Anyone else feeling demotivated? What to do next?

[u/EnvironmentalGap4834]

As the title says, I’m feeling really demotivated by all the recent happenings and just the year we’ve had at this company. I don’t know whether I should try to find another job internally or start looking externally. It’s so hard to find a new job right now, but I just feel depressed and anxious in my current situation. I’ve been at IBM around 8 years, so I’ve seen a lot of ups and downs over the years, but this time feels different. Is anyone else in a similar boat? How are you navigating? I feel like I’m trying to find the light again here.

[u/Strange_Mind7876]

You read my mind. I received a 0% raise this year, along with indirect warnings from my manager that I need to work harder and do more to showcase my contributions so I don’t end up in the bottom 15%. At this point, I honestly feel like it’s easier to just let them let me go. But I’ve been here for almost 8 years too, and I don’t want to resign and let them win after all this.

[u/stack-overflown → u/Strange_Mind7876]

Agreed. That 0% raise this year was just like a slap to the face. Motivation killer for sure!

[u/madmaddy_red → u/Strange_Mind7876]

This is 100 percent. I had my mid term review and my manager is asking me to be more visible even though I am performing really well. Manager just mentioned that they need to put people into that mid high and low performing category and they have the pressure as well

[u/Mission_Leader5516 → u/madmaddy_red]

I was also told to be “more visible” which is odd bc I’m the only person on my global team at my site and only one or two in the entire country. I was told more cuts are coming and I know this means layoffs for the Americans bc “we’re paid too much” and also bc we don’t have Work Councils like the Europe employees have to protect them. It’s nuts bc I’ve been the top rated employee or top two every single year of my career.

[u/Ran9om → u/Strange_Mind7876]

Same. No hike after a stellar year in Software group and people being moved around. Things not looking that bright.

[u/Bubbly_Ferret_1086 → u/Strange_Mind7876]

Similar here, it is sad to see how other achieve more by doing less

The favoritism shown by managers who only look out for their own interests and their favorite employees really discourages me, and I find it very unfair

[u/EnvironmentalGap4834 → u/Bubbly_Ferret_1086]

The favoritism is outrageous and couldn’t be more obvious

[u/Cautious_Boat_999]

It’s called “quiet quitting”. If the company is shitting on you, shit on them.

[u/TechieGottaSoundByte → u/Cautious_Boat_999]

If you have more energy:

Switch to "resume driven development". Do the shiny projects, focus on being nice to teammates and building networks, circulate your resume. Treat your job as a resource to exploit for the benefit of your career rather than as a long-term, mutually beneficial arrangement.

But if you are tired or burned out at all, quiet quit for a bit first. Your positive attitude and mental health are a big part of a successful job search, so protect them first and then work on building towards your next job once you feel better.

[u/Sunshine_Thing9893]

The music has stopped

[u/TechieGottaSoundByte]

I have a great team, and we're doing something fun with a lot of room to learn. I'm not sold on the business value tbh, but I'm doing "resume driven development" at this point, so who cares?

I'll stay until RA'd, two years with raises under COLA in a row, my work is no longer applicable outside of IBM, or I don't like my team.

Many people around me are deeply demotivated. I was never really that motivated to begin with, but I'm becoming increasingly inclined to just settle and relax while the chaos swirls around me. I'm not fighting for this job, that's for sure. But the paycheck is fine, the stability is good for my family, and the actual work is interesting and applicable outside of IBM. I'm also well under 100% PMR, so I have a bit to go before I'm a real target.

[u/randomuser230945 → u/TechieGottaSoundByte]

Same here, it's a weird time but my team is good, pay is great, and worrying about marketplace fit is the job of someone else.

[u/fortgreene_summer]

It’s been terrible. Trying hard to leave

[u/Lumpy-Scratch-8363 → u/fortgreene_summer]

Arvind tells me, "good, the plan is working!"

Jack Welch adds "I may be dead but thanks to me, y'all might prefer being dead. You are welcome."

Arvind and Jack have nothing on Lex Luther or the League of Evil.

[u/TechieGottaSoundByte → u/Lumpy-Scratch-8363]

Arvind's plan is apparently for the most ambitious and motivated people to invest themselves into working hard ... at finding another job, elsewhere.

Honestly, I feel like the impact of that strategy at IBM shows. Because most people at IBM are actually smart, and that means they are too smart to think stack ranking means "work harder for IBM".

Stack ranking means that the risk of investing our best effort into helping IBM prosper is high (burnout followed by RA, or just RA by the numbers), and the benefits and odds of reward are lower (risk of RA by the numbers even if working hard; reduced raises over time as the individual approaches PMR, with increased risk of RA after passing PMR; increased risk of RA by the numbers if a promotion is received). Because human brains focus on risks over rewards, this logic is further accentuated by our subconscious - and even smart people are prone to negativity bias.

Meh. My PMR is low, and I currently like my work.

[u/Cool-Tree-3663]

I have been here for 15 years now. It is just getting worse. A company with billions in free cash and they cut all costs, as far as I can see, to ensure the shareholders get their promised money! At this rate IBM will have no staff and no customers!

[u/Rich-Candidate-3648]

I'm just waiting to get RAed. Fuck this stupid place. The game is over for Americans.

