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Final week, Microsoft laid off 6,000 workers—3 p.c of its workforce—bringing the variety of tech workers which have already been laid off in 2025 to just about 60,000, based on layoffs.fyi. In a future version we’ll take into account the position 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 prime suggestion 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 simplest recommendation I’ve is kind of easy: It’s good to determine your benefits and exploit them.
When you do some reflection, you’ll have the ability to determine an extended listing of individuals, assets, or alternatives that you’ve got distinctive entry to. The inquiries to ask your self:
- The place do you could have a robust community of people that may refer you? (That is doubtless your former colleagues or college alumni.)
- The place do you could have confirmed experience in a talent that may very well be helpful for employers? (For instance, being very efficient with web optimization or prompting.)
- What are the domains that you simply’ve been keen about earlier than they grew to become cool? (Saying that you simply’re keen about AI doesn’t depend since everybody appears to be keen about AI as of late.)
The “spray-and-pray” method for job functions shouldn’t be 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 could have 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’s 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. businesses, 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 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 couple of easy methods may help engineers with this widespread 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.
