The Interview Edge

Is Your Job Going, Going, Gone? Here’s One Thing You Can Do About It

There’s a cyclical nature to all markets, businesses and industries – which means the employment landscape is always shifting. Jobs are created on the one hand while others are phased out over time. It was true in when the automobile replaced the horse and buggy and it’s true now.

Throw in a serious economic downturn and the pace of change accelerates…like during this latest recession when that natural ebb and flow seemed a lot more like something on steroids.

Many of the changes to the employment picture over the last two years will be permanent. Economists project that roughly one quarter of the 8 million-plus jobs that have been eliminated during this recession aren’t coming back.

Are you one of those people working in a field that’s materially changing?

Job Security: Is There a Temblor in Your Future?

If You’re Sitting on a Tectonic Fault Line, Expect an Earthquake
~Dylan Grice, analyst with Societe General

Grice was talking about the financial crisis continuing to brew in Japan and its implications worldwide. The quote can be applied broadly, though, so I borrowed it for our purposes today.

That tectonic fault line? It could be your company.

It’s in financial trouble. Or it’s going to be acquired. Or the president of your division announced his departure, which is setting in motion a chain of events that could materially change the landscape. Or your business unit has been underperforming. Or the tax burden in your state has become so onerous that the owners are exploring options elsewhere.

And on, and on.

You’re sitting on a fault line. The ground beneath your feet is unstable.

Hanging on to Your Job Thru a Company Restructuring

If you’re facing some sort of company reorganization, job security is your responsibility. Don’t expect anyone to take care of you but you.

If you want to retain your job then you need to be proactive. You'll find it’s possible not only to survive…but to thrive.

It’s not uncommon during any sort of major company restructuring for new roles to lack clear definition, at least during the early phases. You may not receive specific marching orders.

Teeing it up for the Would-be Saboteur in the Next Cubicle

Facebook users, are you addicted to Mafia Wars? Enamored of Bejewled Blitz? Can’t get enough of FarmVille?

There’s no shortage of social media games.

If your Facebook home page looks anything like mine, it’s full of posts about so-and-so being iced, or someone earning some medal or another for their score, or black barns being sent to neighbors. A lot of people you know are probably gamers...maybe you're one of them, too.

So if you’re playing games during working hours (I won’t even go there) and feel the need to post your scores –  which only underlines the fact that you’re playing games while you should be working – BEWARE.

Your buddy in the next cube who’s also one of your Facebook friends?

Don’t be surprised if he “inadvertently” lets your addiction slip. To your boss. At a deliciously inopportune moment.

I’m sure I don’t have to state the obvious: this job market is extremely tight, and the situation isn’t going to improve any time soon.

In this "every man for himself" economy, you may find out (the hard way) that your buddy in the next cube will be gunning for your job if he sees an opening.

Play the games during working hours and post the scores. You may as well be handing your job to somebody else on a silver platter.

The Interview Edge - required reading for people who are serious about their careers.

What Happens When Things Don’t Go As Planned?

I was talking with a doctor friend the other day who said, “You know, this isn’t where I expected to be at this point. I lost half of my portfolio – that was my kids’ college fund. I didn’t think I’d have to be working this hard at this age.”

Another friend who just lost his job said, “I’m 55, unemployed, and not feeling too good about myself right now. This isn’t how I pictured things turning out.”

Life doesn’t always go as planned – especially when it comes to employment.

If You're a Virtual Employee, Are You Doomed?

Your company is struggling through the downturn; it's pretty obvious that they're going to have to trim more staff in the very near future. As a virtual employee, are you more vulnerable?

Well, it depends.

Some employers react to tough times by tightening the reins on distance employees; those not regularly on the premesis are viewed as the most expendable. For others, virtual employees are the norm. They're no more or less at risk than the next guy.

Securing Your Position

Things may be tough at your company right now. Maybe nothing has happened yet, but with unemployment on the way up, there's a good chance people are going to lose their jobs at some point. Obviously there are no guarantees regarding outcome, but there are things you can do to secure your position.

