I like my job at riverbed, but I am vary of the situation right now. Will there be more lay offs? Is it good to stay or leave?
9 replies (most recent on top)
Leave if you have to ask that question and you think you can find a new job.
If you work in the IT Dept, you better start brown nosing. All of IT management know each other and only care about themselves. Even the new CIO who only greets people in the hallway he likes is a graduate of the "what can you do for my reputation" school of mgmt. IT will be outsourced eventually to the company they previously worked for. Talk about conflict of interest! Well, now that they're private they can do whatever they want to serve their own self interests....
Who says you need to get another job? Stick around and do nothing until you get fired.
Working is for chumps.
The best reason to stick around was to wait for stock options to vest and cash out. After that was done, you're crazy if you don't have your resume out. More changes are coming. How painful they'll be is the question. It's a good market for experienced job seekers in tech industries. Always better to change jobs on your terms, not theirs...
Q. Is it first rate products?
A. Forget that. Why would Thoma Bravo pour money into development when the payoff won't come until after they break the company up and sell the pieces?
Q. Is it the compensation?
A. Fogetabotit. Salary expenses are Thoma Bravos main target. That's where they believe that they're going to get the biggest savings (see also: Layoffs)
Q. Is it the ability to work with top technical talent?
A. Seriously? What top talent is going to stick around this place when other opportunities to work with disruptive technologies exist where you can be a valued contributing member of that team and not just "overhead"?
Q. Is it just a lack of motivation to freshen up that resume and get out there and look?
A. Well congratulations! You're in great company.
If you are in sales, stay if you DON'T like making money, having fun, and being set up up for success.
While every individual's situation is different, the reason to stay in a company in Riverbed's situation should never be "I like my job".
No, no, no.
Ask yourself if you are a very critical person for a critical product that Riverbed simply will not get rid of, no matter what. If you are not a critical resource, you are simply a commodity that can be rid of so that the investment company can further maximize short term gains.
At this point, there is no Riverbed. It will soon be chopped and probably different pieces of it will be merged with different companies and sold to totally new buyers. This company's future is unpredictable. It's only an investment vehicle for the greediest and the worst people of this humanity who can sell their mother for a profit.
Besides, why? The job market is fortunately hot, multiple tech industries are simultaneously striving, and every Riverbed employee worth his/her trade will find another job quite easily. Also, you find another job while you are still employed...it gets exponentially harder once you are laid off.
Conclusion: Unless you have a large stake in this company or they are paying you an arm and leg to maintain a critical product, it's foolish to stick to Riverbed. You will find several things you love once you are out there.
Few people saw this coming long time ago. Riverbed as it once was a great technology company is not there anymore, its a pile of investment by thoma bravo and we all know they won't think twice sacrificing products or staff to maximize their returns. Its a company without a vision so If you can handle the stress of living in job uncertainty then you might wait until you're pushed, otherwise take the safer approach and start looking at your options already.
Thoma Bravo is brutal, it will be very difficult for 3 years, the will load us with debt which will be distributed to them to pay off loans thry took to buy us, they will cut staff and expenses, then they will sell us and keep the money. That is how private equity works, it is no secret. So, should you stay?