That hasnt been my experience. Maybe it's my ego, but I always go in thinking that I'm good at what I do and that I will be the last man standing, I survived three rounds of layoffs at a former company, was laid off when the company laid off everyone but four people when it was acquired, and even then I negotiated a deal to work as a contractor for one of our customers. The company was very up front about its prospects.

The next time around, during a reorganization at another company, I not only wasn't laid off, I got a promotion. I don't think I play politics I just know how to be effective.