News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Reports Coming in of Big IBM Layoffs Underway in the U.S.. Parent comment

Re:Reports Coming in of Big IBM Layoffs Underway in the U.S. by gozur88 on Thursday March 03, 2016 @09:25PM (#11221646)
The problem is learning new skills is kind of a catch-22. After you've been doing something for a few years, assuming you're reasonably intelligent, you get to be an expert and command expert wages. Your employer is paying for an expert. He doesn't want to pay you expert wages to learn a a new, marketable skill. He can hire someone who already knows it. Or he can hire a new college grad for a fraction of what you make.

So you learn on your own time. But since you're doing tutorials and what not, and your time isn't infinite, when you actually apply for a job with this new skill your potential employer is going to wonder why he should pay you expert wages for a skill with which you still have effectively no professional experience.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Reports Coming in of Big IBM Layoffs Underway in the U.S. by jjnoakes on Thursday March 03, 2016 @10:22PM (#11221873)
So you take a pay cut and work your way back up. Maybe go from $120k+ to $70k. The sky is not falling...
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Reports Coming in of Big IBM Layoffs Underway in the U.S. by gozur88 on Thursday March 03, 2016 @10:34PM (#11221907)
You can, but only if someone's willing to hire you. Employers are leery of hiring you for substantially less money than you made in the last job. The fear is you're still looking, and a few months down the road (before you've really accomplished anything) you'll quit.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Reports Coming in of Big IBM Layoffs Underway in the U.S. by licoricetic on Thursday March 03, 2016 @10:45PM (#11221949)
There is no need to tell an employer your previous salary.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Reports Coming in of Big IBM Layoffs Underway in the U.S. by gozur88 on Thursday March 03, 2016 @11:10PM (#11221997)
You don't think it affects your job prospects when you refuse?
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Reports Coming in of Big IBM Layoffs Underway in the U.S. by zenlikethat on Thursday March 03, 2016 @11:16PM (#11222014)
If they won't hire you because you won't disclose your salary, you don't want to work for that company anyway.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Reports Coming in of Big IBM Layoffs Underway in the U.S. by mcguire on Friday March 04, 2016 @09:32AM (#11223908)
Problem: cannot find jobs.

Solution: don't want to work for them anyway.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Reports Coming in of Big IBM Layoffs Underway in the U.S. by whatok on Friday March 04, 2016 @07:07AM (#11223223)
I think a much more likely scenario is that you won't get an interview at all. An employer is unlikely to consider you for a junior role that requires < 5 years of experience when you've had > 10 years experience in another field.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Reports Coming in of Big IBM Layoffs Underway in the U.S. by deathtrader666 on Tuesday March 08, 2016 @04:24AM (#11244290)
Well in India recruiters ask for the current salary & expected salary by default. If you don't provide this info, your resume heads to the trash.
[ Parent | on HN ]