Just then, the world was hit by a global recession and a bad one. I decided to hold on to my job. I discontinued my discussions with other firms. I spoke to my global Chairman and CEO and requested him to put in abeyance the implementation of the new strategy in India for a year till the recession was over. I promised him that with the old strategy, we would hold on to our revenue at the present level despite the recession. He gladly agreed. My new boss, who was also the champion of the new strategy, did not like it. But I had bought a year that could help me tide over the recession in safe havens.

Let us move the time to present times. A friend’s daughter approached me for advice. Let us call her Nikita (Name changed). She was working for a very large US based software giant. When I spoke to her, she had dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s not only in outperforming in her job, but also in managing her manager, skip manager and peers. Nikita had perfected her art and science of her career.

But suddenly, the bustling market turned silent. So many companies and businesses fell and will never be able to recover. The recession made it difficult even for the prominent companies to survive. And what followed was a series of salary cuts and layoffs.

Nikita was part of a team working on experimental AI projects that were the firm’s future. If she continued with the team, she was likely to get a good raise and a promotion. The cons of continuing were that the experiment may be closed, and she may lose her job. A software manager had approached her to join his team. This team was involved with the maintenance and bug fixing of their flagship product. The job was not very “happening” and the increment and promotion may be elusive.

I pondered over the situation and thought about my safe haven’s strategy. I advised her to take the new job, put her head down, and work. She need not bother about the increment and promotion. Every recession gets over in two years. She can then get back to some other AI project and gun for her lost increments and promotion. At this stage saving the job was most critical.

When Nikita met me this year, she told me that her old team was wound up a few months after she moved out. She was happy that she moved out of that team at the right time. I told her that new opportunities will knock on her door again in a year’s time.

In sum, during tough times lie low and focus on getting a job ideally within your company that will be least impacted by the recession. Most companies have an unwritten rule of “Last in First out”. However good and high performing you may be, the chances of you being listed for downsizing are very high.

I hope this helps you and your friends, especially those in software jobs these days.

NB: If you think this is useful, please repost it to help your friends. Thanks for your support.