I am amazed that most schools do not have a vibrant former student career center. When they have it, it just languishes and no one cares about it.

infinity ag said:

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Just wanted to share something with yall.

My career seems like a snakes and ladders game. Every time I do well at work, have a good boss, good team, love the job, sheet hits the ceiling and the company goes to hell and I lose my job for no fault of mine. I've been stuck at the same level for years and years.

My career luck stinks.

My financial luck is good though, no debt, I make a ton of money every year in the market all that. Financially secure. Something not many can do. My friends seem to be losing money in the market all the time. But their careers seem to be going well but my career luck just is terrible. I have career PTSD. If things go well, I expect a bomb to fall and destroy everything. One such did last week.

---

How so? Aren't you an experienced software engineer with a really good income? What happened recently?

I think insecurities in the workplace can be completely mental. Getting fixated on titles and career ladders and things like that. Probably better to not get in that sort of endless rat race mindset and comparing yourself to others that may be "doing better". Ive found I'd often want nothing to do with their jobs due to the politics and constant headspace required. It's just a job.

infinity ag said:

---

Just wanted to share something with yall.

My career seems like a snakes and ladders game. Every time I do well at work, have a good boss, good team, love the job, sheet hits the ceiling and the company goes to hell and I lose my job for no fault of mine. I've been stuck at the same level for years and years.

My career luck stinks.

My financial luck is good though, no debt, I make a ton of money every year in the market all that. Financially secure. Something not many can do. My friends seem to be losing money in the market all the time. But their careers seem to be going well but my career luck just is terrible. I have career PTSD. If things go well, I expect a bomb to fall and destroy everything. One such did last week.

---

I am in the same boat brother, I could have written this post. I have worked for 3 companies that I really liked and wanted to stay until retirement, 2 of those jobs laid me off, and the other one I left before mass layoffs occurred. The other companies I worked for I didnt like for one reason or another.

On the flip side, I am doing really well financially like yourself. I have a ton of money in different investments, and I could never contribute another dollar to retirement and I will still retire very well off, assuming no long term Great Depression type events. Its a gift and a curse being in this situation, but things could always be worse!

I hope you find something soon and best of luck!

AggiEE said:

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infinity ag said:

---

Just wanted to share something with yall.

My career seems like a snakes and ladders game. Every time I do well at work, have a good boss, good team, love the job, sheet hits the ceiling and the company goes to hell and I lose my job for no fault of mine. I've been stuck at the same level for years and years.

My career luck stinks.

My financial luck is good though, no debt, I make a ton of money every year in the market all that. Financially secure. Something not many can do. My friends seem to be losing money in the market all the time. But their careers seem to be going well but my career luck just is terrible. I have career PTSD. If things go well, I expect a bomb to fall and destroy everything. One such did last week.

---

How so? Aren't you an experienced software engineer with a really good income? What happened recently?

I think insecurities in the workplace can be completely mental. Getting fixated on titles and career ladders and things like that. Probably better to not get in that sort of endless rat race mindset and comparing yourself to others that may be "doing better". Ive found I'd often want nothing to do with their jobs due to the politics and constant headspace required. It's just a job.

---

I was a software engineer with about 11 years in that, and then post MBA I became a Product Manager with about 12-13 years of exp. I am in a bad part of the country (midwest) where product management jobs aren't in plenty. The ones that exist, have bad work culture. I worked at a company remotely for the last close to 2 years and just got laid off. This seems to be a pattern with me. I got the best performance review of my life, launched a lot of products that can have public mention in the news. I enjoyed the job and my coworkers so much. I don't think I will ever find such an awesome place. The company laid off about 12% and I think they are positioning to sell the company. I was working with AI and other hot stuff which is futuristic. This can happen only when management does not care about the future anymore. Many managers working with me also got laid off, they were awesome professionals.

I was at a party last night... my friends all seem to be in stable jobs. They asked me how things are going, I said good. No one knows about my situation and I don't feel comfortable to share. People are very judgey. I know I should not care but I don't want any sympathy or to be a discussion topic. Funnily though, I am the most financially stable among my friends. Most have not paid off their house, most have taken out loans for their kids college while I am debt-free. Life is good, I just cannot get my career to be stable.

