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Comment by iAMkenough | Hacker News Reader

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?

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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.)

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.

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