Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Recession:Surviving Layoffs!!!

Current economic times are tough and it is important to hang in to your current job because you never know how long will it take to get a new job. Layoffs in a company are usually done because the management wants to cut own its expenses or due to a corporate merger where the duplicate staff is told to let go and only the best of people in both units are retained. One should not wait for the things to detoriate and then act, its better to prepare your layoff survival strategy much before others, specially when the economy is not doing too well. Lookout for signs like hiring freeze, workforce reductions in other parts of the company, bad financial results and that things are getting a bit strict than usual.


1. Make yourself indispensable:
During the time of layoffs, it is very common that managers are secretly told to rate employees on a scale of 1 through 10 reflecting their importance for the company. People who are in crucial projects of the company are usually least impacted, while the ones that are over staffed or are working in internal only projects or just nice to have projects are the first to go. Profitable divisions are often untouched. Change your projects or try to move in an important slot within your company where you almost become indispensable, that may very well mean harder work for you, but this is truly the most important factor for keeping your job during the layoff in a company.

2. Do not resist change:
Present yourself to be flexible enough to take any challenges and changes. During a reorganization, your boss will really not want to deal with a situation where some employees resist change or stick with conventional habits. When two organizations merge, each tends to think that their methodology of execution of a project, technology and problem solving is better than the other. Often people who decide which path to choose, may not even have knowledge but just the position to make that decision, obviously results may not be perfect and most logical. If you are one of those who welcomes change, it leaves a good impression on your boss and gives a better chance for you to survive a layoff.

3. Keep your boss happy:
Eventually your immediate boss will likely review your performance, therefore keep your boss happy and avoid risky conversations with him. After all we are humans and some favourism cannot be ruled out, therefore being in the good books of your boss is one of the best survival strategy during a layoff.

4. Keep your skills sharp:
Improve your skillset, even if you work in a certain technology, there is no harm in reading books about a newer one or talking to people who are already working on it. Take classes, attend conferences, get certifications and indirectly mention people above you about it. Learn skills that your employer may need in future. Benefit from employer-provided training when it's available.

5. Never give personal reasons to keep your job:
Don't tell others including your boss how badly you need your current job. Always defend your position with your skillset, ability to work hard and presenting that you are indispensable.

6. Never beg for your job:
This is really the ultimate form of desperation and leads you even nearer to the cutting board. Sympathy dies out pretty soon and often plays an adverse role in a long term.

7. Keep a positive attitude and Stop complaining:
Motivate yourself and even your colleagues in tough times, your positive attitude will eventually reach up the management chain. Even prove a motivation for your boss, show him that he can rely on you.

8. Take your job performance evaluations very seriously:
We are often given a worksheet about the things we have been doing, make sure that you explain things very systematically in a professional manner. Don't think its just a formality anymore. There are times when boss will forget that you did something important 3-6 months back. Keep some sort of an evidence of every significant work you do. This will certainly help to avoid being the part of layoff list.

9. Maintain work behavior:
In tough times avoid gossips with your fellow workers, avoid errands in work hours and keep your head cool.

10. Avoid asking for a salary raise and perks:
Let your boss decide how much raise and other perks he wants to give you.

Others:
Take a public speaking course, keep a notebook of your tasks, avoid internet browsing at work or keep it to a minimum, increase your sales, get good reviews from customers, avoid criticizing others, dress appropriately and maintain a clean physical look. If things get nasty in your company, take some risks as well.

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