For me at this point, getting a higher title is just a check mark from a bucket list. Even if it were meaningless in reality. I know this sounds a bit silly. Once my daughter goes off to college in 2 years, I will GTFO from here and move to the West Coast where jobs are more in plenty. Everyone I know there has done well, my former A&M classmates. I am the doofus who did not move when I had so many chances.

Petrino1 said:

---

infinity ag said:

---

Just wanted to share something with yall.

My career seems like a snakes and ladders game. Every time I do well at work, have a good boss, good team, love the job, sheet hits the ceiling and the company goes to hell and I lose my job for no fault of mine. I've been stuck at the same level for years and years.

My career luck stinks.

My financial luck is good though, no debt, I make a ton of money every year in the market all that. Financially secure. Something not many can do. My friends seem to be losing money in the market all the time. But their careers seem to be going well but my career luck just is terrible. I have career PTSD. If things go well, I expect a bomb to fall and destroy everything. One such did last week.

---

I am in the same boat brother, I could have written this post. I have worked for 3 companies that I really liked and wanted to stay until retirement, 2 of those jobs laid me off, and the other one I left before mass layoffs occurred. The other companies I worked for I didnt like for one reason or another.

On the flip side, I am doing really well financially like yourself. I have a ton of money in different investments, and I could never contribute another dollar to retirement and I will still retire very well off, assuming no long term Great Depression type events. Its a gift and a curse being in this situation, but things could always be worse!

I hope you find something soon and best of luck!

---

Yes, what we are in is an odd combination. Usually people who have career problems also have financial problems. They usually go hand in hand. So I find it off when some of my friends are now Sr Director or VP and still have house debt or have taken out huge college loans. And here I can pay off all college tuition of my older kid who is in college now and comfortably pay off my other kid's college fees who is now in HS. I am thankful for this situation if I had to choose between where I am now and a situation where I had a fancy title but had money problems. I was able to become secure through smart investing and some contrarian moves going against common advice.

Ah well. I remind myself to look at the brighter side and to be thankful for what I do have.

My problem is when I get laid off, I feel the need to be "loved" by a company again so I don't wait for the right one to come along. So it's a bunch of lateral moves for years and years. My strategy going forward is to not to get another role of the same title but a higher one. I will wait it out. Now or never. I interviewed for a VP position and while I know they will not give me that title, a Directory title is also something I will take if they offer it to me.

infinity ag said:

---

AggiEE said:

---

infinity ag said:

---

Just wanted to share something with yall.

My career seems like a snakes and ladders game. Every time I do well at work, have a good boss, good team, love the job, sheet hits the ceiling and the company goes to hell and I lose my job for no fault of mine. I've been stuck at the same level for years and years.

My career luck stinks.

My financial luck is good though, no debt, I make a ton of money every year in the market all that. Financially secure. Something not many can do. My friends seem to be losing money in the market all the time. But their careers seem to be going well but my career luck just is terrible. I have career PTSD. If things go well, I expect a bomb to fall and destroy everything. One such did last week.

---

How so? Aren't you an experienced software engineer with a really good income? What happened recently?

I think insecurities in the workplace can be completely mental. Getting fixated on titles and career ladders and things like that. Probably better to not get in that sort of endless rat race mindset and comparing yourself to others that may be "doing better". Ive found I'd often want nothing to do with their jobs due to the politics and constant headspace required. It's just a job.

---

I was a software engineer with about 11 years in that, and then post MBA I became a Product Manager with about 12-13 years of exp. I am in a bad part of the country (midwest) where product management jobs aren't in plenty. The ones that exist, have bad work culture. I worked at a company remotely for the last close to 2 years and just got laid off. This seems to be a pattern with me. I got the best performance review of my life, launched a lot of products that can have public mention in the news. I enjoyed the job and my coworkers so much. I don't think I will ever find such an awesome place. The company laid off about 12% and I think they are positioning to sell the company. I was working with AI and other hot stuff which is futuristic. This can happen only when management does not care about the future anymore. Many managers working with me also got laid off, they were awesome professionals.

I was at a party last night... my friends all seem to be in stable jobs. They asked me how things are going, I said good. No one knows about my situation and I don't feel comfortable to share. People are very judgey. I know I should not care but I don't want any sympathy or to be a discussion topic. Funnily though, I am the most financially stable among my friends. Most have not paid off their house, most have taken out loans for their kids college while I am debt-free. Life is good, I just cannot get my career to be stable.

