5 Key Takeaways
- Alexander Valen, a laid-off Accenture manager, has been job hunting for 21 months but can't find roles without a significant pay cut.
- Recruiters say his experience and salary expectations make him 'too expensive' for most positions.
- US companies are reducing managerial roles, with layoffs rising sharply among managers aged 35-54, reflecting a trend called the 'Great Flattening.'
- Valen and his family have struggled financially, relying on gig work and support, and have fallen behind on mortgage payments.
- The job market is highly competitive, with hundreds of applicants per role and AI tools making it harder for experienced candidates to stand out.
Laid Off and Left Behind: One Manager’s Struggle to Find Work Without Taking a Huge Pay Cut
Losing your job is tough for anyone, but for Alexander Valen, a 51-year-old former project manager at Accenture, it’s been a nightmare that just won’t end. After being laid off in November 2023, Alexander has spent nearly two years searching for a new job—without any luck.
Alexander isn’t new to the tech world. With over 20 years of experience, he managed teams of up to 150 people at Accenture, a major consulting firm. You’d think that kind of background would make him a hot commodity. Instead, it’s become a problem. “The first thing recruiters say when they see my profile is it’s very expensive,” Alexander says.
He’s not alone. Across the U.S., companies are cutting back on managers to save money and streamline their businesses. Big names like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Walmart have all announced plans to reduce management roles. Even smaller companies are following suit. According to payroll company Gusto, manager layoffs have jumped 66% for people aged 45-54 since 2022, and over 400% for those aged 35-44.
For Alexander, the job hunt has been brutal. He’s had more than two dozen interviews, but nothing has panned out. He and his wife, who stays home with their kids, have had to rely on DoorDash deliveries, unemployment checks, and help from family just to get by. Even so, they’ve fallen behind on their mortgage.
The pay is another big issue. At Accenture, Alexander made about $87 an hour (roughly $177,000 a year). He’s willing to take less—down to $65 an hour—but some recruiters have offered as little as $35 an hour, which just isn’t enough to support his family. Even then, he didn’t get an interview.
The job market is so crowded that even getting noticed is hard. Alexander says recruiters are overwhelmed, sometimes getting hundreds of LinkedIn requests a day. With so many people applying (and AI tools making it easier to send out resumes), it’s tough to stand out.
Desperate, Alexander has started applying for jobs outside his field, including business analyst, sales, and even a kitchen job at Chick-fil-A. He’s also trying to learn more about AI, hoping it might give him an edge.
His advice to others? Don’t give up, and keep learning new skills. But he admits, “It’s a crazy market. I don’t know what to do right now.”
If you’re struggling to find work, you’re not alone. The job market is changing fast, and for many experienced workers like Alexander, it’s never been tougher.
No comments:
Post a Comment