Hi y'all, I've been looking for work full time since Nov 2021 and have been watching this whole “not a recession” thing collapse in real time. Some muses and a legit question:
- Recruiting agencies are two, sometimes three deep until we hit who we're actually doing the work for. Diverse Lynx > Tata Consultancy > Google for instance. Every step in this chain is more money off our regular wages. Companies like this are thriving on exclusivity agreements and are treating us like bounties. They don't even know the words / acronyms on the job postings.
- It's not about who you know any more. Referrals don't help hiring freezes, Chapter 11s, etc. They do, however, help in calling out where NOT to work. Keep that network up and your heads low.
- I think More people now want to work than ever. They want to succeed via their work. Value statements have shifted more in the last 5 years than I believe since the Vietnam war. People took a good look at what life is outside of kiting their own career and said, “wait, no. that's dumb. we can do better.” old managers that are harping on “culture” being the main reason to come back to work don't give two shits about success, they care about keeping their own jobs in the face of changing values. they're being left behind and are in panic mode. The “culture” is their meal ticket. It's like the difference between Waterfall and Agile. the old guard sees a threat and they're reacting.
- Perceived employee fealty is king out there right now. It's not loyalty, that goes two ways. Do what you're told and shut up while we slit 5% of our workforce. Got COVID? see you tomorrow. Here's your pay cut. Have you ever left a job? Why? What's your previous 5 supervisors' phone numbers? Pee in this cup. Do it again tomorrow. This is the old guard I mentioned in 3.
- the question: What next? Sometimes I interview 6 times to be told “we think you'll be bored here.” They're right; i'm interviewing for an escape room attendant next week because they were at least straightforward with pay (not enough) and i think it'd be a wild ride. Legitimately, however, I'm 5 PM certifications, a college degree, 15 years experience in Network / Infra / Ops Leadership and I've been coming up dry for two years. I don't believe I'm doing anything wrong, but having noticed 1-4 i think I've got my issue. I'm looking for paths through.
Thanks for listening.