I've been through two major corporate layoffs in my career and guess when they occurred? You are right, just before the holidays - the worst possible time of the year. Holiday shopping, parties, or schussing down the ski slopes just can't shake the blues. Worrying about where and when your next job will materialize is about as stressful as it gets. So we put on a smile (as phony as it may be) and try to maintain a positive attitude so we don't ruin this time of year for friends and family. No one wants to be around someone in a funk - especially during this special season.
No matter how prepared you are, other than a start date at another company already confirmed, you cannot be totally equipped to hear the words, "unfortunately I am going to have to let you go because of a workforce reduction." Yes, you feel betrayed. "Why me?" you ask. It's one of the toughest psychological challenges we have to deal with and it gives you serious doubts about your self-worth. You have every right to be pissed that some third-party arbitrarily upended your life as you knew it! Similarly, if you've had to accept a part-time or meaningless job - replacing a real career position - just to pay the bills, the season is anything but joyous.
The worst thing you can do (the first stage of grief) is deny it happened to you. Just pretend nothing changed. Keep buffing your plastic like there is no tomorrow. Buy those expensive holiday gifts you thought about when you were gainfully employed. Drink heavily at holiday parties, to show friends and family that you're not going to let this minor speed-bump slow you down. Go into hock for the weekend in the Bahamas - what the heck. All bad ideas. It's better to be angry this whole damn thing happened to you - followed by being real depressed for a couple of days - then pick yourself up and begin the most important marketing assignment you'll ever have - to market YOU. Surround yourself with close friends and family - not for whining about how you were wronged but for understanding about how you feel. This will hopefully help move the grieving process to acceptance (not that you have to like what happen to you, but it did occur and to millions of others this past year). So get over it. Don't go into debt on holiday gifts or extravagant dinners. Your close allies will understand and appreciate a well-thought out gift - whatever it costs. They will appreciate your intelligence to think ahead and plan for the immediate future. We all know people who have gone through this same thing and all know it could happen to us.
Evaluate your skills: who you are, where you have been, and what you have accomplished. Next, identify where you want to be in a couple of years and how you are going to get there. Create a strong resume focusing on your proven skills, supported by your work experience and education. Network, network, and network some more. One of the best bits of advice I have heard is to build your network before you need one. Get on LinkedIn, if you haven't already done so, and figure out who you know and who they know and what jobs are available. Certainly, check out the big job sites, network through Twitter and social media sites, and use other traditional job search tools. But real networking with people you know - people in your field - is most likely where your next job will come from. Jump into your network with both feet and focus your energy on connecting with colleagues and researching companies over the remaining holidays. As a byproduct, it will occupy your days and leave you less time to fall back into the holiday blues.
As the economy heats up, companies will start hiring again - many should start that process right after the first of the year. Be ready, with your homework done, to position yourself (with the help of your network) for your next new challenge. Going forward your only job security will come from your own preparedness: How sound financially you are to weather a storm, a strong network of friends and colleagues, continuous education to keep on the top of your field, and having and executing a plan for the future.
Richard S. Pearson is the Author of 5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track. He has held vice-president positions with four multibillion dollar travel industry companies and three Internet early stage companies. He has a BA degree from Regis University in Organizational Development. His experience has given him a unique perspective on how to navigate the organizational structures of both large and small companies. He has hired and trained hundreds of employees from frontline salespeople to vice presidents, and coached many through their careers. He is currently working of facilitating the large increase of travel between the US and China, which is taking place. http://www.5necessaryskills.com |
