Madame deVenoge Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 20 hours ago, Underfoot said: On the topic of layoffs - my company abruptly and seemingly randomly cut thousands today too, which is terrifying. No notice, you just wake up locked out and unemployed. I'm very fortunate to not be affected, but it makes me very nervous. What are the types of things to think about doing to be prepped for a sudden layoff, aside from the baseline of having enough money to survive unemployment for 3-12 months. Thinking of, what types of records should I keep hard copies of, how to prep my 401k, etc. The most important thing is your personal data. What do you have on your work computer that is truly yours (examples: pictures of your kids, your resume, whatever). Make sure you have a backup that you have sent to yourself or transferred to your personal computer. Other than that, just make sure you have some savings. Underfoot and Wade1865 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datepalm Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 I haven't been laid off (uh, because I'm not actually employed) but unspooling weirdness at my university, given substantial post strike raises, means there will de-facto be massive non-hiring (and possibly non-admission) of graduate students next academic year (meaning also no instructional capacity for undergraduate teaching. There has been no explanation how this will be dealt with either). I'm towards the end of my PhD so right in line to be affected by this. The union claims the whole thing is illegal, but its unclear how anything can play out or what ability it has to affect it. Notes from department faculty meeting read "they are trying to destroy us." I've had a couple of first-round interviews for academic jobs for next year, but nothing especially encouraging. It may yet all work out, or not. Kalnestk Oblast, Underfoot, dog-days and 1 other 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkess Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 I mean it seems pretty logical that if they have to pay a lot more for grad students, they're going to take fewer students. Hopefully it doesn't affect you! Well, I did it and quit my job, last day is next Friday. As relieved and happy as I feel, I know it was 100% the right decision. But it sure doesn't feel like good timing... I'm waiting to hear back on a job I interviewed for--I was one of the final candidates and they said they wanted to "move fast" so I think I should know soon. If that doesn't pan out, I've got some real thinking to do about my career path. Wade1865 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbigski Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 On 1/27/2023 at 8:54 PM, Starkess said: I mean it seems pretty logical that if they have to pay a lot more for grad students, they're going to take fewer students. Hopefully it doesn't affect you! Well, I did it and quit my job, last day is next Friday. As relieved and happy as I feel, I know it was 100% the right decision. But it sure doesn't feel like good timing... I'm waiting to hear back on a job I interviewed for--I was one of the final candidates and they said they wanted to "move fast" so I think I should know soon. If that doesn't pan out, I've got some real thinking to do about my career path. Just curious what you're looking for. Had the impression you were on the academic track. Got to say though, if the global satellite grid collapses you're the most qualified person I can think of for astrolabe navigation, which is nice to have in your back pocket. Wade1865 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkess Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 10 minutes ago, mcbigski said: Just curious what you're looking for. Had the impression you were on the academic track. Got to say though, if the global satellite grid collapses you're the most qualified person I can think of for astrolabe navigation, which is nice to have in your back pocket. I finished up my PhD last year, but wasn't interested in the typical academic route. Pivoted into science communication, but my first job in that vein was a poor fit, so now I'm leaving after just 6 months. I think I still want to do scicomm, but feeling pretty skittish about it after such a big fail. Possibly considering moving into a more techy track, data science or similar, but I'm not sure yet. I'm feeling pretty discouraged about ever finding something that works for me, but I guess all I can do is keep trying! Wade1865 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcbigski Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 Not to get all Thomas Edison here, but failure is always a possible outcome whereas persistence is the mother of success. Or something like that. Only guessing what science communication involves, and I've become cynical enough to wonder if the folks bank rolling a lot of those jobs are looking less to nurture free thinkers than to enforce conformity. But that's my issue. You seem to have a passion for sharing knowledge, don't settle for anything different. Wade1865 and Starkess 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IheartIheartTesla Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 [obligatory Thomas Edison diss here]. Another option you might want to consider is one of those 'popular science' magazines that have a bit more focus on