Interesting article although I may have a little brutal view on this. It's much more important to enjoy what you do. If you really love Software Engineering you will stay in the industry and get by in these 'hard' times. Take a lower paying job. Do some Freelance. Some of the tips Aleena suggested. If you're now considering changing careers then you should because it would signal to me you don't really like Software Engineering anyway. This change happening in the market is a good thing overall. It will flush out all the people that came into the industry for easy times and high pay. It will separate the wheat from the chaff so to speak.