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Final week, Microsoft laid off 6,000 staff—3 p.c of its workforce—bringing the variety of tech staff which have already been laid off in 2025 to just about 60,000, in response to layoffs.fyi. In a future version we’ll think about the function AI is enjoying on this, and the way software program engineers ought to safeguard in opposition to ever-smarter LLMs. However for now, I wish to share my high advice when you’ve been laid off.
I simply spoke to a mid-level engineer who was laid off from a Massive Tech firm in London. They had been understandably distraught and feeling demoralized.
The best recommendation I’ve is kind of easy: It’s essential determine your benefits and exploit them.
When you do some reflection, you’ll have the ability to determine a protracted record of individuals, sources, or alternatives that you’ve got distinctive entry to. The inquiries to ask your self:
- The place do you have got a robust community of people that may refer you? (That is possible your former colleagues or college alumni.)
- The place do you have got confirmed experience in a talent that might be useful for employers? (For instance, being very efficient with website positioning or prompting.)
- What are the domains that you just’ve been captivated with earlier than they grew to become cool? (Saying that you just’re captivated with AI doesn’t depend since everybody appears to be captivated with AI nowadays.)
The “spray-and-pray” method for job functions just isn’t solely miserable but additionally ineffective. Please don’t waste your time making use of to random jobs on LinkedIn or Certainly. As an alternative, observe the template established by individuals 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 attempting 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 an alternative, work ahead from distinctive benefits and promising conditions.
—Rahul
Why Engineers Still Need 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 all the time 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 Guide to Fulfillment
How can busy engineers obtain a work-life steadiness? 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.” Just a few easy methods may also help engineers with this frequent problem.
ICYMI: This Man Made the Modem in Your Phone a Reality
In late February, Broadcom cofounder Henry Samueli acquired the 2025 IEEE Medal of Honor for his pioneering work in broadband communication and networking know-how. Examine his profession on this profile from Spectrum senior editor emeritus Tekla Perry.
