[MelBelle]

I can honestly say that since loosing my job to India on June 1st, I'm glad I didn't stay up all night learning programming just like my boss told me I should do....It wouldn't have helped a bit. All of our programmers in my Los Angeles group - with the exception of a few - lost their job in my company's offshoring project.

I've been told that I still should train and get certifications in IT, that certified IT workers will still get jobs. I would prefer to learn a new trade that will keep me employed. Any suggestions?

[Lazamataz]

I can honestly say that since loosing my job to India on June 1st, I'm glad I didn't stay up all night learning programming just like my boss told me I should do....It wouldn't have helped a bit. All of our programmers in my Los Angeles group - with the exception of a few - lost their job in my company's offshoring project.

Sheesh! What a depressing story! What industry is your company in, and if you can reveal it, what is the company called? How big is the company? What is the outsourced project entailing?

I've been told that I still should train and get certifications in IT, that certified IT workers will still get jobs. I would prefer to learn a new trade that will keep me employed. Any suggestions?

That's the thing I'm trying to figure out as well. I've gotten suggestions from Dane and from Agamemnon: Become a CEO.

I don't think you'd appreciate that sort of 'helpful' advice. I don't have the true answer, though. Construction and heavy equipment operation is not viable since construction will be lessening as the need for office space and houses declines.

There is a realistic chance that an improving economy will offset the job losses of offshoring, so don't give up on IT entirely quite yet. What is it exactly that you do?