An overheard conversation on jobs

I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation today. It was in an airport bus, wheeling us to our plane. The dramatis personae involve folk that are from America.

Lady: “Where do you work?”

Man: Almost apologetically states, “I work at Oracle, that big database company. Well, until I find something else to do.”

A whiff of silence in the air.

Man: “I used to work for a small company but Oracle acquired it about a year ago”

Another man: ” When does your lock up period expire? Can’t imagine you’d enjoy working there.”

Man: “Soon, real soon.” Giggles

Lady: “Well in this economy, you don’t want to be out of a job. I guess no one leaves a company before having yet another job in the line.”

Everyone nods in agreement.

What can we learn from this?

  1. People apologise when they work at a big company? 
  2. The economy is terrible that it might be an employer’s market, and there is no longer ease of employee mobility

However, this would be in contrast to the hiring battle that is being faced in Silicon Valley. The FT is the latest to talk about this.


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