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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

#31

Post by LifeLiverTransp »

jeffreyrogers wrote: post #16
rubicon33 wrote: post #10

> 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 alon…

Tech also has the benefit of the networking effect- turning once a giant appears, a whole economy sector into a black hole for any other startup.

So one company can stagnate a whole sector- basically killing off any innovation for the duration of its existance. No innovation - no coders really needed.

Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security

#32

Post by 21 »

ForHackernews wrote: post #24
jeffreyrogers wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 alon…

There's a lot of people on this rock. Even if only a "small portion of the population" can do the work, that means there are tens of millions (literally) around the world who could do your job as well or better than you. You are the lucky beneficiary of restrictive immigration and employment policies.

There are places with less restrictive immigration (Europe) and salaries are still very high.

The supply of decent programmers is just not enough to cover demand.

Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security

#33

Post by Spooky23 »

rubicon33 wrote: post #10

> 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 is not a meritocracy. Many of us like to think of it that way, but the reality is that most of the jobs associated with tech are bullshit, and much of tech headcount is IT.

The last big place that I worked could easily cut tech headcount in half and hardly notice. A decade from now they can probably reduce headcount 80% in IT and 75% in the business.

The impact of global growth won’t impact jobs directly for awhile. When Chinese companies start pumping out superior product that westerners cannot even read the manuals for, that will be the big crack.

Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security

#34

Post by phil248 »

minikites wrote: post #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.

If you look at the advancements in worker protections in recent years, they do not come from unions. Paid maternity/paternity leave, higher wage floors, pay equality, paid sick leave... these are all being mandated by governments and they apply to all workers, not by unions that represent one industry.

Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security

#36

Post by jeffreyrogers »

LifeLiverTransp wrote: post #31
jeffreyrogers wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 alon…

Tech also has the benefit of the networking effect- turning once a giant appears, a whole economy sector into a black hole for any other startup. So one company can stagnate a whole sector- basically killing off any innovation for the duration of its existance. No innovation - no coders really needed.

Maybe, but my bet is most software engineers, etc. are employed at non-tech companies. The work might not be as interesting, but they aren't all going away anytime soon.

Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security

#37

Post by twodave »

I don't get why people ever thought a job was anything other than a strictly professional relationship. Your employer is not your family, and if they say you are then that's a red flag because it means your employer will want you to give them more than they deserve.

If you are relying on a business to pay your living expenses indefinitely because you've been loyal or whatever other nonsense, that is lunacy. If you're not producing some kind of value then you are dragging your company down, and you should be let go. In my opinion businesses aren't proactive enough at firing non-contributors. Layoffs aren't great for anyone because they kill the culture, but to avoid that someone really has to pull on some pants, swallow their pride, admit to hiring mistakes and rectify them.

Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security

#38

Post by allannienhuis »

mseebach wrote: post #26
redundo_twa wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Throwaway account because I'm currently in the middle of being laid off ("redundancy" in UK). I thought I always had that somewhat-cynical outlook by default, coming from a leftist family; but still, the unfairness of this process (first time for me in 20 years of work) boils my blood. Metrics massaged to target this and that, backstabbing, disrespecting people who built the company... all that will forever scar the…

Can you elaborate on the idea that companies should spin off departments? On the face of it, I don't see how that could work, but I probably don't understand your idea fully.

The idea might work better for products than departments.

I worked for an employer who did exactly that when one of the new product/business they'd built wasn't growing (enough?) to warrant more investment. So he set up a couple of the developers working on the product with the rights to the product and helped work out new contracts with the existing handful of clients (it was large enterprise software). There was enough revenue (maintenance contracts) to support the two guys, and so the existing customers were taken care of in terms of maintenance. Worked out pretty well for everyone as far as I know.

Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security

#39

Post by trhway »

jeffreyrogers wrote: post #25
trhway wrote: post #5

this 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…

Amazon has non-competes?

Important point here is that WA and almost all US states do have it while CA (pretty much an exception) - doesn't. Specifically to AMZN - i remember some horror story mentioned here on HN, and googling also brings some stories.

Re: Getting Laid Off in Tech: The Myth of Upper Middle Class Security

#40

Post by sizzzzlerz »

I just passed my 40th anniversary since college working in the valley. I've worked for 3 companies, the current one I'm in my 26th year. Although all 3 companies had one or more periods of downsizing, I was never a part of any of them but I did have to suffer colleagues and friends leaving because of them. It's no more fun for those who are left than for those who are shown the door. The lesson learned from that is your employer is not your friend, not your buddy. You should never expect them to be regardless of what they say in the mission statements. You're employed because you have some value to them. That value goes away, you'll be out the door. Don't ever forget that and plan accordingly.
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