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[quote=Anonymous]After 25 years, I’m retiring from a Fortune 100 company.

I spent 10 years as a software engineer and 15 years as a team lead. During that time, I changed roles at least five times, and like many others, I was eventually “reorganized out” — corporate code for laid off.  As a University of Michigan Computer Engineering graduate, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the brightest people from CMU, UVA, Stanford, Caltech, Cornell, and beyond. Yet, I’ve seen a familiar pattern: many highly intelligent, capable people in their mid-40s to 50s are being let go as companies restructure.

The truth is, IQ alone doesn’t guarantee career longevity — EQ does. The people who survive and even thrive during layoffs are those visible to senior leadership. They show up — at golf outings, pickleball tournaments, volunteer events — wherever leaders are. They get noticed, remembered, and protected.  Most of us technical folks believed performance spoke for itself. Unfortunately, that’s not how the corporate world works. Visibility matters. Relationships matter.

My advice to young professionals:  It’s not about where you went to college. It’s about how connected you are to leadership. It’s not just what you know, but who knows you. Don’t skip company events after hours or on weekends — that’s where relationships are built. Those connections can shape your career, open doors, and even save your job someday.  I wish my younger self had understood that.

Best of luck!!![/quote]

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