tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post963108945808996269..comments2024-03-10T19:16:41.170-04:00Comments on Dumb Things I Have Done Lately: Preparing for Your Impending Layoff From AOLJoelogonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12889931738120460487noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-43004093165351062772009-03-29T19:53:00.000-04:002009-03-29T19:53:00.000-04:00Great list Joe - helped me lots three weeks ago, w...Great list Joe - helped me lots three weeks ago, when I was hit.<BR/><BR/>Here is my tip:<BR/><BR/>If you must use your AOL email after your let go. Go into webmail/settings and un-check the "Include Footer Ads". That option is no longer there once you have been un-internalized.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-76513437836682697672009-03-19T20:45:00.000-04:002009-03-19T20:45:00.000-04:00Before you get cut you of course want to stockpile...Before you get cut you of course want to stockpile some money and double check your resumes, be sure you clean out the desk, and maintain workplace contacts. But- and this is approaching the survivalist fringe genre- save a month or two's worth of food in the freezer or pantry. Even more important are office supplies and toiletries/household goods. Welfare won't pay for those as easily. Read survivalistboards.com for further information- and with a grain of salt.KAThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02133425817933187901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-15245244615872920192009-03-10T12:20:00.000-04:002009-03-10T12:20:00.000-04:00I am thankful that I asked you to write this blog ...I am thankful that I asked you to write this blog entry. I owe you a beer!!!<BR/><BR/> -LonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-5680579074269847032009-03-05T00:29:00.000-05:002009-03-05T00:29:00.000-05:00You also need to export your contacts into a file ...You also need to export your contacts into a file that you can take with you.<BR/><BR/>PS: Congrats on DCBlogs.SciWonkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01496445733314601390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-66761847026474036862009-02-19T23:20:00.000-05:002009-02-19T23:20:00.000-05:00Oh - I almost forgot, I have a potentially useful ...Oh - I almost forgot, I have a potentially useful tip:<BR/><BR/>If you happen to know when layoff day is (and let's face it, we pretty much always knew) but for some reason you haven't gotten your stuff off of your laptop yet, leave it in your trunk until you find out if you still have a job. I'm not saying steal it, but they can't take it from you if you don't have it ("Woops - I left it at home this morning"), and that'll give you a chance to get the data you need off of it before turning it in. That's what I used to do. Use this advice at your own risk.<BR/><BR/>And Joe - if it suits you, you're welcome to note in the post that VeriSign is hiring (only Java devs right now). Interested folks can ping me directly. I will help if I can, I swear.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-54275925634573825582009-02-19T23:08:00.000-05:002009-02-19T23:08:00.000-05:00This post makes me sad. Lots of painful memories. ...This post makes me sad. Lots of painful memories. I'm honestly afraid for my friends who are still at AOL. And although I left of my own accord, I agree with Kevin Lawver - it is very hard to forgive the upper execs for what they did to that place.<BR/><BR/>Working at AOL wasn't like working so much as like being a member of a really big, really cool, and yes, often dysfunctional family.<BR/><BR/>I like my job at VeriSign, but if there's a certain time after which you stop missing your AOL family, I haven't discovered it yet.<BR/><BR/>Good luck everyone. Oh - and we're interviewing at VeriSign if you know Java. <BR/><BR/>bkocik at gmail dot comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-62333424461028051292009-02-19T14:51:00.000-05:002009-02-19T14:51:00.000-05:00JC - I unpacked my stuff, let it breathe for a few...JC - I unpacked my stuff, let it breathe for a few months, then packed it up again.<BR/><BR/>As to getting mentioned by SAI (or Valleywag, Gawker, Paidcontent, hell WWTDD) -- you'll have to share your pointers for that.Joelogonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12889931738120460487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-91312350974029243412009-02-19T14:25:00.000-05:002009-02-19T14:25:00.000-05:00Excellent post, Joe! The photo of the commemorativ...Excellent post, Joe! The photo of the commemorative leather and brass Circuit City coasters brought a tear to my eye as my own is sitting in a box of AOL stuff that I still haven't unpacked. It's been sitting in the back of my car since November!