I doubt many still read this, but I know plenty of you are still in touch with folks who were laid off. I'm just curious whether most of them have landed new jobs or if some are still searching. I'm starting to worry my number might be coming up soon, and it would really help to know if the job market is as rough as some make it sound or if there's still hope out there.
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I retired in 3Q24. I would have liked a package but I was key and management felt it would add insult to their own injury to give me a package. I spend well into 2 decades with that place, volunteering to be on site to be on site during the "Plandemic". Miss the place?...no, but I still have nightmares of the Zombies from offshore wandering around, not knowing their bu-----e from their elbow....
Thinking about it, I didn't care that much about getting the package anyway. I had millions $ and after another year in the market, I have another million $ on top of what I left with. I feel sorry for all the people still there, getting grinded down, having to do a ton of stuff with dwindling resources and little to no funds. I recently heard other far more key people from my org have retired, found other jobs or just walked away. Sad times. But the stock price for some reason loafs along at $60, 3 % divvy. Cisco - a shell of itself. Good luck to all still there...find a way to save yourselves !!!!
@gs+1jv3y18we bullsh-ts, haha
It was hard to go through LR and hear that terrible news from my so called leader who hardly led people . Mostly spent time playing politics and giving gift cards to his yea men just for showing up and talking all day on video calls with zero productivity. At a much better place now where people genuinely support each other . Landed multiple offers, wish I got out sooner . The mistake I made was to wait until it was my turn for the LR , instead of leaving when things started going down the very toxic path.
"I want to come back to Cisco. "
Really? Looks like you're not even bothering to look at other companies besides Cisco. Ever heard of Nvidia, OpenAI, Amazon, Meta, Google?
… negotiated a generous severance package — even more than what was initially offered.
Have not come across ANY one doing this… ever in my 25 years at Disco. Cisco legal doesn’t bend unless you’re an executive or hold some other secret lever, which doesn’t sound like that here
So just flying and see how far that go? Give some solid data points if this was real.
Being laid off was a difficult experience. I applied to many opportunities, received several offers, and managed to build a strong professional network across various companies. I also negotiated a generous severance package — even more than what was initially offered.
Finally, I landed a much better position: higher pay, healthier work environment, fully remote, better work balance, and the chance to broaden my technical skills beyond just Cisco technologies.
While I still value my experience with Cisco and maintain positive relationships with former colleagues, I now have the freedom to explore and advocate for a wider range of solutions — including Cisco, when appropriate.
{Un}fortunately, my previous manager was quite toxic. She failed to support me and even told project managers they’d need to find a replacement resource on their own. This led to the loss of several contracts, as a few customers had expressed their willingness to renew only if I remained on the project.
Unsurprisingly, she now appears on the next list for layoffs. Her team's Engagement Pulse score was the lowest across the entire CX Center > EMEA > PS > Enterprise Services organization.
Happily retired.
I want to come back to Cisco. It's tough getting a tech job these days. I got laid off 2 years ago. I have contacted my former manager a few times, she says things are slow but will let me know if something turns up.
I am still unemployed.
Laid off about two years ago. Got a full time job but does not allow working remote. But I get great pride being Walmart Greeter. Utilizes my strongest skills.
I had to lay off 7 people last Sept. 1 of them has a new full-time role. It's rough out there, but I do think their industry is especially tricky thought with the rise of AI.
At a better place now!
Significantly better in every way. It’s a garbage company and the sooner you move on the better.
Completely agree on the MBA messaging; being one myself, and also LR'd several years ago.
I honestly could not be happier with life, since being asked to leave. I was fortunate to have a long run at Cisco, and fortunately planned financially during time there, on eventually being LR'd.
Since then, this MBA (I like to call it "Master Bull$h!t Artist designation), has had several jobs, including one contractor gig back at Cisco. My immediate manager was an incredibly inept political clown, as such I left after my contract was up. Unknown to him, his VP was our RTP neighbor and friends with my wife (our kids went to the same school), and over wine and beers at a neighborhood cookout, she (female VP), asked me why I left, so I told her of Mr. Clown's daily work practices. Guess what? Next LR, Mr. Clown was asked to leave. Coincidence?
So overall, yes it is all a baloney game. Prepare yourself financially for leaving, then try to enjoy your life.
Once away, if you can prepare, leaving can indeed be the best thing that happens in life.
For each job, there are 100+ applicant, many submitted automated. Hard to get noticed in forest.
Welcome to the family. Party just getting started.
tech job market does indeed seem tough right now
some people can't get anything and some of them just need to move on from tech...this will happen when their money runs out and they just need to pay the bills
others seem to be landing offers although this coincides with anecdotes of well-known tech employers like Meta and Amazon becoming more merciless places to work with higher demands and shorter routes to PIP/terminations for perceived low performance
the entire market is adjusting to the realities of more tech workers seeking fewer positions...the workers are lowering expectations and the employers are pushing harder
doesn't even feel like an economic cycle issue, just a matter of everyone acknowledging that the supply/demand has shifted back to favor employers
for employees to gain the upper hand again, a lot of people will need to leave tech
TLDR: if you’re an MBA, you’re f*cked.
Got LR‘ed February 2025 and I am doing well. It was hard at the beginning but it turned out to be a boost for my career! My new place offers career growth possibilities - and best thing is we are eating part of Cisco‘s lunch ;-)
Depends on a various factors. It seems like most places that are hiring are senior level ones. Seniors can vary depending on the company. Some are 5+ others are 7+. I also saw some places where associates are 5+ years of experience which causes me to believe that opportunities are there if you are willing to downgrade a level, RTO, and take a lower salary. Most jobs are not being replaced so the effect of it is that it causes an abundance of applications for a job req, this causes Hiring Managers to be picky.
Things that make it better for you is networking, but sometimes your network betrays you meaning I helped you get where you are, but don't do the same for me. This is my experience.