Jobs @ Career Consulting Limited
Return to career-consulting-limited.com
People |
|
|
 |
Have You Been Fired? Laid Off? No? You Will Be!
It's true. Things have changed. You need to know the 3 Keys to Taking Control in this wildly-changing job world. 2.6 million were laid off the past three years, 600,000 in 2003. The most mass layoffs in history occurred in January 2004. 2004 saw more mass layoffs than any previous year. Manufacturing jobs are down from 21 million in 1980 to 14 million today. As an example, Levis closed the last of its 63 plants in this country. So that most American of icons-Levis-are now only made offshore. Think you're not at risk? Economists say that 75% of those who have jobs now are at risk of job loss because they work in the 5 industries undergoing what they call "creative deconstruction"--or down-sizing, right-sizing, outsourcing, and off-shoring. Those 5 industries are Airlines, Communications, Finance, Manufacturing of Electronics, and Technology. That's a lot of the economy. You Need the 3 Keys to Taking Control 1. Take Care of Yourself by Taking Control of Yourself 2. Take Control of Your Finances 3. Take Control of Your Careers It doesn't matter if your CEO makes mistakes and flies your company into the ground, it doesn't matter whether his bonus is tied to cost-cutting, so he sells your job to India, and it doesn't matter if the cause of the problem is that your company's chief competitor is Halliburton, things have changed in the job world and your job is at risk. It's been said that if you work in an office you are at risk. 14 million jobs are expected to be sent offshore in the next decade. People entering the job workforce today can expect to have 8 careers. Not jobs, but disparate careers, with separate skill sets. You need to be prepared. My book, FALLBACK POSITION, Preparing a Contingency Plan for the Worst Case Scenario, gives you the 3 Keys to Taking Control, so if you do lose your job, it's not devastating to you and your family. And the 3 Keys allow you to take control of your future careers too. The 3 Keys to Taking Control 1. Take Care of Yourself by Taking Control of Yourself You're going to have multiple careers, so you first need to know yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, and you need to relate those to what you want to do, how hard you're willing to work to get to do it, and are you willing to move to do it? And you need a game plan. Continuous life-long learning is necessary in today's world. At a minimum you should learn one new computer program and one new human relations skill every year. Learn them well enough to teach them. Then if you have specific interests, define those and work on learning those, strengthening your strengths and eliminating your weaknesses. Become a value-added employee where you are, so you're the last one tossed off the lifeboat, but work on finding the job you really want for your next move. Many people are laid off, immediately panic, and run out and take the first job they can get. * Usually in the same field from which they were fired or laid off. * They don't take a break and think about what they want. *They don't strategize about how to get what they want.You need to. Take control of yourself to take care of yourself. Do the self-analysis exercises as I suggest in the book, FALLBACK POSITION. Find out who you are and what you want to do with your life. That's taking control of yourself. Don't just let things happen. It will make you feel good to know you've prepared and you've taken care of yourself and your family. 2. Take Control of Your Finances. Be prepared by building a layoff budget. Know what you'll get for severance, if anything. The average is 1 week per year of service. But the rule of thumb for getting a job is 1 month per $10,000 of salary. So if you've worked five years and make $50,000, they might pay you for 5 weeks but it will take 5 months to find a job. You need to fill that gap. Know how much unemployment will pay. Financial Planners advise to have 6 months salary in savings. That's hard to do. But if you know your severance and unemployment, then the gap is something less than 6 months' pay. You need to know what the company policy is. Same for health insurance. It can cost $8-10,000 for premiums on your own. Find out the company policy. If they offer less than what you need, negotiate with them for more. You're not being fired for bad performance, it wasn't your fault the company was flown into the ground. You were loyal, you need them to be loyal to you. Guilt them. Guilt is a powerful negotiation tool. Don't be afraid to ask. What are they going to do to you for asking? You've already got a pink slip. Don't worry they won't give you a good recommendation. They know that if they give you an incorrect bad