For our Insights & Opinions section today, Cathy Ashbaugh, President of Pacific Shore Resources, a local recruiting firm, gives some well timed advice on how to handle a layoff: As The stock market is showing progress these past few weeks, local start-ups are beginning to see an increase in VC funding and SoCal technology firms are hiring. Chances are that someone you know--friend, As we enter into the second quarter of 2009 we are beginning to see small signs of hope and improvement in the economy.

Chatsworth-based Capstone Turbine , a manufacturer of microturbine systems for the power generation market, announced this morning that the firm has laid off 22 positions at the firm. Tags: capstone turbine employment jobs layof According to Capstone, the cuts came on March 23rd, and are on top of a February cut of 19 employees and 16 open positions at the company, bringing the firm's total employees to 212. The firm said the two cuts were made to lower the company's future operating expenses, and will save it approximately $3.7M

Vitesse is a maker of semiconductors for the high speed networking and other related markets. Tags: layoff jobs employment semiconductor vitess Camarillo-based Vitesse Semiconductor , a manufacturer of high speed networking and other semiconductors, said Tuesday afternoon that it has cut approximately 12 percent of its worldwide workforce. According to the firm, the moves were made to "further reduce" the firm's operating expenses.

Harman said the move will affect about 130 employees, including sales, marketing, and administration staff. Tags: jobs employment layoff harman internationa Harman International, a manufacturer of audio and entertainment products including Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, and other products, said Wednesday afternoon that it is shutting down its Woodbury, New York offices and consolidating them into its Northridge location. Harman said that a limited number of its employees will be offered relocation.

In a statement, new MySpace CEO Owen Van Natta said that the firm's international staffing had become "too big and cumbersome to be sustainable in current market conditions." READ MORE>> ...Tags: Tags: international layoff jobs employment myspac Los Angeles-based MySpace reported this morning that the firm intends to restructure the firm's international operations, and will cut 300 employees from the division. According to MySpace, it is in consultation with international employees to reduce its staff from 450 employees to approximately 150 employees, and close at least

in the fourth quarter for the layoffs, including severance for Riesenbach. The firm also reiterated its interest in a sale; the firm said it is still pursuing "strategic alternatives" with RBC Capital Market Irvine-based Autobytel said late Friday that it has cut 25 percent of the firm's employees, and also named a new CEO. Autobytel said that the move affects approximately 40 employees at the company, and will save the company approximately $5.2M

According to Cortex, it has reduced its personnel by approximately 50 percent, because of the "continuing uncertainty in the capital markets" and the economy. Tags: employment layoff cortex pharmaceuticals psychiatric lifescienc Irvine-based Cortex Pharmaceuticals , a developer of biopharmaceuticals for treating psychiatric disorders, neurological diseases and brain-mediated breathing disorders, said Thursday that it has cut half of its staff as part of a restructuring. The firm also said it has reduced the salaries of its executive officers and has "significantly reduced" its basic

Agoura Hills-based THQ , a developer and publisher of video games, said Wednesday that it is making "additional cost reduction actions" which includes the layoff of approximately 600 people, or 24 percent of the company's workforce. THQ said the move was a response to the continuing uncertainty in the market. THQ also said it would chop sales, marketing, The firm said that the cuts include a reduction in product development spending by an additional $70M, through "studio dispositions" and other project and headcount reductions. The bad news came in conjunction with its quarterly results,

San Diego-based Entropic Communications , a manufacturer of semiconductors for the home entertainment market, said in a filing with the SEC Tuesday that the firm is cutting approximately 55 of its employees, or 18 percent of its workforce. Entropic said the move was made to "better position" the company in current market and financial conditions, as well as to "more closely align operating expenses with revenues." According to the company, its workers were notified Monday and Tuesday that it would make the cuts. In addition to the employment cuts, Entropic said it is closing its

The firm said that it had a sales decrease due to contracting commercial markets and the global recession. Tags: teledyne technologies employment jobs layoff aerospace electronic Thousand Oaks-based Teledyne Technologies , an aerospace and electronics firm, announced Wednesday that the firm has cut six percent of its North American workforce, eliminated salary increases, cut employee stock option awards, and will also close or relocate five of its operating sites, as it looks to cut expenses. The announcement came as the firm reported first quarter 2009 sales of $440.3M, down from