THE WORD : White Collar Blues

Most ‘zines are offbeat forums for disaffected youth, not high-paid white-collar types. But hard times can make disaffected youth of us all--”Out of the Blue” is a new ‘zine for laid-off IBM workers.

“IBM had a specific policy of avoiding layoffs for years,” says Alexander Auerbach, publisher of the Sherman Oaks-based ‘zine. “People assumed that when they had a job with IBM they would retire with IBM.”

Yet in the past six years, IBM, dubbed “Big Blue” back in the days when it dominated the computer industry, eliminated 150,000 jobs worldwide and 1,000 jobs in the Los Angeles Basin. Workers who once thought that they would be part of the IBM family forever now felt cut adrift.

“People identified themselves with IBM. Once their job is gone, so is their social support and a significant part of their identity,” says Auerbach, a financial public-relations consultant and former Los Angeles Times reporter.

This year, to help former IBMers make the transition into the real world, Auerbach started “Out of the Blue” with Rick Weiner, a former IBM communications manager.

Like a ‘zine for college kids, it gives tips on surviving in the world and provides a forum for frank discussion. Articles focus on finding new jobs (“The 100-Day Job Search” “Job-Hunting Expenses: What Can You Deduct?”), life after IBM and updates on the doings at the traditionally hermetic Big Blue. And on the last page is The Jobs Board, which lists openings across the country.

Surprisingly enough, “Out of the Blue” has good relations with IBM. “They’ve put up no roadblocks for us,” says Auerbach. “Out of the Blue” even has a few subscriptions from IBM offices.

Perhaps they’re doing a little research on the outside world.