one MEEN Ag said:
htxag09 said:
Yes, but my point is a lot of people are trying to run from O&G to big tech for that reason, among others. Just pointing out that's not something you'll be escaping. They may have better benefits and seem to treat employees better. But they're just as dispensable at the end of the day
Right, but in tech your employer might change more often, your skills are still in high demand and there's a place to land. I've never met a software engineer who was worried if their company was going to go under or not. If they're salaried, they just jump ship to the next company that needs software development (all of them).
O&G and Tech are very similar in the sense that this line of employment is quite risky. Very much boom/bust.
Obviously that risk for tech hasn't materialized this decade, but it was very real throughout the early 00s. Valuations for tech companies are stretched. When a significant correction occurs, the executives will be instituting large RIF and curtailing the generous RSU comps.
So, it entirely depends on the business environment as to whether those skills will be in demand. There is quite a big push on the supply side coming out of colleges due to the earnings potential of big tech. But one severe cyclical correction is all it takes for the bean counters to start seriously looking at the bottom line, start laying off older workers, and relying heavily on new talent out of college.
Prior to 2015 it seemed unfathomable in O&G as well for some that weren't too clued in on the cyclical and deep nature of boom/bust cycles.