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Comment by munchbunny | Hacker News Reader

One important distinction was that the previous one was voluntary retirement and was offered to people nearing the ends of their careers. The people taking these offers were likely tired of their jobs and taking the escape hatch to retire (or change jobs in a minority case) a bit earlier than originally planned.

I suspect this VBO will see a lower acceptance rate because there will be a lot of eligible people in their early or mid careers, and unless you are one of the people who won't have trouble finding a new role, or you expect to be fired/laid off soon, or you're are already on your way out, you probably don't want to be starting the job search right now.

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On the other hand, the 2nd round of buyouts this year brings certainty. Microsoft laid off 4,800 employees after the 1st round.

If you don’t take the deal now, you’ll spend your remaining days at Microsoft wondering if you’ll be included in the next round of involuntary layoffs, possibly with worse terms and timing.

Will the job market be that much better for you in a year or two?

If you’re worried things are bad and not getting better, you’re probably better off keeping your job and cutting all expenditures you can, so that you can maximize your savings before the job ends, and maybe you will even look out and not end up being laid off.

*Luck out. That's what I get for using dictation.

I gathered what you are saying. As someone who has done that, and been miserable, I do not recommend it.

I'd take the deal before it gets worse, and get a head start on hunting before there's even more people you're competing against. While you're at it, cash out some stocks before the index gets worse.

Maybe not, but if that's what you are worried about, it might be better to start the job search now, while you are employed. Get a 4-month head start before the Spring "right before the end of Microsoft's fiscal year" cleaning. (Euphemism for layoffs - I don't want to minimize the effect layoffs have, but I also find it hard not to be cynical about the reason they happen when they happen.)

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