You don't need me to tell you that job security is a thing of the past. It used to be that code-cutting competence was a ticket to bushels of stock options and early retirement on your own Caribbean island. All that has changed. Companies of all kinds are downsizing, and the IT department is not immune to the effects of the layoff ax.
Odds are, you are already a member of a virtual workgroup with members located in Brazil or India. If you are lucky, your company has announced its plans to outsource software development early enough to allow you a few weeks of resume-polishing before you are politely shown to the door.
What do you do when you are downsized out of a company you hoped to work for until retirement?
(I should mention at this point that I am no expert on this subject. I was ousted from my position in high-tech publishing years ago after selling my company, and a noncompete agreement kept me from returning to the field in which I had spent my whole career. I built a small consulting practice, which engaged me more or less full-time until the economy slumped and I decided to return to Columbia University to pick up a long-postponed degree in literature – which turned out not to be a ticket to high-demand employability. But that's a long story and I decline to relive the experience without a beer at my elbow. I hope to tell you the tale soon at an industry conference.)
So. What's a laid-off techie to do?
I like Stephanie Buck's advice at Mashable. Instead of the tired old advice you read everywhere – “make sure your LinkedIn profile is current” – Buck provides a tangible list of 51 real resources for high-tech job hunters. Her advice is specific and provocative. I'm not going to reproduce it here. Read her article and see for yourself.
And while we're on the topic:
Web recommendation: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Technology Review magazine is packed with fascinating articles. It isn't devoted solely to software development or even to computer technology – the focus is broader, straying into unlikely but promising fields such as biomedicine and energy technology. Take my advice – don't visit this site unless you have time to spare, because your first visit is likely to be an hours-long dive into dozens of irresistible articles. Great stuff. J.D. says check it out.
J.D. Hildebrand has written hundreds of articles for dozens of publications and online communities dedicated to software development. He recently relocated to a small town outside Belgrade – stop by if your travels take you through Serbia.