This article is crossposted from IEEE Spectrum’s careers publication. Sign up now to get insider ideas, knowledgeable recommendation, and sensible methods, written in partnership with tech profession growth firm Taro and delivered to your inbox without spending a dime!
Last 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 almost 60,000, in accordance with layoffs.fyi. In a future version we’ll contemplate the position AI is enjoying on this, and the way software program engineers ought to safeguard in opposition to ever-smarter LLMs. But for now, I need to share my prime advice in the event you’ve been laid off.
I simply spoke to a mid-level engineer who was laid off from a Big Tech firm in London. They had been understandably distraught and feeling demoralized.
The handiest recommendation I’ve is kind of easy: You must establish your benefits and exploit them.
Once you do some reflection, you’ll be capable to establish a protracted listing of individuals, assets, or alternatives that you’ve distinctive entry to. The inquiries to ask your self:
- Where do you’ve a robust community of people that might refer you? (This is probably going your former colleagues or faculty alumni.)
- Where do you’ve confirmed experience in a ability that might be beneficial for employers? (For instance, being very efficient with search engine optimisation or prompting.)
- What are the domains that you simply’ve been enthusiastic about earlier than they grew to become cool? (Saying that you simply’re enthusiastic about AI doesn’t depend since everybody appears to be enthusiastic about AI today.)
The “spray-and-pray” method for job purposes isn’t solely miserable but additionally ineffective. Please don’t waste your time making use of to random jobs on LinkedIn or Indeed. Instead, observe the template established by folks with probably the most enviable careers: discover positions the place you’ve an “in.”
Too many engineers establish 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. Instead, 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 20th century recognized this strong bond to the humanities,” Marsh writes.
Read extra right here.
Balancing Work and Life: An Engineer’s Guide to Fulfillment
How can busy engineers obtain a work-life steadiness? The key to managing your profession and private life may very well lie in reframing the query. “Stop viewing work and life as opposites and start recognizing how they complement each other.” A few easy methods might help engineers with this frequent problem.
Read extra right here.
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. Read about his profession on this profile from Spectrum senior editor emeritus Tekla Perry.
Read extra right here.