As has been widely reported, Sun Microsystems laid off a number of people on Thursday. That number included most of my project team and me, since the project I was managing was cancelled.
Over the nearly four years I was at Sun I learned a lot, contributed what I could, and had fun working with some excellent people. Some of them are still there; others, like me, are now figuring out their next steps. These days it’s easier to keep in touch, for which I am grateful.
What’s next? I’m not really sure. First I’ll take some time off, help out with Northern Voice, finish off reconfiguring my basement firewall/website system, do some house and cottage renovations, catch up on my crafts, and think about what I want to do next. Eventually some good opportunity will come my way that I can’t resist; ideas and leads are welcome.
Sorry to hear about this, will keep my ears open.
Sorry to hear this news, Lauren.
Take care.
I’m sure you must be upset — nobody likes being laid-off. Hopefully you got some financial compensation, and will enjoy having some time off. I’m really enjoying being off work, myself. Although my leave was by choice, not lay-off, I still think that it would not have been my first choice if life’s situations were not as they are; I love working. Try to keep the nanny if you can afford it. Take some time to yourself. Some say job hunting is a full-time job itself.
Enjoy the time off Lauren. I’m sure you’ll find something to interest you when you come back to the race!
Ah, the joys of the tech economy. I last experienced the same kind of layoff in 2001, and while I had liked my job at the time, things worked out better for me over the next few years after that.
In retrospect, though, I was freaked out enough that I started doing freelance work right away, and it might have been better for me to take a bit of a break as you are. We’ll see you at Northern Voice!
Derek: tech layoffs get all the press but let me assure you that the blue collar and hourly workforce are going through these as well, as we always have, and 99% of us are not protected by contracts and we don’t get the nice packages that Microsoft and Sun hand out. The “joys”, as you call them, are everywhere; we just don’t get the headlines.
Sorry to hear the news. I’m sure you got a decent package. I didn’t take much time off from the job hunt and I wish I had. Make sure to set some very specific goals that you’d like to accomplish, then dive back into the market when you are ready. It will probably get better after a bit anyways!
My sympathies, Lauren (having been laid off a couple of years ago myself, and having ended my last contract a month ago)
Basically, I agree with what Airdrie said (and keep control of the home chores list!)
72,000 jobs evaporated yesterday in the US. Hard sledding.
I went almost a year without work except for music gigs and as the money side of the support team (aka, marriage), it was a scary ride. On the other hand, I used the time to build River of Life and I’m right proud of that. When the next opportunity came along, it was better in every way including the power to liberate some colleagues and friends from their bad gigs. That job came from the light pro bono standards work on CAP. Attention to dharma means good karma, and you’ve got a trawler load, so no worries.
It’s a gift wrapped in newspapers that otherwise wrap fish. The upside is you are well-prepared and in demand, which is more than one can say for the fish.
Good luck, Lauren, I’m sure whatever you do will be done well.
Looks like Northern Voice will be cool, too.
Liam
Sorry to hear that, Lauren. I’m sure something will turn up for you soon. See you at Northern Voice!
Being laid off, even at the best of times, is a blow — but ultimately, I’m sure you’ll end up somewhere better. You certainly have the support of a wide circle of people who want to help you through to your next phase.
Lauren:
I am sorry to hear that Sun is doing another downturn. If there is anything at all that I can help with, please don’t hesitate to let me know! If John hadn’t got laid off by DEC I would never have had the courage to strike out on my own. There is always a silver liner.
Keep us informed of your next moves and the best of luck!!
Lauren, sorry to hear this news. It’s our loss but here’s hoping you enjoy the time and that another opportunity comes up soon.
Lauren, I hope very much that you eventually can look back at this as another positive milestone in your life. You have great talents and spirit — whatever you do will benefit greatly from your involvement. And economic downturns are never downturns in the flow of ideas or of things that need doing and things which are exciting to do.
timbl
Although I echo what Tim says, I would add that you should be celebrating a release — not bemoaning a “bad turn”.
The residue of the imperative to accept even the most benign forms of wage slavery besets us all from time to time. After all didn’t god say we’re supposed to tug our forelocks to the king?
There’s a Lenny Bruce piece about a guy who loses wife, etc. and the Chinese waiter’s response is “You betta off!”
Even if you have to live “under the bridge”, it won’t really matter because you have, among a great many other things, you. I hate to play my age card but hard as it is to accept, your life is just beginning. The best that’s yet to come will be superlative. And I know this from experience.
Love.