Oracle(US:ORCL) 程序员的那些事·2026-01-01 23:22Core Insights - The article highlights the challenges faced by mid-level tech professionals in the current job market, particularly after layoffs, as exemplified by Clair Todd's experience after being laid off from Oracle [1][24]. Group 1: Career Background - Clair Todd was a core technical staff member at Oracle, working as a Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) since January 2020, enjoying a stable salary and remote work benefits [3][4]. - Prior to Oracle, she worked at Hitachi Vantara as a Quality Assurance Engineer, where she faced long commutes that affected her well-being [3][4]. Group 2: Layoff Experience - In late 2023, Clair Todd's entire team was laid off amid rumors of company-wide layoffs, which she initially hoped to avoid [5][7]. - Oracle provided severance pay, unemployment benefits, and her emergency fund, allowing her to take a break before job hunting [8]. Group 3: Job Search Challenges - Clair Todd began her job search in February 2024, optimistic due to her previous experiences, but soon faced difficulties as her applications received little response [9][10]. - The job market was polarized, with high-level positions requiring extensive experience and entry-level roles offering low salaries, leaving mid-level engineers like her in a challenging position [10][12]. Group 4: Financial Struggles - Over two years, Clair Todd depleted over $50,000 in savings due to unemployment, with her monthly expenses exceeding her income from unemployment benefits [13][14][15]. - She faced significant financial pressure, including a mortgage and $45,000 in student loans, which strained her finances further [16][17]. Group 5: Reflection and Strategy Shift - Clair Todd reflected on her career transition and questioned whether her decision to move into tech was worth the current struggles [19][23]. - After facing repeated rejections, she adjusted her job search strategy, focusing on small and mid-sized companies, which she found to have more personable hiring processes [23][24].