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However, the fate of some of the targeted jobs isn't certain: IBM managers still haven't figured out whether all of the work the jobs represent can be performed just as well abroad. The jobs involve updating and improving software for IBM's own business operations.

Some workers are scheduled to be informed of the plan for their jobs by the end of January. After that they will be expected to train an overseas replacement worker in the U.S. for several weeks. The IBM workers marked for replacement have 60 days to find another job inside the company, likely to be a difficult task at a time when IBM is holding down hiring.

I'm an ex-IBMer, I might be able to clarify what's going. It's maintenance programmers of IBM's internal systems, which are pretty bad as a general rule. The guys who get stuck on internal projects are usually there because they aren't good enough to do work for customers. I can tell you that based on first hand knowlege.

IBM is holding down hiring of NEW employees, but there is a separate internal job board for hiring WITHIN the company. You can bet that many of the better programmers will move around inside the company. Virtually everyone at IBM who has been in the company for a while has moved around quite a bit. It's inevitable.

If you don't find a job internallty in 60 days, you get the "voluntary separation" package, which I was able to get when I quit, because of departmental changes. It's very generous. I found another job (which I don't have to do any travel for!), and used my separation pay and unused vacation hours for a sizable downpayment on a house.