the technical aspects of science rather than the breathless sound bites regular news magazines have. I am thinking something like Quanta or Ars Technica, although I've been a bit disappointed with the former in recent times (for instance, that whole 'wormhole in a lab' debacle). Maybe what they need is more rigor in their scientific reporting.... I wouldnt discount industrial jobs either, you can still do a lot of cool science and some fundamental work on the side with necessary. Some companies collaborate with universities closely, if you still want to step away from applied stuff once in a while. Wade1865 and Starkess 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datepalm Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 On 1/28/2023 at 4:54 AM, Starkess said: I mean it seems pretty logical that if they have to pay a lot more for grad students, they're going to take fewer students. Hopefully it doesn't affect you! The wage was really unlivable before (as low as 22k annual in the Bay Area) so something has to give... There was a study somewhere that people that move jobs more end up with better earnings and greater satisfaction, so it seems like a while of trial and error is called for... Wade1865, Tywin et al. and Starkess 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade1865 Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 1 hour ago, IheartIheartTesla said: I wouldnt discount industrial jobs either, you can still do a lot of cool science and some fundamental work on the side with necessary. Some companies collaborate with universities closely, if you still want to step away from applied stuff once in a while. Towards the end of my career, we were offered follow-on training. For fun and exposure, I enrolled into the (machine) industrial side and was impressed by the instructors and students. They weren’t the ex-cons and heavily tattooed civilians I expected to be interacting with, hahaha. Students (surprisingly young, early 20s, and several teenagers) would graduate and move into some relatively good positions. Notably, one girl in her twenties went to Embry-Riddle starting at over 50K USD, while the others (overwhelmingly men) also started in great local and regional jobs, averaging 36K. On the other hand, the instructions with decades of line experience looked beat down and prematurely aged; good men, though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dog-days Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 Good luck @Starkess. I've been in jobs before that I really wasn't suited to, and after moving to a different sector, the feeling of not having to get up in the morning and go do something I was wrong for was a huge relief and a liberation. A joy, really. Seven or so years on, remembering that I'm not doing X is still a way I can cheer myself up. I'm just coming to the end of a week of annual leave, and now, in a different field, I'm actually quite happy to be going back to work. Wade1865 and Starkess 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkess Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 Thanks everyone! I'm sure I'll find something. Job hunting is always nervewracking though and I know I violated the cardinal rule by quitting before I had another one. But I know it's all going to work out, somehow! My current position has now been listed and my boss posted about it on his LinkedIn and I was like "damn that sounds really cool!" and then I was like...but wait...haha. It's hard that something that sounds on paper so perfect for me felt so awful, but that's how it goes I guess. Just makes me second guess everything that even sounds interesting now... dog-days, Wade1865 and Madame deVenoge 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madame deVenoge Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 I have a strained relationship with my boss, and I really hate sitting on a trading floor as I need to do things that require intense concentration for a living. I sometimes work from home, but then I’m filled with anxiety and dread that I’m going to miss out on something vital or that people are plotting to get me fired. Urg. Secretary of Eumenes and Wade1865 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tywin et al. Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 On 2/1/2023 at 1:41 PM, Starkess said: Just makes me second guess everything that even sounds interesting now... Don't let one bad experience affect you too much or shape how you view other career options. It happens, and probably will happen again multiple times in your life going forward. Just learn from it and use the free time you have now to pursue other enriching things until you lock up the next gig. It will happen for you eventually. 