one, you can sue for defamation, and get much more than severance. When Ray Buford was laid off from his job in Denver, by his old curmudgeon of a boss, he was offered six months severance and COBRA health insurance, meaning 18 months.Ray went to him and said, "Boss I've been a good and loyal helper, made you a lot of money, and I have two teenagers. At my level I need a year's severance and insurance for two years." The old man looked at him and said, "Son, that reminds me of the story of the man who asked his wife what she wanted for her birthday, and she put down her book, looked at him and said, 'I want a divorce.' The man let out a sigh, saying 'Woof. I wasn't planning on spending that much.'" Ray gave a courtesy chuckle and said, "That's a good story, boss, but I was hoping this 'divorce' would be a friendly one." With that code word 'friendly' meaning 'without lawyers', Ray got his extra severance. So don't be afraid to ask and to persuade. Include your family in this layoff budget, because if you have teenagers and you have to take the cell phones and internet away, they're not going to be happy campers. You probably won't take them away, because those are tools for getting another job, but you might reduce costs, and the family needs to be involved and know what the situation is. Having a layoff budget puts you ahead of most of the workforce. Planners say only 30% of the people have a financial plan, and there aren't 10% who have a layoff budget. You'll know the answers to the key questions before they're asked. That will make you stronger. Knowing the financial approaches you'll take from FALLBACK POSITION and working through them will help you and your family feel good about whatever happens and you'll be in the best position to survive and prosper in today's crazy job world. 3. Take Control of Your Career(s) The worst case scenario is losing your job unexpectedly in a tough economy. But if you have a contingency plan, it will make you feel good that you've protected your family financially and emotionally. Job loss, the psychologists say, is like a "little death." You go through the same grief stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Having a Fallback Position helps you and your family members get through the stages to acceptance quicker. Being prepared also makes you a more confident, and therefore a more competent employee. It might make the difference and make you the most value-added and least likely to be tossed off the lifeboat. Get what you want in the next job. Chances are good you don't want your last job again. (1) 50% of the people employed want another job; (2) You're not the same person you were when you took the job, are you? You've changed. So why would you think you'd want that job again? (3) Take the time to figure out what's right for you now. Target the career that gives you the rewards you want. Learn what you have to do to get that job. Learn where. Then do it. Study and plan negotiations, including severance, for your next job. It's your friends who hire you, but that's not who lets you go. Negotiate with your friends. Get your OUT package on the way IN. John E. Arnold is an author, speaker, and consultant, following 30 years of leading organizations with 300 to 1300 employees and winning awards for training, planning, management innovation, and creativity. John E. Arnold is the author of Anyone Who Can Be Fired Needs a FALLBACK POSITION, Preparing a Contingency Plan for the Worst Case Scenario. Buy it today and get prepared. www.fallbackpositionbook.com. Arnold also offers private consultation and advice on specific situations. Contact him by email at John@JohnEArnold.com
MORE RESOURCES: Careers at Givaudan Givaudan Careers Oaktree Capital Meet Native American Veterans where they live with a VA career VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs Careers | Career Opportunities West Virginia University I moved to Alaska after college for a job. I lost all my friends because I put my career first. Business Insider Jobs City of Rochester (.gov) Careers at TWU Texas Woman's University 15 Companies Offering Health Insurance to Part-Time Workers U.S News & World Report Money Careers at FEMA FEMA Careers at Willamette my.willamette.edu Physicians are the nation’s top earners – a slideshow Medical Economics Jobs and Training at FDA FDA.gov Jobs at Liberty University Liberty News City of Tampa Careers City of Tampa Careers at VA VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs Job Seekers University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Healthcare Jobs at Novant Health | Novant Health Novant Health Careers BASF Careers at University of Missouri Health Care | University of Missouri Health Care jobs University of Missouri Health Care MPP Employment Data USC Sol Price