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Final week, Microsoft laid off 6,000 workers—3 % of its workforce—bringing the variety of tech workers which have already been laid off in 2025 to almost 60,000, in accordance with layoffs.fyi. In a future version we’ll contemplate the position AI is taking part in on this, and the way software program engineers ought to safeguard towards ever-smarter LLMs. However for now, I need to share my high advice in case you’ve been laid off.
I simply spoke to a mid-level engineer who was laid off from a Huge Tech firm in London. They had been understandably distraught and feeling demoralized.
The best recommendation I’ve is kind of easy: You want to determine your benefits and exploit them.
When you do some reflection, you’ll be capable of determine an extended record of individuals, assets, or alternatives that you’ve got distinctive entry to. The inquiries to ask your self:
- The place do you have got a powerful community of people that might refer you? (That is possible your former colleagues or faculty alumni.)
- The place do you have got confirmed experience in a ability that could possibly be invaluable for employers? (For instance, being very efficient with website positioning or prompting.)
- What are the domains that you just’ve been keen about earlier than they grew to become cool? (Saying that you just’re keen about AI doesn’t depend since everybody appears to be keen about AI today.)
The “spray-and-pray” strategy for job functions shouldn’t be solely miserable but in addition ineffective. Please don’t waste your time making use of to random jobs on LinkedIn or Certainly. As a substitute, observe the template established by folks with probably the most enviable careers: discover positions the place you have got an “in.”
Too many engineers determine a buzzy firm and use the usual approaches in making an attempt to land a job. In an age the place the market is flooded with job seekers, there may be an excessive amount of competitors for this to be efficient. As a substitute, work ahead from distinctive benefits and promising conditions.
—Rahul
Why Engineers Nonetheless Want the Humanities
Amid widespread funding cuts to many U.S. companies, humanities analysis grants are being slashed. Historian and IEEE Spectrum contributor Allison Marsh explains how engineering is, and at all times has been entwined with the humanities. “The bygone engineers of the twentieth century acknowledged this sturdy bond to the humanities,” Marsh writes.
Balancing Work and Life: An Engineer’s Information to Achievement
How can busy engineers obtain a work-life stability? The important thing to managing your profession and private life may very well lie in reframing the query. “Cease viewing work and life as opposites and begin recognizing how they complement one another.” A number of easy methods will help engineers with this widespread problem.
ICYMI: This Man Made the Modem in Your Telephone a Actuality
In late February, Broadcom cofounder Henry Samueli acquired the 2025 IEEE Medal of Honor for his pioneering work in broadband communication and networking expertise. Examine his profession on this profile from Spectrum senior editor emeritus Tekla Perry.
