Gates: "Where are the computer science students" 4147

In my divisions of these large companies, the technical staff was the last to go. Mind you, we are the consulting division of the companies and technically speaking, I am a manager, however, in reality, I am a senior consultant, a TECHNICAL consultant who designs networks....Anyhow, the consultants were immune to the layoffs because we are the product, we are the ones who bill....Not a cost center as most of IT is viewed in the private and public sectors.

My comment about it all is to find something that makes you happy and keep yourself marketable. I have been a fortunate person in never being laidoff. I know this is an odd thing, but it goes to being marketable...with your skills. I saw a shift from building out large networks to apps to PM to security...I have had friends who stayed with one technology past its lifecycle and yes, they were expendible. You have to adapt as well....

This is indeed an exepction and not a rule. I think IT as a whole has changed becuase it is now all around us. Supply has met demand to a certain extent, although every company I consult at has open req's. As a matter of fact, you know anyone who knows PeopleSoft FINANCIALS, not the HR stuff??? And, if you know any CISSP folks, I have another job offer for you. Regarding my skills, I have had 4 job offers this past month. Not looking, but companies trying to recruit me. Another friend,who was laidoff because the entier industry is going downhill has several interviews as well. The jobs are out there; I just suspect employers are being more picky.

I also had a friend very recently who was let go at another very large firm as a manager (merger-acquistion and his position was no longer needed). He has opted to come back into the technical consulting field.

I know nothing about development, but from my angle, the market is still not so tight for *qualified* people. Entry level, perhaps, but not qualified folks.

Yep, I have friends over at HP in the consulting division and they have said that the only impact to their group is hiring freeze, but no layoffs YET. I think you get excited a bit in your summation...Never did I say all managers nor would I ever say that. Personally, I have had good and bad managers, but the same is true with the "underlings" who report to them. I just think that we are ALL accountable and if the work is changing, the workforce should as well. And in many of these large companies, being in middle management is just as crappy as being an "underling." To make the good money, you gotta be an executive :-p.

Regarding benefits...I agree....Rich McGinn over at Lucent received a lovely package after running Lucent into the ground. And Pat Russo received another lovely one for taking on the evils McGinn left her. Do I think some of upper management (in particular many of the C-types at these Fortune 500 companies) are selfish greedy pigs? Oh hell yeah. It's a special club that requires a lack of conscience, or so it appears by their hefty severance packages...

That is just my opinion, and opinions are just like a specicial orifice on the body...we all have one that spews out all sorts of stuff :-).