[quote=paramount]We are expecting a layoff of 50-100 in RB tomorrow. I feel like the company is imploding, and that may well be the case. I have lost count, but I think this will be our 7th or 8th round of layoffs since the late spring/summer.
I am seriously considering leaving California for the DC area, I’m just not sure what to do at this point.[/quote]
Paramount, I can emphasize with you and trust me I know (or I should say knew) a bunch of those folks at the RB company some of them in the exec rank. While defense businesses are shrinking, I think that particular company is shall I say cluster-f disfunctional??? I mean, there is no logic in what is going on. People at the exec level are getting wacked people at senior positions are getting wacked and they are keeping a bunch of new folks. It’s becoming a dollar and sense game.
I think if you are planning to stay in the defense business, in the next decade, you probably want to be closer to D.C., because consolidation will probably occur there. Second choice would be to move up to L.A….Northrop Grumman seems to be doing well, and some folks I know are trying to play hard ball and jump ship to that company. It my guess would be it’s starting to piss off people at that other company, because it’s getting increasingly difficult to execute projects. Boeing would be probably number 2 choice, though it seems they are also doing some shrinking. SAIC, I’m sure, will be leaving SD in the future (despite what the new CEO says).
The other choice…Have you considered taking time off to do something else (other than defense engineering?) The world isn’t as bleak elsewhere, and given your abilities, you probably could easily pick up something new. I had a father that survived over 30 years working in the defense business and it definitely is a ride through ups and downs.
Side note. Normally, I hate seeing those contract “shame on XXXX company” protesters that you see over the place…But when I drive my this company occasionally in the morning and seem them outside, I sort of have a big grin on my face.
Side note2: If you work at a department that previously was a “product” division and now you are suddenly reorged/reclassified into a “IT division”, it’s time to leave. The former is viewed as contributing to profit/revenue. The latter is viewed as a operating cost for the company. The latter usually gets trimmed when push comes to shove. Just ask folks that work in QC I.T.