<BR/><BR/>I also advise everyone try to get their last day on Silicon Alley insider. That was absolutely the highlight of my day. Cheers!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-57162410228830501512009-02-19T09:25:00.000-05:002009-02-19T09:25:00.000-05:00The "dressing appropriately" is great. I'm investi...The "dressing appropriately" is great. I'm investing in a witty shirt ASAP.mansionmogulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16075775052734786215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-41247248198129618762009-02-18T12:01:00.000-05:002009-02-18T12:01:00.000-05:00Joelogon :Honestly I have never heard of that movi...Joelogon :<BR/><BR/>Honestly I have never heard of that movie, just sharing many years of experience.<BR/><BR/>A job is for making money. Keep your social network separate.<BR/><BR/>Plan for layoffs and downtime and live free.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-33071463709611159502009-02-18T11:39:00.000-05:002009-02-18T11:39:00.000-05:00Very nice list, Joe. I really miss your creative, ...Very nice list, Joe. I really miss your creative, witty and dry humor in the office. Those Pocky and those weird jello shot things were cool.<BR/><BR/>One last tip -- know that companies like AOL really don't care how you feel and don't take it personal. But, do take great pride in what you've contributed to people's online experiences along the way. <BR/><BR/>I think I still have your VPD and Rainman manuals after you were removed. It was good reading for the tumultuous week thereafter. <BR/><BR/>Thanks. I hope you're doing well. Especially after writing such entertaining and valuable entries like this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-75866364124382370692009-02-18T11:37:00.000-05:002009-02-18T11:37:00.000-05:00Anonymous: Wow, that's deep. Hey, I know -- I can ...Anonymous: Wow, that's deep. Hey, I know -- I can steal <A HREF="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113277/" REL="nofollow"><I>Heat</I></A> quotes so I can pretend I'm an outlaw, too! "He knew the risks, he didn't have to be there. It rains... you get wet."Joelogonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12889931738120460487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-53796056333715956702009-02-18T11:25:00.000-05:002009-02-18T11:25:00.000-05:00Amateurs, all of you!Remember the 30-second rule f...Amateurs, all of you!<BR/><BR/>Remember the 30-second rule for future jobs : Never keep more crap in your cube than it takes to throw in a bag and walk out in 30 seconds.<BR/><BR/>Applies to other employment obligations as well. Stay detached.<BR/><BR/>Good luck.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-54992309356731653542009-02-17T16:00:00.000-05:002009-02-17T16:00:00.000-05:00#1 - It's for the employees that were issued black...#1 - It's for the employees that were issued blackberries from AOL. We were given an option to port our cellphone number to AOL or get a new cellphone number. For those that gave up their personal number, they may want to see if they can do a reverse port. <BR/><BR/>As for item #2, I'm not sure if this happened to other employees during the other layoffs, but from the ones that got laid off in fall 2008, they were told they needed to spend their flexible spending that day or lose it.<BR/><BR/>hope that helps!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-30818090719667421142009-02-17T14:49:00.000-05:002009-02-17T14:49:00.000-05:00Carles -- thanks, I will integrate this tip.Anon -...Carles -- thanks, I will integrate this tip.<BR/><BR/>Anon -- can you be a little bit more specific about #1? I'm not familiar with what you're talking about. Also, re: flexible spending, I can look through my own paperwork (I didn't do FSA), but can you point me to a source? It seems unlikely, and a quick search seems to indicate it would be accessible if you do COBRA.Joelogonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12889931738120460487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-8197574331931066552009-02-17T14:42:00.000-05:002009-02-17T14:42:00.000-05:002 additional things:1 - porting your cellphone num...2 additional things:<BR/><BR/>1 - porting your cellphone number (if you gave up your phone number to AOL, I think you can do a reverse port back to a private account.)<BR/><BR/>2 - flexible spending. <BR/>(I've heard from others that you need to spend all of it that day.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-53021428010135763472009-02-17T13:28:00.000-05:002009-02-17T13:28:00.000-05:00One more suggestion (from a former AOL employee, n...One more suggestion (from a former AOL employee, now a current LinkedIn employee): <BR/><BR/><B>Add your personal email account to your LinkedIn account, and then make it your primary LinkedIn email.