This is how it always has been in the tech industry. It is just that the last few years been very prosperous that many recent graduates have not even experienced the down sides. Best things to do is keep building your skill sets and maintain relationship and help out coworkers so that they are there when you next need referral for a job.
Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security
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Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security
#12> My first thought was relief. But that relief quickly turned back into fear. How disposable I was, I thought. How bound I was to the whims of others.
This is why I think we need to build more communities around cheap housing (think manufactured homes) and shared agricultural space. At least if you lose your job in that type of community you won't have to worry as much about homelessness or starvation.
We're far too dependent on others for life's basic necessities, and that drives millions of people to work themselves to death doing jobs that make them miserable for employers who don't care about them.
Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security
#13I'm not certain what he expects: lifetime risk-free employment? Yeah, there's stress involved with risk. But the risk one has as an upper-middle-class American is tech is nothing compared to the risks that others alive today face, and less than nothing compared to the risks that others in the past have faced. Nothing last forever. Not a job — not even one's life. Make the most of it while you can.
Author here. Not sure why you're being downvoted, I completely I agree with this. The fact that even upper middle class doesn't guarantee any real security was a huge wake-up call for me, and I can't imagine what it's like for everyone else.
Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security
#14Jesus, can you be more melodramatic, self-congratulatory and pointless all at the same time?
It appears the original author would be better suited in a union shop. It would also appear that they’ve never owned a business.
Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security
#15this is why i don't move out of Bay Area - me and my acquaintances have been through lay offs here at various years, during the booms and busts, and nobody had any significant issues promptly finding a new job (with a salary increase usually :). Compare that to, for example, the next best thing in US tech - when AMZN says come to Seattle i always imagine being laid off from it few years down the road (with a non-comp…
Agree overall, but there are a LOT of other employers in Seattle, including lots of the big guys. In general, a layoff would be similar to the bay area experience for a talented dev.
Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security
#16> Fewer and fewer careers offer a stable path to the financial and personal security that underwrote the Baby Boomers’ “American Dream.” Technology is the one career that has an optimistic future, isn’t beholden by regulation and credential inflation, and actually attempts to create some sort of meritocracy, and so, those that are fortunate enough to be in it want to preserve the one island of paradise left. This rea…
Tech has a natural moat in that only a small portion of the population is smart and driven enough to do well in it, so I expect decent paying jobs for the foreseeable future. And while some of high profile startups might have unviable business models, most of the established companies actually have pretty good metrics, so I don't seem them as being in danger of going out of business unless some legislation comes along that completely undermines their ability to do business.
Obviously it's still smart to save and plan for a period of unemployment though.
Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security
#17The author of the article is misinformed about the true landscape of wealth and income inequality.
The middle class is ultimately defined by the ability and need to build your own safety net. The upper middle class is able to do this with plenty of wealth to spare for luxuries like private schooling for their kids, income security is provided by their network. Just tap your network and find another job. The upper middle class is unconcerned with skills and only concerned with leeching off of the upper class.
The 'regular' middle class still needs to lean on their skill set and willingness to move in order to provide income security. If a layoff is enough to throw your lifestyle into disarray, you're not upper middle class, in fact you'll never be upper middle class because you probably spend too much time messing around with getting stuff done and not enough on greasing the political wheels.
The upper class doesn't need to fool around with a network, they are networks unto themselves. At this level, enough ambient wealth is floating around that you can hire professionals to manage it for you and never have to do anything you don't want to.
The difference between the lower class and the middle class boils down to whether you have enough to provide for your daily needs, much less a safety net. The lower class cannot meet expenses each month without assistance, has no ability to build a safety net and so has no safety other than what the government provides.
What distinguishes the lower middle class from the regular middle class is whether they have enough left over every month to save for the future or a rainy day.
Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security
#18I can't help but wince when I read this. This guy got laid off from his very first job. He is young -- in his twenties -- and has no family to support. He likely got some sort of bonus/severance. He's not the LEAST bit in any sort of dire straits...
Did he need to get laid off to realize that a) no job is forever and b) doing all "the right things" won't ALWAYS lead to success.
I figured those were common sense.
Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security
#19In another context I went through that same realization of powerlessness myself and even today I'm still surprised how we first-world people are raised so we think so invincible about ourselves. And it's not just about our position in society. You could just as easily die any minute. Accident, natural disaster, world war 3, crazy coworker, jealous ex-wife. The options are unlimited.
It shouldn't change that we take risks. Taking risks is important. But it should make us more aware about which risks to take (e.g. waiting might be a risk too), and how to approach risky situations.
Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security
#20>Because you do not have power. Remember that, always. When you get promoted, when you enter management, when you get a stellar performance review, you are simply fulfilling the whims of someone else.
I hope the author learns about labor unions some day, hopefully soon.