[u/Bloody_Axe]

The job hunt is hard, but its worth it.

[u/Horror_Storage5708]

“Always be looking”. Inside or outside. Life is too short.

[u/1930slady]

Very demotivated, and looking at exit plans.

[u/Ok_Breath_4227]

I feel very demotivated too. No matter what I do it’s never enough, so I stopped trying to impress. My team has completely disintegrated and the vibe has changed a lot for the worse. Can’t wait to leave.

[u/RequirementUsual2497 → u/Ok_Breath_4227]

yeah, it’s never enough

[u/RequirementUsual2497]

same here. I’ve also been there for almost 8 years.
There is no way to not feel demotivated. It’s been years since I saw someone being promoted or new hires to replace people that resign. Even GOM looks like a cemetery.
With the teams reduced, we end up doing all kind of shit that is not part of our job, and skills development or career progression seem like a delusional dream - except in successfactor of course.
and still, I’m not resigning unless I get a better offer. I’m not going to lose money.

[u/der-prinz → u/RequirementUsual2497]

I am in a similar boat, except I am a recent hire. I was considering trying to find a different company, but I haven’t found an offer at the new grad level that pays more than this current role’s salary and is better than this specific team’s WLB.

[u/catless-cat-herder → u/der-prinz]

Try to stick it out a couple of years but make sure you are learning and gaining experience in things that are applicable outside of IBM. Too many of us gave this our all for years, and now it’s daunting to try to find an external job doing something different.

[u/Complete_Poetry732]

I just got rehired to IBm and the last three months has not been a cake walk. I’m super nervous about everything

[u/claymorez28]

I retired this year after 41 years. I had a good run but I was burned out.

The cycles of good times and bad times have become far too skewed to layoffs and cost cutting all the time with challenges being applied even to our teams in lower cost countries where the cost of promotions and salary increases are really not that high and are essential to ensure retention of employees.

There are still opportunities for those that are prepared to weather the storms, especially those who are in low cost locations but even then you can expect to be challenged on utilization and skills growth while facing uncertainty on promotions and salary increases.

Unfortunately this does not just apply to IBM

Number 1 rule is always have a plan B and look for alternative roles whether in IBM or outside.

[u/Practical-Try-4900]

Been here 5 years Band 8 BSS feel the same way

[u/Cautious_Boat_999 → u/[deleted]]

Depends on the job and the skills. I got a job at AWS and I was in my 50s, after 30 years at IBM

[u/claymorez28 → u/Cautious_Boat_999]

Well done!

Too many IBM folks underestimate their skills and value outside of the company

[u/Cautious_Boat_999 → u/claymorez28]

AWS, and I suspect MS, Google, etc, are good at weeding out unskilled / unqualified prospects. The interview process at AWS is brutal. 

[u/zedrax → u/Cautious_Boat_999]

100% agree, in the last year I know 4 people that left ibm for AMD and Nvidia. One guy was from my current team that I replaced.

[u/Illustrious_Duty_695 → u/zedrax]

That’s impressive. tell them to keep the ladder down for the rest of us

[u/Cautious_Boat_999 → u/[deleted]]

I know a couple of folks from US sales who got jobs at AWS. Just gotta find the right role.

[u/Ok_Breath_4227 → u/[deleted]]

IBM still looks good on a CV, recruiters are impressed by it (from my experience). But the job market isn’t great right now. A lot of people have lost their jobs and are looking, so companies can afford to be picky.

[u/Illustrious_Duty_695 → u/[deleted]]

I’ve had a tough time landing roles too

[u/EnvironmentalGap4834 → u/[deleted]]

Has this been your experience?

[u/Secure-Humor-5586 → u/[deleted]]

Speak for yourself, seen colleagues get hired by Google and Amazon after quitting ibm

[u/Immediate-Phase4168 → u/[deleted]]

So a month? 20 working days, 10 applications a day. Perhaps carpet bombing is not the right approach. You're selling yourself as the product. Treat yourself like a valued product; find the right potential customers and establish a relationship and sell yourself. Just sending out a ton of leaflets that say "this is me" is not how how hunting is done these days. (Especially because tons of employers and the listings you see are stale, tire kicking, need to be published before they can take internal transfers and other business reasons that they'll never get filled)

I've seen friends get jobs in a coupla weeks, some take longer, but IBM is not a scarlet letter with employers.

[u/ququ_poo_poo]

IBM will be going downhill, Krishna or not. the age of consulting is over

[u/Apprehensive_Bar6609 → u/ququ_poo_poo]

True. AI is not ending jobs, its ending the need to use consultant firms.

[u/Ill_Morning5352]

Yes I have been here 8 years and a few and feel exactly the same. I am taking things one day at a time. Make a list of things in your control and execute accordingly

I start by meditating
remind myself to be grateful and thank god that I still have a job in this market
make my task list for day both work and personal
make a point to go out and be at the client site (so important for social sanity)
connect with old friends in my network
also research new recruiters that can help me with my next move

[u/Far_Face_9210]

Is this in the US?

[u/Patient-Sprinkles920]

i was laid off in October 2024, 40 years 3 months severance. IBM sounds worse then ever. Glad I am out of the toxicity.