Recruiters Doug Tetzner and Anna Lambert from the local e-commerce platform provider headed to IBM’s office on Riverside Drive mid-morning to set up and staff a pop-up recruitment booth on the sidewalk in front of the building. The booth was fitted up with bright green sunglasses and business cards pointing potential employees to Shopify’s careers page online. Although it remains unclear how many local IBM workers lost their jobs, Mr. Tetzner said he spoke with about 10 to 15 people who were among those laid off. “Multiple people came out to say, ‘Thanks for doing this, I was laid off today,’” he said. “It was received really well.” About 50 people stopped by Shopify’s impromptu booth to hear about the local firm’s plans to hire about 80 people by the end of 2013. Shopify recently hired three former IBM employees, and they’re “fantastic,” Mr. Tetzner said. Although the recruiters received some disapproving looks and were asked to move further away from IBM’s property, the recruiters said the trip was a success. And regardless of whether Shopify hires any additional ex-IBM staff, the booth had another unforeseen positive result. “If you’ve just been laid off, even if you’re not interested in Shopify, just to know there are companies in Ottawa looking to hire – it’s a really positive message for people,” Mr. Tetzner said. “It’s a doom and gloom thing when you’re laid off, but this lets you know that there are other opportunities out there.” Mr. Tetzner said he hadn’t thought of this going in, but that a laid-off employee passed along this message to the recruiters at their booth.The two-person crew packed up to leave around 2:15 p.m. When asked whether there could be a repeat performance following additional layoff announcements in town, Mr. Tetzner said it’s more than likely. “I wouldn’t put it past us,” he said .
IBM Ottawa employees were stunned today to learn the scope of a layoff which will affect about 200 workers at the Riverside campus.
CTV Ottawa reporter John Hua has been talking to employees who say the mood inside the campus is "gloomy". Employees told Hua that up to 20 per cent of the Ottawa staff have received layoff notices. Some have been employed with IBM/Cognos in the capital for more than 30 years.
IBM is one of Ottawa's largest private sector employers.
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Shopify looking to hire laid off IBM Ottawa employees.
IBM is reportedly cutting thousands of employees from its global workforce. Notices went out to IBM employees from Vermont to North Carolina.
Ottawa's new high technology darling, Shopify, set up a temporary kiosk in the IBM parking lot looking for new hires.
Shopify says it plans to expand its Byward Market office by 250 employees this year.