Jan 20 2009
Joy and Hope Tempered With Reality
Today I watched the Inauguration proceedings for President Obama. CNN and FaceBook teamed up to present streaming media combined with real-time viewer commentary. It was a thrill for me to see. Not just the events, but also the marriage of technology and the news.
But, although today is also a day of joy and celebration, it is also an ordinary day in which thousands of people lost their jobs, or had trouble making their rent/mortgage payments, or had to go on food stamps to feed their families, even though it was a bitter pill for their pride to swallow.
I’ve been talking with other recruiters in the Seattle area about the Google layoffs (100 recruiters, if you had not heard) and the rumblings that Microsoft is set to announce layoffs. And, I can say from my own sources inside MS, that yes, there are layoffs pending.
The most vulnerable populations are going to be visa holders and underperformers, IMHO. This is not unusual, and those most recently hired may also be at risk (general HR practices).
The most critical of these vulnerable populations are the visa holders, especially the H1-B holder, as their visas are dependent on employment. To that end, my best suggestion for them is to find agencies that will port ownership of them, and your best bet for that are the larger agencies with lots of contractors. In this area, that would be the Volts, Robert Half, Kelly Services etc.
Good luck as we enter a new era for the US and the rest of the world.
