A recruiter has urged those impacted by the latest vendor layoffs to “put themselves out there” and apply for roles they “never previously thought they could get”.
Tech layoffs rose sharply to over 26,000 in August (the highest total since January), according to TechCrunch, with Intel and Dell among those axing jobs.
Another batch of green banners went up on LinkedIn this week when Cisco trimmed a further 7% of its workforce, in a move it trailed in August.
Talking to IT Channel Oxygen, recruiter Charlotte Hallam said many of the latest casualties are more experienced staff with decades of tenure under their belt.
“I’ve interviewed quite a few people over the years who have been institutionalised at a big vendor for ten or 20 years, and they’re coming into the market where the technology is ultimately different to when they started,” she said.
“It’s scary, but it’s also an opportunity. They’ve got to look at what they can bring to the market against some of these fresh grads and newbies who perhaps haven’t got their industry knowledge and tenure.
“Push yourself. Try a start-up. So many companies out there are looking for stability and gravitas – people who have seen companies go through change. You can’t get anything better for that than working for Cisco.”
Hallam added: “I’m not doing myself out of a role, but use your network – sometimes it’s better than just blindly applying for roles on LinkedIn. You’d be surprised how willing people are to help.”
Cisco swings axe
Cisco’s latest round of job cuts – it laid off 4,000 staff as recently as February – comes as it continues to pivot towards areas including AI, cloud and cybersecurity.
A number of tech employers took to LinkedIn to signal they are eager to talk to stricken staff (see below).
Talking to IT Channel Oxygen, Cisilion CTO Rob Quickenden said several Cisco staff had contacted him this week about potential jobs, but added that the London-based Cisco partner “tends not to hire ex Cisco people”.
“It’s not that we have a policy not to, but we don’t just hire them as they are ex Cisco (or any vendor). In our space working with end customers through the channel and understanding the technology, the channel and customers is most valuable,” he said.
Sarah Shields, Head of Vendor Alliances at Computacenter, said: “Layoffs are happening across our industry – but so is hiring. We are seeing significant changes happening across the market as big vendors are making cuts – and this is when a good partner steps up. There are two opportunities, namely to fill the skills gap with your value add to hire the talent if you can.”
A Cisco spokesperson sent IT Channel Oxygen the following statement:
“Cisco is laser focused on growth, consistent execution, and resetting our cost structure as we invest in AI, cloud, and cybersecurity. To focus on these key priority areas, on August 14, 2024, we announced a restructuring plan, impacting approximately 7% of our global workforce, to allow us to invest in key growth opportunities and drive more efficiency in our business. While the restructuring has begun, the timing of the implementation will depend on local laws and regulations. The care of our people is a top priority, and we will provide full support to our employees throughout this process.”