For me at this point, getting a higher title is just a check mark from a bucket list. Even if it were meaningless in reality. I know this sounds a bit silly. Once my daughter goes off to college in 2 years, I will GTFO from here and move to the West Coast where jobs are more in plenty. Everyone I know there has done well, my former A&M classmates. I am the doofus who did not move when I had so many chances.

---

Tech jobs are high risk high reward. What you're going through is pretty normal. I'm sure it's absolutely not fun to go through the downturn phase, but it's just part of the industry. You planned intelligently by being a diligent saver and not squandering your high income during the good years.

If you want stability there are plenty of roles out there in the Midwest or LCOL areas. You certainly don't need to move to the coasts, you may simply need a different industry. Won't pay as well, may not be as exciting, but if you're already well off then you're probably just working to simply cover expenses, insurance, and pad the retirement accounts more while you let the portfolio compound. You don't need to save aggressively any longer.

The best time to find a job is when you are employed and getting paid. Waiting for the right title when unemployed because its on a bucket list seems risky. But not my call to make.

AggieMainland said:

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The best time to find a job is when you are employed and getting paid. Waiting for the right title when unemployed because its on a bucket list seems risky. But not my call to make.

---

There is some truth to what you say, I don't deny that. But I have done this exact thing for the past 9 years and moved only laterally. My last job, everything was perfect from my perspective (work, boss, results) but I got hit along with others because the company isn't doing well and is likely to be sold. If I take another lateral role, I sit there for at least another 2 years and at this point it is getting ridiculous. Since I am good financially and make a pretty reliable amount through investments, and my wife is working, I feel I should take a risk. I have historically been very risk-averse which I believe has caused this situation. So at least for now, I feel I should take a shot at a higher titled role, even if pay is same/lower in a smaller company which is more likely to take me (as opposed to a Google or Amazon).

AggiEE said:

---

infinity ag said:

---

AggiEE said:

---

infinity ag said:

---

Just wanted to share something with yall.

My career seems like a snakes and ladders game. Every time I do well at work, have a good boss, good team, love the job, sheet hits the ceiling and the company goes to hell and I lose my job for no fault of mine. I've been stuck at the same level for years and years.

My career luck stinks.

My financial luck is good though, no debt, I make a ton of money every year in the market all that. Financially secure. Something not many can do. My friends seem to be losing money in the market all the time. But their careers seem to be going well but my career luck just is terrible. I have career PTSD. If things go well, I expect a bomb to fall and destroy everything. One such did last week.

---

How so? Aren't you an experienced software engineer with a really good income? What happened recently?

I think insecurities in the workplace can be completely mental. Getting fixated on titles and career ladders and things like that. Probably better to not get in that sort of endless rat race mindset and comparing yourself to others that may be "doing better". Ive found I'd often want nothing to do with their jobs due to the politics and constant headspace required. It's just a job.

---

I was a software engineer with about 11 years in that, and then post MBA I became a Product Manager with about 12-13 years of exp. I am in a bad part of the country (midwest) where product management jobs aren't in plenty. The ones that exist, have bad work culture. I worked at a company remotely for the last close to 2 years and just got laid off. This seems to be a pattern with me. I got the best performance review of my life, launched a lot of products that can have public mention in the news. I enjoyed the job and my coworkers so much. I don't think I will ever find such an awesome place. The company laid off about 12% and I think they are positioning to sell the company. I was working with AI and other hot stuff which is futuristic. This can happen only when management does not care about the future anymore. Many managers working with me also got laid off, they were awesome professionals.

I was at a party last night... my friends all seem to be in stable jobs. They asked me how things are going, I said good. No one knows about my situation and I don't feel comfortable to share. People are very judgey. I know I should not care but I don't want any sympathy or to be a discussion topic. Funnily though, I am the most financially stable among my friends. Most have not paid off their house, most have taken out loans for their kids college while I am debt-free. Life is good, I just cannot get my career to be stable.

For me at this point, getting a higher title is just a check mark from a bucket list. Even if it were meaningless in reality. I know this sounds a bit silly. Once my daughter goes off to college in 2 years, I will GTFO from here and move to the West Coast where jobs are more in plenty. Everyone I know there has done well, my former A&M classmates. I am the doofus who did not move when I had so many chances.

