to research.

About to start a new job, with a significant raise, at a tech company, doing work that will actually be seen.

Just know it’s possible to escape, to land on your feet if you get laid off in the new year, and to redefine yourself after several years at Dell. Growing companies who treat people like people really do exist.

If you know how to repair Ford vehicles. Jim Farley stated you can make up to $120K a year working as a Mechanic at Ford Dealerships. With the never-ending recalls, which a lot of you crackheads helped create there's plenty of job security.

It is so heartbreaking reading these comments when is the next layoff, are we next?...this is honestly no way to live. Instead of being under the golden handcuffs...step outside your comfort zone and look for an alternative job! This is no way to live

For those that were RIF’d, are you looking for employment in your same line of work, or do you desire something completely different?

Ready to retire after 30 years at Shell and don't plan to ever look back. Corporate life nearly ki-led me slowly, but at least I’m financially secure. I know many are not as lucky. One thing's for sure, I'm never going back to that grind. The office politics can stay behind me forever.

For everyone that has left and are happy elsewhere, where do you go to?

Trying to figure out what to do and what to focus on. Thank you.

I’ve seen some go into consulting or startups, but others just disappear from the industry altogether. It's like people either reinvent themselves or burn out completely.

I'd love to hear from people who have left and learn more about any tips you have for navigating the post-Cengage career journey.

What do you miss? What do you not miss? What have you carried forward? What have you left behind? What did you learn from your transition? How would you approach it differently if you had to do it all over again?

Well after 13.5 years of loyal service including 2 moves halfway across the United States I was unlucky this time and got left standing. I remember when I got hired I was told during on boarding that I had essentially won the lottery and that I can work 30 years and retire a millionaire. Well I've been through 4 re-orgs across 3 business units. But hey I still have a chance to land a lesser paying role during the quick PDC. I've devoted almost 25 years of my life to the oil industry and now I'm left scratching my head wondering what I'm going to do. Do I switch industries and hope that I can find a comparable paying job or do I uproot my family once again chasing the dream to remain in the industry that has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams? I have years of knowledge but can't hang a college diploma up in my office. It's sad because I feel that the company that I dreamed of working for not value on the job knowledge the way they value a college diploma. I feel like this company is turning in to a popularity contest and upper management not wanting to be challenged with new ideas or ways of doing things they seem to want yes men/women.

All this talk about layoffs. Save your breath and apply at Lockheed Martin. Most start at $40 or more an hour. And when they see that you either work at Halliburton or was laid off, they will fast track your application. If enough people leave, JRC will close anyways.

Never until I started working here did I think I would ever pursue a career change in a completely different field. Extra change is going toward savings and extra time (because sc--w working late now) is going toward the classes. It will be my side hustle until the glorious day I resign. And if I get laid off like so many of us, well, I'll be ready. Get out ANY way you can!

I was laid off 3 times in 2 years working in tech. Rather than get laid off again, I'm going back to school.
www.businessinsider.com

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sarah Henschel, a 35-year-old former tech worker and current master's student based in New York."
Microsoft mass layoffs: Thousands of jobs cut, Xbox division hit hard

https://mashable.com/article/microsoft-mass-layoffs-what-we-know
2025-09-06