There is a future however there are dependencies that needs to happen. While RIF’s are a wake up call to all levels, there are still gaps that need to filled, cracks that need to be sealed and ceilings that need to be broken through. The question of leaving or going is really one’s own choice at the end of the day but their reasons why needs to be evaluated because these reasons are the gaps, cracks and ceilings and the business should take these seriously.
At the end of the day, without people and an environment that fosters safety and growth, any business cannot succeed - it’s a symbiotic relationship. As such, this type of relationship must remain balanced or else this ecosystem will eventually fail. Examples are startups without real business leadership and fail to secure an exit strategy, and big corporations with more management and processes than individual contributors resulting in a major talent pool loss. In either case, any business suffers these problems throughout their lifetimes and so the onus is on leadership to realize problems and repair them or not.
After all this, the saying that “people leave managers, not a company” rings true. So to those riverbed leaders on this board, what are you doing to ensure the individuals we need are happy with their leaders?
To the poster, good luck in the job market, it is very strong. I hope your skills you picked up are relevant to others companies and you do get what you need from there.