In continuation of my earlier posts on things to do before you quit, this post describes what you should do before you are laid off.
A pink slip comes as a surprise to us, no matter how much trouble our employer is in or how bad our performance has nose-dived in recent months. We always think we are the best around. The boss will pick someone else if anyone has to go; not us.
With unemployment rising, there is no guarantee that you will get to keep occupying your chair at work. Even if there’s little to no chance of losing your job, you should still be prepared.
Prevention is better than a cure
Nothing beats an attempt to keep a job. In my position, I hire and fire employees. I’m impressed when I see someone exhibiting the following behavior, even if they are at the bottom of the performance graph compared to all others. I start rethinking things before letting them go. At times I have retained some of those late risers.
1. Become a boss’s man. If you are going, there’s a high chance your boss’s job is shaky as well. In that case, he’ll need help from his employees. Start helping him – ask what you could do to help and let him know about the good things you’re doing for him.
2. Put in more time at work. It’s easier to keep a job than find one. If there is a 30% job cut, that means 70% will keep their jobs. The decisions about who to keep and who to let go are based on performance, salary, and redundancy of position. Boost your performance by getting meaningful things done. Come in earlier. Stay later. Be more visible.
3. Be proactive in team meetings. Exhibit leadership at work. At the end of the year when I sit for appraisals, the thing that comes to mind first is how employees performed in the team meetings. Don’t talk for the sake of talking; that will go against you. Come up with solutions and show direction when needed. Be a thought leader.
4. Accept an increased workload. Before management starts planning to distribute your workload to others, proactively take some of the workload from others. For a company in trouble, there will be a lot of work toward preventing failure. You should stand up and bring out your best.
5. Accept mistakes and promise to do better. Discuss what you did wrong with your supervisor. Accept that you could have done better. Promise to do a lot better job. Verbal assurance stays in mind.
Gear up for the job market
When the writing on the wall and you don’t have any chance of survival, work toward getting a new job. Get your house in order and educate yourself as much as possible; there must be other takers around.
1. Brush up your resume. Your resume sets the first impression. Make sure it’s up to date with all the details of your latest work. Update contact details. Write about every award/recognition you received at your current employer.
2. Use LinkedIn to increase your professional network. One insider recommendation might get you the job. Add all LinkedIn suggested connections. I do get emails from 3rd or 4th level connections to introduce me to the other hiring managers in my organization.
3. Start applying for jobs. Use all possible methods to reach potential recruiters. Monster, Dice, and Careerbuilder are excellent online job application tools. Open a profile with all of them, upload your resume, and search for jobs. If you are able to move, expand your search to the cities you are willing to move to.
4. Start using your personal mailbox. Gradually decrease your dependency on work email. Any recognitions, awards, or training certificates should be forwarded to your personal email address. Do not transfer proprietary information; it might get you in trouble.
5. Learn, learn, and learn new skills. Nothing beats skills. Acquire new skills and brush up on existing ones. If your work schedule permits, learn while at work. Take online trainings and certifications.
6. Get in touch with past employers. I know people who have gotten their old jobs back with previous companies. Maintaining a good rapport with colleagues and especially the hiring managers at your old jobs helps you earn consideration for reëntry. Keep the gates open.
Make financial adjustments
You are about to lose your steady stream of income – this is the right time to cut your expenses and spend smarter if you are tapping in to your emergency fund.
1. Cut your expenses. Remember, during unemployment you’ll live on emergency savings. Cable TV, morning coffee, gym memberships, magazine subscriptions, eating out, and weekend bar trips are not necessary expenses. I understand some of these are to keep our soul happy, but can’t they wait for few months? Apply your judgment and cut the fat.
2. Secure insurance coverage. First, complete all pending checkups or preventative care appointments while you still have company group health insurance. Next, start researching private insurance plans. A few alternatives are COBRA, individual group health insurance, short-term health insurance, and high-deductible health insurance plans. Do not create an insurance coverage gap.
3. Start looking for side income. I know a few blogger friends who started blogging after a job loss. A successful blog is a money-making machine. Try to take up part-time employment. Your aim should be to depend as little as possible on benefits or your emergency fund. Every little bit helps. Popular side income includes, paid online survey, mystery shopping, staff writing. You can turn your hobby in to income.
4. Get the papers ready for your unemployment claim. Have a look at this government guide to filing for unemployment benefits, the best resource I could find on web.
5. Factor in Job search expenses. Get a phone plan that can support hours and hours of interviewing over the phone. If required try a land line phone for appearing in interview. Face to face interview would need you to travel.
