It's old news: "More Layoffs Today at XYZ Incorporated". I'm reading Tweets (Twitter) daily from people announcing that they either are going to lose their job, or they just did. Speaking from experience, losing your job is 1st) Scary, 2nd) Possibly Financially Devastating and 3rd) Depressing.
For a lot of men and women, we identify ourselves by our jobs. When we are introduced to new people, one of the first questions we are likely to ask is "So, what do you do for a living?" Losing a job sends our self-identity on a roller
coaster ride few of us are prepared to deal with.
A slight adjustment in focus now will prepare you for an uncertain employment future and may have the additional benefit of increasing your employability index.
Here are a few things you can, and should do now:
Network. If you're reading this, it's most likely because you found me on a social networking site. (See, I'm following my own advice.) Everyone you meet represents a future sale, knowledge database, or a source for future job referrals. Take time to get to know these people. Remember their names and something important about them and stay in touch.
I met a woman this morning that described her husband as a master networker. She further stated that her husband for 25 years has made at least one phone call every day to someone he hadn't spoken with for a long length of time. For him it's a routine that he doesn't break. She says that every time they travel, whether on vacation or business, he schedules a dinner or cocktail hour and invites two or three people he knows from the area. According to her, they always show up and often with two or three more people for him to meet. If you follow this method, you will have more friends and colleagues than you can imagine. If you really want to up the ante, introduce yourself to at least one person a day and put them in your call cache.
Educate Yourself. I'm speaking of real education. Formal education is important in creating your "paper" marketability. The more credentials you carry on your resume, the more doors that will open for you. Many employers offer at least partial tuition reimbursement for college courses or continuing education courses. Take advantage of this. If your employer doesn't offer this, do it anyway. (I am taking a course in mediation and parenting consulting at Hamline University this January).
I was discussing the job crisis with a gentleman I met this morning. He made the obvious but very important point that job seekers need to find a
way to differentiate themselves from other job seekers. He wasn't speaking in terms of using colorful resume paper, or having a Flash enabled web resume. He was saying that employers are more able to pick and choose the top talent because of the increasing numbers of unemployed. That means that your are competing against more people than ever before for fewer jobs.
Ask yourself, "What am I currently doing to make myself stand above all other employees in my department or company?" Chances are you know where you stand in relation to your coworkers. If you're not at, or near the top of the performers you run the risk of being replaced or downsized.
Taking steps now to educate yourself will not only help you keep your current position by helping you perform better, but will also make you more desirable to future employers.
Further, continuing education can not only be used to increase your desirability, but also simultaneously as a means to expand your career path to new areas of interest.
Stay Informed. Don't get left out of the conversation. Exposing yourself daily to a variety of subjects and discussions will develop and expand your knowledge base. How many times have you met a well educated person that couldn't maintain a conversation if you paid him to?
By reading a variety of columns and blogs each day, you will expose yourself to a world of information that you might not normally have access to and broaden your ability to engage people in different types of conversations. Read from trusted sources to keep up to date on current events. TIP: If you aren't using a RSS reader, start now and subscribe to numerous sites with an array of different topics. (Make this your first subscription by clicking the "subscribe" link on the right.)
Finally, ask questions about things you don't understand and absorb different view points from your own. By asking questions and understanding all sides of an argument, you will be better able to communicate with a larger volume of people and be smarter doing so.
Track Your Successes. In the heat of the battle, we engage people and negotiate deals without giving it a moments notice. Your employer expects this of you and therefore foregos the pat-on-the
-back and compensates you as agreed (hopefully). But when you are laid off, terminated or downsized, how will you remember all of the great things you contributed to your employers success?
Start a success journal today. I use Google Docs because 1) I'll never lose it and 2) because I can access it from anywhere. Use a notebook if you prefer, but don't forget to use it. Log your call volume if you are a sales person. Track your conversion rate. Monitor the gross sales and profit percentage you are contributing. Whatever it is that you are doing on a daily basis, write it down. Don't overlook the obvious. You won't in three months be able to remember everything you did, and you never know what your next employer might be looking for. This information will be priceless when it comes to updating your resume and writing a glowing cover letter.
Spend Wisely and Save Money. This goes without saying, but it's an important point. If you are suddenly without employment, what will you do to pay the mortgage? For the sake of argument, it will take you 3 months (13 weeks) to find new employment and receive your first check. If you don't have a minimum of three months salary saved for a crisis, start saving now. Not having an income in the future will create higher stress, anxiety and depression. That is a dangerous combination and will make it difficult, if not impossible to focus and concentrate on your your job search. Saving 10% of your salary each week, it will take you 2.5 years to accumulate 3 months salary. I suggest makin
g this a priority and putting away as much as you can afford to build this buffer as quickly as possible.
Exercise. We all know that frequent exercise is important for good physical health, but did you
know that it is important for mental health as well? Numerous studies have concluded that physical exercise will decrease anxiety, stress and depression. Exercise will increase your self confidence, self image and energy levels; all of which are important to being successful in business.
Self confidence and self image are tightly paired with success. If you feel good about yourself, you will be more confident and your performance at work and home will be better. Keeping your performance high will make it more difficult for an employer to let you go. In turn, if
you are terminated, studies have revealed that more physically fit men are more likely to be hired by an employer. (No citation available. I read that study about 5 years ago.) Will you have time to get yourself in shape
before your first interview after termination? Will your self confidence be convincing to potential employers?
Exercise now to manage your stress and you will be better able to handle extreme circumstances.
Next . . . Surviving the Layoff: What You Need to Know
(Brandon Johnston is a Life and Transition Coach assisting people balance their lives in ways they never dreamed were possible. Brandon can be reached by email at brandon@coachbrandon.net, or by phone at 612.326.4717. The first session is always free.)
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