56 minutes ago, Chataya de Fleury said: or that people are plotting to get me fired. People suck. It's why we can't have nice things. Starkess and Madame deVenoge 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secretary of Eumenes Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 (edited) 1 hour ago, Chataya de Fleury said: I have a strained relationship with my boss, and I really hate sitting on a trading floor as I need to do things that require intense concentration for a living. I sometimes work from home, but then I’m filled with anxiety and dread that I’m going to miss out on something vital or that people are plotting to get me fired. Urg. Just trying to be constructive. Take or leave the following: Money good? Gooder than dread of plotting? (I'm familiar with plotting, Honey. Don't ever feel paranoid about snake-in-the-grass motherfuckers at work. Feel ALERT ) What would happen if they fired you? What would happen if they didn't fire you? (Will your situation improve on its own, essentially?) Do you have access to where they keep their lunches? What's up? What are you feelin? Do you HATE your job? Or just some of the stuff involved with it? Do you have someone better to talk to about this stuff than me? Please say "yes" to that last one at least... Edited February 7 by Secretary of Eumenes Wade1865 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade1865 Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 21 minutes ago, Secretary of Eumenes said: Do you have access to where they keep their lunches? Secretary of Eumenes -- what do you mean? What exactly are you suggesting Chataya de Fleury should do to her colleagues? Secretary of Eumenes and Madame deVenoge 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Secretary of Eumenes Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 4 minutes ago, Wade1865 said: Secretary of Eumenes -- what do you mean? What exactly are you suggesting Chataya de Fleury should do to her colleagues? You have me exactly. I actually spent a moment googling whether teardrops actually cause nausea or vomiting because I distantly recall seeing something to that effect in one of the infinite-list grotesque teen/young adult comedies of the VHS era They do not, Google told me Which is why I didn't go with that Wade1865 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade1865 Posted February 7 Share Posted February 7 2 hours ago, Chataya de Fleury said: I have a strained relationship with my boss, and I really hate sitting on a trading floor as I need to do things that require intense concentration for a living. I sometimes work from home, but then I’m filled with anxiety and dread that I’m going to miss out on something vital or that people are plotting to get me fired. Chataya de Fleury -- another interesting glimpse into the corporate world, thank you for sharing! Your description reflects my former profession. Often, I'd be compelled to work on a trading floor-equivalent, known as a TOC or TAC. Likewise, it's challenging to do focused work in a place that often approximated a schoolyard. More, working elsewhere would have been a social and professional liability. I understand Secretary of Eumenes and Madame deVenoge 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dog-days Posted March 10 Share Posted March 10 (edited) Frustrated at work. Middle and senior managers keep chasing after new projects while avoiding cross-departmental collaboration as if they might catch something nasty from listening to someone else's ideas. Communication is terrible. The work of maintaining our current offering (and often of following through on managerial ideas) falls on the lower orders, but after many structural changes plus staff leaving, any procedures that were in place seem to have been forgotten, and things are constantly being overlooked (because of lousy processes) that wouldn't be if the relevant individuals cared about more than adding the Shiny to their CVs. Competent staff leave or get sick. My boss is a good person, but also much more interested in his own projects than in being a proactive team manager. And he's worn out from the same entrenched organisational nonsense that's been getting to me, and overworked anyway in that he has a dual technical/managerial role. I'm not sure when/if he'll notice that we're all overdue for appraisals. Wouldn't have thought I'd ever miss them, but in the right hands they can create the illusion that you're valued as more than a disposable flesh robot. I've been working at weekends most weekends since November to keep up with the amount of stuff that comes my way. (Context: I am a Grade 4 minion.) And now I'm going to electro-shock mercenaries in Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Edited March 10 by dog-days Madame deVenoge and Underfoot 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madame deVenoge Posted March 10 Share Posted March 10 @dog-days - ah, do we work together? Because….seriously, this sounds like legit everywhere I’ve ever worked. Or maybe I choose unhealthy relationships, while you accidentally fell into one. I dunno. All I know is that I’m doing an HBO “Industry” re-watch and thought to myself “wow, there’s way less sex and drugs than I remembered” Until I realized I had normalized a lot of things. dog-days 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dog-days Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 10 hours ago, Chataya de Fleury said: @dog-days - ah, do we work together? Because….seriously, this sounds like legit everywhere I’ve ever worked. Or maybe I choose unhealthy relationships, while you accidentally fell into one. I dunno. All I know is that I’m doing an HBO “Industry” re-watch and thought to myself “wow, there’s way less sex and drugs than I remembered” Until I realized I had normalized a lot of things. All unhappy organisations are the same, all happy organisations are happy in their own way? Madame deVenoge 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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