6. Review employer benefits. People often overlook this one. Make sure you receive any compensation that your employer is supposed to provide. Try to negotiate your severance package if you are entitled to one. Generally, if the job loss is due to cost cutting, you should (although it’s not mandatory by law) receive compensation.
Get back every penny your employer owes you. Review stock options if you have any. En-cash your remaining leaves.
Change life habits
No matter how confident you are, job hunting when you’re unemployed is traumatic. It would certainly take a toll on your mind and body. Start taking care of both while you still have few weeks before the layoff.
1. Start exercising. Exercise keeps our body and mind in order. One thing you’ll need during unemployment is peace of mind and good health. You need to be energetic during interviews. No one likes to recruit a lazy fellow. A human manatee can keep a job, but it’s very difficult to get a new one. Eat healthy and stay fit.
2. Get involved in society. Get involved with family and friends – you need moral support, wherever it comes from. Use Facebook/Twitter to network online. A socially fulfilling life helps you regain your moral. Don’t hide the fact that you are going to be jobless. You might get unexpected help in finding a job from the people you already know.
3. Seek counseling. Getting a new job is much more difficult if you lack self-confidence. If you feel depressed, seek help. Frequent mood swings, lack of sleep, sadness, or sudden weight change are symptoms that require attention. Don’ neglect yourself.
Don’t learn these tricks the hard way after being laid off. Try to gauge the environment now. Regularly read online articles about your employer. At the first hint of trouble start preparing for the job loss.
Don’t forget the olld fashion face to face networking with industry people. Join an industry group and maintain your network.
Social networking in every form. Electronic and FTF, good advise
Such a depressing topic, but great advice. Following these are sure to help. When cuts come, most people set themselves up for failure by trying to “fight the man” instead of proving their worth in the company.
No doubt. But appeal is universal. CEOs lose their jobs. Very true we often try to fight the man at work…
I like this post SB. Aside from the very practical and important tips, it speaks about being proactive and shaping your future and not letting event overtake you completely. So many of us can be paralysed and fail to make decisions. Great stuff.
Thank you Hunter!
This is a really great list. You got them all I think. I particularly like your focus on changing our habits. That is so important because what we do day to day can have such an impact on how our life goes. I think those three tips are very sound wisdom and that they would be very helpful in not only fixing a bad situation but also preventing one in the first place. Great post!!!
Thanks miss T for liking the post.
If only poeple would read this article! This week I had to deal with people who make mistakes and when I talked to them about that, instead of saying “What can I do better, how can I improve,” they yelled at me for not understanding them and how stressed they are.
I often come across people who complain about work load. When you know they are not overloaded it becomes irritating..
Great advice! Getting into better health & physical shape can help as well. Unfortunately employers think you are smarter if you are in better shape. That includes prospective employers too.
Increase networking by going out to lunch with different people, not the same people all the time. Include those who are in a higher position that you also.
Going out of lunch with people at higher position usually works from other way. Its them who invite us. Very good tips Maggie. Physical shape matters in personal and professional life.
Networking is really important. Always expand on your network since you never know when you need to reach out to them. Also, focus on making your resume look attractive. Many people only focus on updating their resume content, which is important, but don’t forget about appearance.
Add to that..you shouldn’t put even a single error on your resume. No spelling, grammar or punctuation mistake is allowed. I once refused to interview a person whose mobile phone number was wrongly written on resume.
Too many people put planning off until it’s too late, but the best thing to do is prepare now. Losing your job is not the end of the world! I think some of your best tips are about changing life habits.
Very true Jesse. I could have put more on life habits but, decided against making the post bigger.
I would add back up (and bring home) any data that isn’t breaking any employment contracts
Good suggestion Evan
Such a relevant post, especially in today’s economy. This is actually the scenario at my company where 25% of the staff was let go and 75% of us survived. But… surviving is not always the best thing either, which is why I love your tips about side income so we can ultimately be independent of that bi-weekly paycheck.
Look at crystal, she’s earning more now as full time blogger compared to what she earned at day job. Side income matters a lot, even it helps in self confidence and ultimately help you in your work life.
This is amazing for ANYONE who has EVER lost a job or wants to get a new job really fast. Really helpful for getting you over the shock and anger and pain of losing a job and then moving on to something MUCH BETTER.
Great advice on this topic. If you are thought of as a Leader and someone that out works your peers, it will be hard for your boss to let you go over someone else that just shows up and gets a paycheck. These two qualities will help you retain your position and also be looked at for a promotion. Don’t see that you are losing your job but ask yourself how can I get promoted or move up in a your career with another company possibly!
-Brian
Very true Brian.Stop thinking about being laid off, think about being promoted. Its a huge affect on personal productivity. Thanks for your comment, appreciate it!