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Lots of layoffs in Utah tech companies lately. Instructure just let go of 10%, other layoffs related to WeWork, and a bunch of other small companies. Still see

by suresk 7y ago

Lots of layoffs in Utah tech companies lately. Instructure just let go of 10%, other layoffs related to WeWork, and a bunch of other small companies. Still seems like there is a shortage of developers here and most people should find new work pretty easily, but it is always a little unsettling to have a bunch of layoffs in quick sequence.

milosdog 7y ago
> Instructure just let go of 10% Off topic, but indeed they did. Lots of people leaving, too. Things are not going to end well there.
- suresk 7y ago
  Yeah, that one has been sad to watch. I worked there several years ago and thought it was a great place, but it seems like things have gone downhill a bit lately.
julius_set 7y ago
It’s not just Utah they have headquarters in San Francisco as well lots of people let go here too.
sky_rw 7y ago
Every-time a PR comes out like this I see this sort of comment. Is there any evidence that layoffs are engineering based? I always assume the first to go are marketing/admin/etc rather than developers.
- julius_set 7y ago
  Yes it was I’m one of the ones affected. I’ve done mobile engineering both iOS and Android for around ~5 years. If anyone’s looking :)
  - suresk 7y ago
    Sorry to hear that, hope you find something soon!
  - arconis987 7y ago
    If you’re interested in crypto currencies, I know that Coinzoom, based in Holladay, is looking for mobile developers.
  - awb 7y ago
    I'm hiring remote mobile developers. Send me an email and I can send you some details.
  - m-p-3 7y ago
    That sucks man, and by the way the Ancestry app on Android works quite well even though the small screen doesn't help with that all that info to show up.
- suresk 7y ago
  All of the various layoffs I’ve been aware of have included a decent number of engineers. Often it is changing direction or giving up on certain products, so entire product teams get let go. Plus, we’re usually the most expensive.
- flukus 7y ago
  A lot of managers still operate under the assumption that software has a "build phase" and a "maintenance phase" and that they can get rid of most developers for the later. Aside from the obvious problems when they still want new features there's a correlation between the head count used to build something and the head count needed to effectively maintain it, 1 person won't be able to handle the enterprise mess that 100 people create. So I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was engineers being let go a lot of the time. Especially at non software shops where marketing is bringing in money and the engineers are a cost.
  - kraigie 7y ago
    Well it kind of does. They forget the agile cycle moves from maintenance back to development again. Makes more sense just to offer devs more holiday and less pay.
robjan 7y ago
People always report on the layoffs and not the hiring drives. I wouldn't worry too much.
cookiecaper 7y ago
The market here in Utah is bananas. I could walk down the street and get a 30-60% raise easy. Indeed there have been a few layoffs in the last month or so, but the companies aren't really a surprise and the market is still blazing. New companies are moving in literally daily. SLC has been a great underground tech market for a long time, but word is getting out. California companies can't get away from the intractable chaos out there fast enough, and SLC is just an hour's flight away. New companies are pouring in much faster than we can handle 'em. If you're a good tech worker in SLC, first, get in touch with me because I like meeting cool people, and second, if you've been affected by these layoffs, chin up, go to the next building over, and there's a realistic chance you'll have a better job in a matter of days.
- kraigie 7y ago
  SLC also has lots of US citizen foreign language speakers. As well as those with experiences of other cultures. Really handy for foreign companies expanding. Send a founder and hire a local VP who can translate to American customers and Employees. Plus close to SV. I'm surprised Utah isn't in the council of American States in Europe. Or otherwise looking for inward investment.
- jacquesm 7y ago
  > I could walk down the street and get a 30-60% raise easy. So what is stopping you?
  - izzydata 7y ago
    Concerns of getting laid off in a volatile market perhaps.
  - JshWright 7y ago
    Presumably they make enough right now that the marginal increase wouldn't offset other things they would be losing by making a move.
    - blaser-waffle 7y ago

by suresk 7y ago

milosdog 7y ago

> Instructure just let go of 10% Off topic, but indeed they did. Lots of people leaving, too. Things are not going to end well there.

suresk 7y ago
Yeah, that one has been sad to watch. I worked there several years ago and thought it was a great place, but it seems like things have gone downhill a bit lately.

julius_set 7y ago

It’s not just Utah they have headquarters in San Francisco as well lots of people let go here too.

sky_rw 7y ago

Every-time a PR comes out like this I see this sort of comment. Is there any evidence that layoffs are engineering based? I always assume the first to go are marketing/admin/etc rather than developers.

julius_set 7y ago
Yes it was I’m one of the ones affected. I’ve done mobile engineering both iOS and Android for around ~5 years. If anyone’s looking :)
- suresk 7y ago
  Sorry to hear that, hope you find something soon!
- arconis987 7y ago
  If you’re interested in crypto currencies, I know that Coinzoom, based in Holladay, is looking for mobile developers.
- awb 7y ago
  I'm hiring remote mobile developers. Send me an email and I can send you some details.
- m-p-3 7y ago
  That sucks man, and by the way the Ancestry app on Android works quite well even though the small screen doesn't help with that all that info to show up.
suresk 7y ago
All of the various layoffs I’ve been aware of have included a decent number of engineers. Often it is changing direction or giving up on certain products, so entire product teams get let go. Plus, we’re usually the most expensive.
flukus 7y ago
A lot of managers still operate under the assumption that software has a "build phase" and a "maintenance phase" and that they can get rid of most developers for the later. Aside from the obvious problems when they still want new features there's a correlation between the head count used to build something and the head count needed to effectively maintain it, 1 person won't be able to handle the enterprise mess that 100 people create. So I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was engineers being let go a lot of the time. Especially at non software shops where marketing is bringing in money and the engineers are a cost.
- kraigie 7y ago
  Well it kind of does. They forget the agile cycle moves from maintenance back to development again. Makes more sense just to offer devs more holiday and less pay.

robjan 7y ago

People always report on the layoffs and not the hiring drives. I wouldn't worry too much.

cookiecaper 7y ago

The market here in Utah is bananas. I could walk down the street and get a 30-60% raise easy. Indeed there have been a few layoffs in the last month or so, but the companies aren't really a surprise and the market is still blazing. New companies are moving in literally daily. SLC has been a great underground tech market for a long time, but word is getting out. California companies can't get away from the intractable chaos out there fast enough, and SLC is just an hour's flight away. New companies are pouring in much faster than we can handle 'em. If you're a good tech worker in SLC, first, get in touch with me because I like meeting cool people, and second, if you've been affected by these layoffs, chin up, go to the next building over, and there's a realistic chance you'll have a better job in a matter of days.

kraigie 7y ago
SLC also has lots of US citizen foreign language speakers. As well as those with experiences of other cultures. Really handy for foreign companies expanding. Send a founder and hire a local VP who can translate to American customers and Employees. Plus close to SV. I'm surprised Utah isn't in the council of American States in Europe. Or otherwise looking for inward investment.
jacquesm 7y ago
> I could walk down the street and get a 30-60% raise easy. So what is stopping you?
- izzydata 7y ago
  Concerns of getting laid off in a volatile market perhaps.
- JshWright 7y ago
  Presumably they make enough right now that the marginal increase wouldn't offset other things they would be losing by making a move.
  - blaser-waffle 7y ago