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posted by janrinok on Wednesday March 15 2023, @05:40PM   Printer-friendly
from the livin'-off-cloud-nine dept.

After being laid off, many people are starting their own businesses as cloud pros for hire:

The recent tech industry layoffs are driving a wave of what some are calling "solopreneurs" doing gig work or independent contracting. Think DoorDash or Uber Eats, but instead of delivering Thai food, people are delivering key cloud advisory services or even completed cloud-based systems ready for deployment.

This is driven by the anticipation that a slowing economy is likely to drive down tech sales. But also, a cloud skills shortage is occurring simultaneously. We're not preparing enough cloud professionals to keep up with demand, but, at the same time, tech companies are laying them off. Go figure.

This has been evolving for years as workers understand the value of the gig economy and may be looking for more independence and less employment reliance on the larger technology players. Many technology professionals are exploring more entrepreneurial options instead of opting for standard full-time jobs and cushy benefits with companies that can't guarantee a job for life—and never could.

Indeed, 63% of tech workers report they have started their own company post-layoff, according to a recent survey of 1,000 professionals laid off in recent years. Most of these new ventures (83%) exist in the technology industry, especially cloud computing.

[...] I suspect that many of these entrepreneurs will reach a valuation of many millions of dollars (depending on the type of cloud tech business) after a couple of years and average growth. I've seen this personally a great many times. Beats most 401(k)s.

Also interesting, according to the survey, 93% report they are now competing with the company that let them go. [...]

This will have an overall positive effect on the technology industry and cloud computing specifically, given that these types of businesses drive more innovation. They are not hindered by large corporate governance and company politics. Creativity and innovation are directly rewarded with sales and higher business value. This will also increase the number of wealthy people in the technology industry since this model will better disburse wealth among more technology industry contributors.


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  • (Score: 5, Touché) by bradley13 on Wednesday March 15 2023, @06:26PM (8 children)

    by bradley13 (3053) on Wednesday March 15 2023, @06:26PM (#1296292) Homepage Journal

    It's called "consultant". Do we need a new term, just because the journalist doesn't know the existing one?

    The problem for most of these folks is that excellent technical skills are not enough. First and foremost, you have to be able to sell: Sell yourself and what you have to offer. If you cannot do that, your technical skills are largely irrelevant. Most people should not attempt this unless they are starting with an excellent network.

    --
    Everyone is somebody else's weirdo.
    • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday March 15 2023, @06:40PM (2 children)

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday March 15 2023, @06:40PM (#1296298) Journal

      Some people call it "insultant".

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
      • (Score: 3, Touché) by istartedi on Wednesday March 15 2023, @07:13PM (1 child)

        by istartedi (123) on Wednesday March 15 2023, @07:13PM (#1296306) Journal

        You can't take the con out of consultant.

        --
        Appended to the end of comments you post. Max: 120 chars.
    • (Score: 4, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 15 2023, @08:45PM (2 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 15 2023, @08:45PM (#1296325)

      You're 100% correct, but my point and question is: is it sensible, intelligent, wise, prudent, reasonable, to evaluate a person's technical skills based on their sales and presentation skills?

      I say, not at all. I've worked with too many incompetent people who were verbally clever and good at gaming the situation. They got people to do their work, gaming the bosses and management, making themselves look good, and often by making others look bad.

      I know, and have known, some astonishingly genius technical people who had no presentation skills. One in particular stuttered so badly he couldn't get a sentence out if he had to. Any technical question I asked him, particularly C++ or any programming thing, no matter how deep and complex, he knew the answer instantly and in depth. Last I knew he was unemployed. What a waste. He doesn't give off the cool frat guy at all. Total waste of brilliance because of a very broken HR system.

      Before someone argues, HR are the front-line gatekeepers. Unless you have connections, you have to sell the HR guards before you get to the actual technical people.

      • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 15 2023, @11:35PM (1 child)

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 15 2023, @11:35PM (#1296368)

        > ... One in particular stuttered so badly he couldn't get a sentence out if he had to.

        No idea how it works now, but I used to spend a lot of time with auto engineers in and around Detroit. There were a lot of social misfits (etc) like you describe, all doing great work. I think that may have been before HR became such a big thing, and department heads may have had more to say about who they added to their team?

        A little googling suggests that what is now inflated to HR, used to be the personnel department. A much better name for the job, imo.

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 16 2023, @05:03AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 16 2023, @05:03AM (#1296410)

          Interesting, I didn't know that about the auto world. I probably belong there as I'm pretty good with cars, but not self-promotion.

          That one guy who stutters severely will blow anyone away playing Trivial Pursuit, besides his amazing tech knowledge.

          I thought it was common knowledge that HR used to be called "personnel". When they ratcheted up to HR, I was very worried- ego inflation. Yup, as usual, I was right.

          If I could get around HR and get to a dept. head it would be much better for my life and career. Many jobsearch workshops and experts highly recommend doing all you can to bypass HR and get straight to managers and dept. heads, but not too high up, depending on the size of the corporation and/or the department.

    • (Score: 2) by corey on Wednesday March 15 2023, @09:22PM (1 child)

      by corey (2202) on Wednesday March 15 2023, @09:22PM (#1296338)

      I came to say this. From TFS, people are being laid off and coming back as contractors. That’s not new. Pretty bad article, it’s just colourful language and reframing to make news out of something that already was.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 16 2023, @05:05AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 16 2023, @05:05AM (#1296412)

        You are correct, but we live in a world of huge news volume and people completely forget a very important thing they just heard or read 4 days ago, if they heard it at all. Some things are important enough that they bear repeating. More than once.

  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 15 2023, @07:29PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 15 2023, @07:29PM (#1296309)

    You rent your apartment. You rent your job. It's a privilege to have the opportunity to work with these entrepreneurs, intellectuals and business leaders, fetching their meals and paying their mortgages.

  • (Score: 3, Funny) by SomeGuy on Wednesday March 15 2023, @08:49PM (1 child)

    by SomeGuy (5632) on Wednesday March 15 2023, @08:49PM (#1296328)

    Say the word "cloud" a few more times and the marketer behind this will jizz their pants.

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