Of course, it's pretty rare that a person is deemed irreplaceable. Some, though, are perceived as more valuable than others. Companies are discerning about doing what they can to retain the most valuable employees. (By the way - sometimes that's the last person in the door.)

When it comes to perceived value, then, what can you do to enhance yours?

Retooling Yourself for the Future

How marketable are you right now? What will you need to do to make sure you’re still relevant five years from now?

When the economy is in recession, workers focus on their marketability. They’re either trying to hang on to their jobs or attempting to land new ones. Nobody wants to be deemed redundant, or expendable, or a weak candidate. Those are labels no one can afford to be tagged with. People spend time thinking about how they can shore up weaknesses and increase perceived value.

Unfortunately, though, when the job market finally rights itself, a lot of those same people will just as suddenly put thoughts about how to stay relevant on the back burner. And that will be a mistake.

Even when the economy begins expanding again, we’re still going to be looking at a dynamic job market. Remember back just a few short years ago when the market was red hot? People were still facing layoffs. Companies were still merging – or outsourcing – or streamlining operations – resulting in head count reductions. Of course jobs weren’t being lost at the pace they are now, but the point is…you’d better make sure you’re marketable. 

If you don’t keep up with the pace of change, you will always be vulnerable.

Your skill set needs to be broad and relevant. You need to be sure you’re making a meaningful contribution to the organization. You need to identify future trends early and understand what you need to do to adapt and thrive.

This will require initiative on your part. Nobody’s going to do this for you; it’s your responsibility to make sure you’re as marketable as possible.

Be a Contrarian: It Could Save Your Job

Duck and cover. If you grew up in an earthquake-prone part of the country – or in an area where tornados are common – you probably were taught that as a school kid. The idea was to cover your head to protect yourself from falling or flying debris – whether taking cover underneath a piece of heavy furniture or crouching against an inner wall.

There’s a duck and cover sort of mentality spreading through workplaces across America these days – and it has nothing to do with natural disasters.

During this recession, many employees are doing their best to lay low and, in a sense, stay out of sight. They figure if they keep their heads down and avoid bringing any attention to themselves, they’re more likely to avoid a layoff. "If they don't know about me, they can't let me go."

It doesn't work that way, though; hiding is actually one of the worst things you can do.

Job Security: Can You Trust Your Intuition?

If you’ve made it a point from day one on the job to dial in to what’s happening at your company, with your direct competitors specifically, and within your industry in aggregate, then you probably can.

And if your gut is telling you something’s going on…that something’s not right...you should pay attention.

Often, when people sense trouble, they rationalize (“it’s probably nothing” or “things will turn around”), deny (“it can’t be happening here”), or ignore their instincts.

No question…it’s unpleasant to face the realization that your company is in trouble and your job may be on the line. But you’re not doing yourself any favors by denying telltale signs.

Worried About Your Job?

If you are, you’ve got lots of company.

There’s plenty to be worried about.

A recession will do that. And as recessions go, this one’s a doozy.

I'm sure you saw the headline yesterday indicating that the number of Americans on unemployment is the highest it's been since they started tracking it in 1967.

We’re seeing wage cuts on a scale unheard of since the 1930s, and a lot of companies are opting for liquidation rather trying to ride out the storm via Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

People in Washington are determined to add another trillion bucks to the deficit for a stimulus that, frankly, isn’t stimulative – yeah, I’d say there’s no shortage of troubling news.

Hanging on to Your Job

Hold on to your horses….2009 is going to be a rough ride. The unemployment rate will continue to climb; most projections place the national average in the neighborhood of 9 – 10% by the fourth quarter.

Remember – the economy will begin its recovery first. When it starts to turn, tack on another 12 to 18 months until employment begins to improve. (And don't expect the economy to start ticking upward anytime soon...)

Not only is it going to get more difficult to find a job, it could get harder to keep the one you’ve already got.

By no means does this mean you’re destined for a pink slip. But you may need to get more proactive about protecting yourself. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to improve your chances of holding on to your job.

Redefining Job Security

I heard an idea regarding job security recently that was worth a closer look:

The only job security you have are the skills you bring to the marketplace.