</B> <BR/><BR/>It is heartbreaking when people are laid off and lose access to their email, and then can't recover their LinkedIn passwords. Don't let this happen to you.Carleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01765066088183211359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-37460509137525140252009-02-16T19:35:00.000-05:002009-02-16T19:35:00.000-05:00Kevin -- hey, I always thought my legacy would be ...Kevin -- hey, I always thought my legacy would be the "Employees Must Wash Hands Before Leaving" sign I put up in a CC1 first floor men's room. When that was taken down sometime in the 2000s, I was freed.Joelogonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12889931738120460487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-17427599504970851622009-02-16T16:59:00.000-05:002009-02-16T16:59:00.000-05:00Joe, this is a really good list. I think the only...Joe, this is a really good list. I think the only thing I'd add is that if you're planning on leaving, wait a couple months and see if they'll take volunteers. I missed out on the whole severance, outplacement stuff by about a month (I was told they wouldn't be taking volunteers, but voila, they did).<BR/><BR/>I think the other thing, the one I've had the hardest time with, is forgiving the utterly useless upper management people at AOL. It's been <I>really</I> hard to get over how completely they've destroyed the company. For those of us who believed in AOL over the years, that's the hardest part about leaving, is that now I finally see what a joke it is and how ruined it's become.<BR/><BR/>Getting over the realization that the company you've probably spent many years trying to save from itself has thrown you away isn't easy. I <I>still</I> don't have a good answer for that one.Kevin Lawverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08567256307189176806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-4633171174887011782009-02-16T14:35:00.000-05:002009-02-16T14:35:00.000-05:00Another thing to do after being laid off: file for...Another thing to do after being laid off: <A HREF="http://www.vec.virginia.gov/vecportal/index.cfm" REL="nofollow">file for unemployment</A>! The government has been collecting taxes from you for years; time to collect the benefits you've earned in return.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-72160192222830354812009-02-16T13:43:00.000-05:002009-02-16T13:43:00.000-05:00Scott -- my own layoff is old news (10/2007), I'm ...Scott -- my own layoff is old news (10/2007), I'm just trying to help out the upcoming batch. <BR/><BR/>Re: wikipedia -- are you kidding?! My mullet and facepalm photos are some of my proudest works!Joelogonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12889931738120460487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-58542721820538998542009-02-16T13:40:00.000-05:002009-02-16T13:40:00.000-05:00Sorry to hear the bad news, way to turn it around ...Sorry to hear the bad news, way to turn it around :-)<BR/><BR/>FYI, maybe I missed it, but was "Removing images of oneself shown under the definition of stupid (or synonyms) in wikipedia" on the to-do list?<BR/><BR/>Best of luck going forward!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-6463323033428083042009-02-16T13:19:00.000-05:002009-02-16T13:19:00.000-05:00Amy -- goes to show, the networking is very import...Amy -- goes to show, the networking is very important.Joelogonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12889931738120460487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-36913002675524605472009-02-16T13:17:00.000-05:002009-02-16T13:17:00.000-05:00I see you're going for a wordplay thing, though I ...I see you're going for a wordplay thing, though I was looking for more of a <A HREF="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/quotes" REL="nofollow"><I>Godfather</I></A> vibe: "It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business."<BR/><BR/>Thanks, though.Joelogonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12889931738120460487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5794430.post-20561358652509500962009-02-16T13:13:00.000-05:002009-02-16T13:13:00.000-05:00Great blog and important info people should keep i...Great blog and important info people should keep in mind Joe!<BR/><BR/>I'm a former AOL Recruiter for 6 years, and if folks need help finding a job, I may be able to assist. Please feel free to email me your resume to aclem@newxrec.com or send me a LinkedInk invite - Amy Clem.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com