Job Search

Here Come The Sony Job Cuts

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Looks like 10,000 people are being cut.  You can get more details here at layoffwatch.

Takeaways

  • Issues with the Japanese economy and the TV market seem to be a big part of this.
  • This is not the first time Sony has done big layoffs – in fact they’ve done some with selloffs and consolidation recently.  I’d say this is more of a trend.
  • The cuts are, obviously, in the display area.  Half the cuts are unspecified – so get ready for politics.
  • Some execs are being asked to return their bonuses.  This may be an act to force contrition and look like accountability – which I buy.  So I think Sony has an image concern.
  • Considering Sony’s reach this could affect various Geekonomic-heavy cities/areas, so pay attention.

– Steven Savage

How A Helpful Letter Produced A Firestorm

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OK, clearly I missed the whole Shea Gunther drama, so let me recap.

  • Monday, Mr. Gunther sends out an email to people who applied to a job for a cleantech news site, listing criticisms and giving advice on the job search process. It hit the newsat the Guardian.
  • This hit the Gakwer network, who posted it in a rather negative context.
  • This produced what we technically call a “shitstorm” and Mr. Gunther ended up with a predictable amount of trolls and insults – as well as people praising him. Though the usual dogpile of would-be internet tough guys/gals is odd to see as this is about job search advice, and I don’t get why it’d get people that riled up.  Mr. Gunther summarizes the experience here.
  • You can read his entire list of advice in this Scribd document.

I’ve read it Know what? It’s good advice. In fact, I advise that anyone read it, as his tips are accurate, if skewed towards the writing positions in question. Mr. Gunther lists a whole lot of trends that are troublesome, gives advice, and makes good points about what people do wrong.

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Ask A Progeek – The Job/Experience Issue

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And our question this week is one that a lot of people ask:

How do you make the jump between “mall/retail/survival job” and “real job,” considering the chicken-egg situation happening with jobs and experience?

This is a question everyone has asked for decades, and is probably going to keep asking for a long time to come.  How do you leap from your lousy job to a real job – and how you get the experience you need.

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