We all know there’s really no such thing as job security in the traditional sense (at least in the private sector). There are no guarantees when it comes to employment.

Adjust your thinking, though, and try looking at “job security” as something that’s in your hands…not the hands of your employer. It’s obvious that your skills (your marketability) are your most bankable asset. Paying attention to your marketability throughout your career is crucial.

Preemptive Layoffs - What Does That Mean for You?

If you had any doubts about the predictions that this would be a long, deep recession, there's another sign suggesting that's exactly what we're headed for: accelerated, preemptive layoffs. Some companies are beginning to eliminate jobs as a preventive measure in anticipation of a lengthy downturn.

If they thought this would be over in, say, six months, they’d hang onto employees and ride it out. But that’s not what they’re thinking. So they’re reducing spending, cutting costs and trimming workers now in an attempt to protect margins. And many companies are doing this before business suffers.

If you didn’t catch this story in the Wall Street Journal, that’s the real headline…the fact that many companies are eliminating jobs even as their financials overall are still healthy. They’re doing what they can to make sure they stay that way.

Worried About Your Job? Be Careful When Networking

If you’re concerned about potential work force reductions, of course you should be reaching out to your network.

That said, be careful how you go about it. Remember, you’re still employed; the last thing you want to do is put your job in further jeopardy. Then there’s this: in the end, your company may not downsize. What happens then if you’re exposed?

Tapping your network for advice and leads is okay – but use discretion. You can just about guarantee your name will appear on the layoff list if word gets back to your employer.

Career Strategies - Don't Hide if You Want to Save Your Job

The Dow has given back ten years of gains. Unemployment is up. Consumer confidence is diving.

Your company is way off its sales target – with no relief in sight. There have already been a few layoffs; it seems inevitable that there will be further workforce reductions. You’re simply waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Sound like your situation?

You’re not alone. But don’t follow suit and make the same mistake so many employees make when they think their jobs may be at risk.

Do not hide.

Warning Signs - Is Your Job In Jeopardy?

I was reading an article recently in which a woman talked about being totally blindsided by a layoff. By her account, she came in to work one morning thinking everything was fine, but was escorted out of the building later that afternoon after having been pink slipped.

I’d suggest that, in hindsight, she probably realized there were signs that all was not rosy.

Layoffs usually don’t come out of the blue.

There are almost always indications that trouble may be looming on the horizon. Still, like this woman, many employees are taken by surprise; they don’t recognize the telltale signs because they’re not dialed in. Or, because they’ve convinced themselves it won’t happen to me, they choose to ignore obvious indicators of trouble ahead.

August Employment Report - More of the Same

The jobs report was released this morning, and the headline is there’s no relief in sight just yet. Not a big surprise.

If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a summary:

-The unemployment rate for August rose to 6.1%, the highest it’s been since September 2003. 84,000 jobs were lost during the month. The pundits had been guessing that the rate would come in somewhere around 5.8%, so this was steeper than anticipated.

-Manufacturing and professional/businesses services were the biggest losers, while the health care sector continued to grow, as did education.

-The number of people who have been out of work for 27 weeks or more rose by 163,000.

-The July jobless number was adjusted down from 51,000 to 60,000. 

-Those who lost jobs were not on the fringe (such as teenage labor, for instance); categories across the board experienced losses - including adult men and women, whites, blacks, and Hispanics.

So…all signs point to a weak economy ahead. But you already knew that. Will you be able to hold onto your job?

How safe is your job during a market slowdown?

Though the U.S. thus far has avoided recession, a lot of people are feeling "bear-ish" these days. It's an undisputed fact that the economy is sluggish and the dollar weak; every trip to the grocery store or the gas pump is an unfriendly reminder (as if you needed one) that the threat of inflation is very real.

What does that mean for your job? Certainly some businesses are more tightly linked to a slow economy than others, but sectors from travel and retail to IT and nonprofits are feeling the pinch.

It's an unavoidable fact that there's the possibility of more pain on the job horizon: hiring freezes, limitations on business travel, lower spending on R&D, growth in offshore outsourcing, freezes when it comes time for your annual performance appraisal - and it may also mean more downsizing and layoffs.