Job Loss

[Punisher2000]

I found out yesterday that I am being laid off. I have until the end of August to do the traditional 'knowledge transfer' while 'meeting expectations' and 'maintaining values of the organization'. I am not a malicious person and I fully intend to continue to do my job to the best of my ability. I certainly do need 7.5 years of my life tossed out by having a lousy job reference.

What sucks is that I'm not the only one. My employer is essentially abondoning the city. To quote:

They are designed to enhance our ability to deliver key programs, increase our team’s performance and improve customer satisfaction.

... and more ...

The reason we are making this move is because it will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our team, and it supports our transformation to a high-performance team environment. Having team members in fewer locations will:

1. Facilitate communication, promote teamwork and improve knowledge sharing. Fewer locations also allows for more face-to-face interaction, which means people will be better informed and engaged.

2. Allow for better coaching, development opportunities and career pathing.

3. Enable more effective resourcing for projects.

4. Reduce infrastructure, overhead and administrative costs.

So... My skill set is as follows:

Java, JavaScript, Visual Basic, VBScript, WebSphere MQ, WebSphere MQ Integrator, Windows O/S (all flavours), Oracle (SQL, PL/SQL), HTML. A slew of other products and technologies in varying degrees of expertise.

I've already decided to take LINUX Admin training. Anyone have any other suggestions? What about web-based technologies like WebSphere, PHP, etc...

THANKS!

Trying to stay positive...

 

[Kwah]

They're moving out of Calgary? The hell, calgary is getting bigger from what I gather in the tech area.

 

[djnes]

Sorry to hear that. One closed door always opens another.

I am a little surprised though, we actually moved things to Canada to save money.

Keep in mind in this economy, a lay off doesn't usually mean anything about you personally. It's just a business decision made without emotion or human compassion.

 

[Phoenix86]

I would not 'transfer knowledge' to someone replacing me. It's just me, but they hired to to perform a job, where is training your replacement on your job duties? Do your job, but don't train the replacement on things outside of procedure. So for example, show them the process, but not how to do it. If they are already know what they are doing they will arelady know how. If you have to teach them how, you are now educating them, something they should already have.

I'm not supporting the 'outsourcing' of my knowledge. It's happened to me once, and I didn't 'refuse' to train them, they just didn't learn how I do things.

 

[Xeese]

Dude - if you have until August get your resume together this weekend and talk with some recruiters/headhunters. Nothing wrong with getting a job in April and leaving the current one before your replacement was fully trained.

 

[punisher]

I have had the misfortune of working for two companies that went tits up while I was employed by them. I thought I was cursed for a few years. Fortunately both times I went on to bigger and better things. Been my experience if you are competent, things will work out.

 

[theNoid]

Always a bummer. Atleast they were professional enough to give you until August to find another job. Just hop on the wagon and interview wherever possible. Good luck.

 

[BlindedByScience]

...as much as I sympathize with anyone laid off / "outsourced" / whatever, G[H] isn't a resume posting forum.

Good luck - B.B.S.