---

Tech jobs are high risk high reward. What you're going through is pretty normal. I'm sure it's absolutely not fun to go through the downturn phase, but it's just part of the industry. You planned intelligently by being a diligent saver and not squandering your high income during the good years.

If you want stability there are plenty of roles out there in the Midwest or LCOL areas. You certainly don't need to move to the coasts, you may simply need a different industry. Won't pay as well, may not be as exciting, but if you're already well off then you're probably just working to simply cover expenses, insurance, and pad the retirement accounts more while you let the portfolio compound. You don't need to save aggressively any longer.

---

Well, I think I am cursed just like Aggie football.

Every since I moved into Product Management in the Midwest city that I live in, things have been weird. My first job that I got to break into Prod Mgmt, I took a 9% pay-cut but after 2 years my boss tried to get rid of me so he could get a friend of his from another team to take my place. So I left and joined a smaller company. That started the layoff sequence. 4 in a row. All 4 companies were sold after I joined or eventually sold, so none of the 4 companies exist now. The last of the 4 was a good job too, so I was devastated. I quickly jumped into another one but the work culture of this 100 year old company was terribly toxic. I left in 2 years and joined this last company which was a dream come true. Was this a job or a fun adventure? I worked my ass off and enjoyed it too. But my bad luck struck and I, along with many good employees, got laid off and I see all the signs of a sale of company and possibly more layoffs there.

I have been here in this city after moving from College Station and it's been 25 years. When my younger one goes to college, I plan on moving and getting a change in scenery. I made the BIG mistake of not moving there as soon as possible in the late 90s and early 00s. My friends who did move to the Bay are doing well and one just became a Sr VP. My other A&M friend was Chief Product Officer at one point. Others started companies. Now I cannot go back and undo my dumb mistake but I can do the next best thing. Oh well.

Shanerbock06 said:

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Emerson (formerly NI - National Instruments) just had a large layoff... with more to come. My wife got caught up in this last round.

---

I was talking to some friends at NI about that and hyping them up that everything was going to be ok. They all made it through! Then I got cut with no warning yesterday. I'm surprised but also not surprised.

Just checked with them again and yeah, looks like more are expected. Dang

On the other hand, I am looking at this as an opportunity!

At my previous company (I am still an official employee as of today but not for long) things were getting too static and I was probably getting too comfortable. The financial situation of the company could have meant that no promotion was also on the cards. They would have had to move my boss to Sr Director before making me Director (his job). The job also paid on the lower side of what I should be getting for my experience/education. My job at the 100 year old toxic place before that gave out huge bonuses though the base was slightly lower. Overall my current job paid me less though the job experience was amazing and the people I worked with were top class.

I have been called by 2 companies, one for Director and one for VP. I have decided to restrict myself to only Director+ roles. No more "Senior Manager", I went on a horrendous 13 year skid with the same title (except for 2 years in the middle) because companies I joined got bought and then I got laid off and would be back at square one. Now it is Director or I don't play ball. I am willing to wait. I just had initial phone screens with both companies and for the Director job (hybrid and in my city) the recruiter told me he will set up some time with the next round to talk to another person. The VP job is with a smaller startup hence riskier but I am okay with risk in exchange for advancement. I don't depend on my salary to run my house anyway and my wife works with a good salary so we can manage well. Time to take risks now.

So let's see what happens! I am trying to keep a positive outlook and I recommend that to everyone here looking. It is in the mind. Take control of it. I do get depressed at times when I see some friends and of my age in C level jobs but I just block that out after a while.

Eliminatus said:

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Shanerbock06 said:

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Emerson (formerly NI - National Instruments) just had a large layoff... with more to come. My wife got caught up in this last round.

---

I was talking to some friends at NI about that and hyping them up that everything was going to be ok. They all made it through! Then I got cut with no warning yesterday. I'm surprised but also not surprised.

Just checked with them again and yeah, looks like more are expected. Dang

---

National Instruments, ha!
I remember going to the campus event they had at A&M with a friend back in 1998 and after the talk they said they would consider only if your GPA was above 3.5. I was not. The friend I was with had it and submitted his resume and eventually got hired and joined.

I blame this friend for why I did not go to the Bay Area and ended up in the Midwest instead. He convinced me back then that the Bay was expensive. So I chickened out. I kid about blaming him of course, it is ultimately my own fault.