Thread regarding Oracle Corp. layoffs

10-15 years ago If they had to make cuts in your department/division, they used to find a job for you somewhere else in the company. (Basically, an involuntary job transfer.) Fast-forward a few years later and they gave you 3-6 months notice that your job was ending to let you find another job within the company (on your own) or outside the company. Fast-forward to today and in most cases your manager calls you and says today is your last day.

There are a few ways to do this.

1. Apply internally immediately if you aren't walked out, while you are still inside. Salary will at best be the same but there is no break in employment.
2. Wait a few weeks to see if they send you a letter inviting you to re-apply for generic job positions that match your previous generic job description. They will match you with specific openings if you are a match. Downside is you have to give them back your severance check and there is little chance of salary increase.
3. Wait 1+ year and apply. You keep your severance, you can get hired back at a higher salary, and you keep your last IC level and seniority.

I took a contract job after Oracle, and when it was over Oracle happened to have an opening. I accepted an offer at a 30% higher salary than when I left, and pocketed the almost half year of severance on top of what I made doing the contract job. The only thing I lost were some RSU's. It would have been much cheaper for them to have just retained me.

Why would you go back to Oracle? Consider the RIF your get-out-of-jail-free card and run for it!

If you are RIF'd and they give you time to look for a job internally, that's a good sign. However, if a RIF is going on, most departments will also have a hiring freeze. With that said, most RIFs have a portion of people they are getting rid of because they don't want them in the org for whatever reason. For the people they are RIFing, in those departments, they want to keep the headcount if possible. If they can save someone on the RIF list they "like", or is a better fit, yes, then you have a good chance of finding something internal before the time runs out. Its also very common for managers to talk amongst themselves to find out why some people are on the RIF list. Again, with that said, many managers at Oracle know that just because one person doesn't like someone, most managers (that are looking for a "RIF Deal") will at least talk to you or ignore the bad press that might be part of your RIF. There is usually a ton of "trading" that happens during a RIF if you have some Oracle skills, and its clear you're being RIF'd because someone doesn't like you. If you are RIF'd and are walked out the same day, it becomes much harder to stop the process. It has happened that people who have been walked out, get hired back quickly. If it becomes clear a personal vendetta was part of the RIF you also have options. If you seriously feel you're being targeted in the RIF, during your meeting with your manager and HR, and you can think on your feet, at that meeting, stop the process and ask to speak with HR directly without your manager present. If you take action immediately, and fight the RIF on a personal level, you can turn the tide in your favor. Many times a RIF is not set in stone. If your entire department is RIF'd, obviously something is up. Lots more to talk about, but I've gone on too long.

Definitely possible and have seen it. But when my RIF comes I’m leaving, job or not.

Yes it’s possible and they go through the motions of sending you an offer letter with your exact same pay, there will be no salary increases even if you get a position with 3x the work, so keep that in mind. If you been there a few years and know you can find a new job relatively quickly it is probably better to take the severance.

It is not a guarantee that you will find an internal job, but it is definitely possible.

I was part of the RIF last year. It was a stressful 2+ weeks where/when you only have very limited time (15 days ?) before you officially got RIF. My personal experience is that the recruiter(s) and management did "fast-track" (somehow) internal applicants. I got internal interviews for 3 positions and got an offer within that 2+ weeks.

Things can change now, but at least I have positive experiences (out of everything coming from a RIF) last year to mention about.

It happened to me a decade ago. Maybe things changed and maybe it’s not as easy now. Maybe it’s different now. I was RIF’d in 2013. Found another job internally. And yes, it prolongs the pain. My advice - If you get RIF’d, accept it as a gift.

I suppose it's theoretically possible. Same way that alternative universes are theoretically possible.

There will be a hiring freeze when the layoffs occur. Catch-22.