Perhaps the layoff package should come with some free drug prescriptions.
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Anyone want to do a startup? There does seem to be support in OC for startups - financially, coaching, and even physical office space. The key is as always a good product concept.
I am working for one right now. The engineering work is fun but the business practices of the management side have serious flaws and stumbles. Even though I've been working for months I've only been paid now for about one. The thing is though I could perhaps leverage this company for something better. Better than sitting at home. As suggested, job opportunities seem non-existent. There could be age discrimination but since I don't have a degree but way too many years at WDC they think my experience is enough to be considered. I just don't have the right skillset for the open jobs. WD had hardware guys and software/firmware guys(gals) and kept them managed separately. Many openings want you to have both skillsets and even toss in some Solidworx experience...
So I was thinking if any of you have social media skills perhaps you could start a central discussion forum (Facebook, meetup, website, whatever) where we ex-WD people could maybe toss around some ideas. I really encourage those of you laid off or about to be to join some meetup groups in OC. You need to get your mind off the past and look for positive alternatives to it. WD had/has some of the most skilled people around. We had great teams that worked very hard and succeeded. Perhaps together again we can go forward with our heads high.
Yes, I loved it. It was a good counseling session to prepare us for the layoff that is to hit WD and HGST in a few weeks. I specially liked the slide that compared your brain after receiving the layoff notification to an egg in a frying pan. The other slide that I liked was the bent arrow that depicted the "Phases of Transition" as follows:
Stage 1: Denial "It can not be me. I am sure they put my name on this pink slip by mistake. I have worked K years for this company and I have always been a good and productive employee. I am sure this is just a clerical mixup..."
Stage 2: Anger: "Da...n it! Those mother f...er executives... They layoff their hard working employees without giving them a meaningful severance package and let their families and children suffer and then give themselves big bonuses for cutting cost and buying SanDisk..."
Stage 3: Exploration: "How can I find another job in this area? Broadcom and Emulex are planning for huge layoffs after the Avago takeover, Qualcomm is a sinking ship, Maxlinear is a sweatshop, Marvell is going down the drain, Panasonic is not hiring, ... My only choice is to move to the Bay Area... how would I afford the housing cost there? I am Da..ned! I am going to loose my house and my family will be homeless ..., plus nobody would hire me if I am over 40 because they could hire a cheap H1-B immigrant worker instead ..."
Stage 4: New Beginning: (I will leave this one to your imagination)
I already got my pipe full and ready to go