School of Public Policy Nursing jobs VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs Career Opportunities UMHB Jobs at BCA Minnesota Department of Public Safety Statement by Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su on October jobs report US Department of Labor Careers at Union | Human Resources Union College Careers West Virginia Department of Education Careers Washington State University Employment Services American Mathematical Society Recruiters urge candidates to use AI to apply for jobs Financial Times Working for ICE U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Newsroom US employers added just 12,000 jobs last month as hurricanes and strikes sharply reduce payrolls The Associated Press Work at DHS: Career Opportunities Wisconsin Department of Health Services Employment Statistics Columbia SIPA October 2024 jobs report: How two major hurricanes, labor strike might affect the numbers - NBC News UF Health Careers UF Health - University of Florida Health Employment benefits VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs Work for Us (U.S. National Park Service) National Park Service Careers at Prairie View A&M University Prairie View A&M University Job Search Results UnitedHealth Group UN COMMON CAREERS VCU Health Work With Us National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Career Opportunities Gilead Sciences Employment | Department of Corrections Governor Tom Wolf Careers S&P Global Careers Medline Reservists (On-Call) FEMA Job Opportunities Bellevue School District How to Apply FEMA Job Opportunities Southwest Minnesota State University DOE Report Shows Clean Energy Jobs Grew at More Than Twice the Rate of Overall U.S. Employment Energy.gov Careers Micron Careers at Discovery Education Discovery Education Jobs report on eve of election will be among the most muddled in years The Associated Press Join our team FHI 360 Careers KPMG Early Career GlobalFoundries Certified Direct Care Professional (CDCP) Wisconsin Department of Health Services Careers The Guggenheim Museums and Foundation Internship Opportunities | Careers Boston Consulting Group What Trump's election victory means for job seekers Business Insider Jobs and internships at ABC7 Los Angeles ABC7 Los Angeles Careers at Jacobs Jacobs Careers in A&O Shearman Careers UNICEF USA Work At Chess.com Chess.com Students and graduates JPMorgan Chase Career Paths FEMA Highest-Paying Engineering Careers in 2024 University of North Dakota The 16 Best Jobs for Creative & Restless ADHD Brains ADDitude magazine Mental health at work World Health Organization The 10 jobs that landed the biggest pay rises in financial year 2024 The Australian Financial Review How many jobs are available in technology in the US? Computerworld |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How to Give Job-Winning Answers at Interviews Human Resources personnel, professional recruiters and various other career experts all agree: one of the best ways to prepare yourself for a job interview is to anticipate questions, develop your answers, and practice, practice, practice.There are plenty of websites that offer lists of popular job interview questions, and knowing the types of questions to expect can be very useful. 60 Hour Work Weeks - Can You and Your Career Survive Them In the 80s while I was an account executive for AT&T most people in my organization worked normal (for then) business hours. By that I mean they arrived close to 8 or 8:30AM and left between 5 and 5:30PM. How to Write a Better CV (UK), or Resume (USA and elsewhere) The first point to make is that the terms "CV" and "Resume" (with or more often without the French acute accents over the e's) are virtually interchangeable in the UK; they mean the same thing, but if anything the norm is CV. In the USA and elsewhere, the CV (Curriculum Vitae to give it its full title - literally "Life Study") is a different animal - a dry listing of qualifications and experience more suited for a university faculty listing for example. 20 Ways to Advance Your Career To survive and thrive in today's competitive environment, it is not just what you know. You also need to be competent. Learn a Language for Career Advancement To learn a language for career advancement is one of the best ways to get ahead in the job market. In the 21st century you will need every advantage you can get to keep yourself competitive in the marketplace, and adding foreign language skills is a great way to gain an advantage. How to Terminate an Employee and Live to Tell the Tale 1. Employee Backdrop in AustraliaThe whole arena of Industrial Relations and the interaction between employer and employee is conducted within the complex framework of various statutes, state and federal, regulations and rulings and common law. Why Use a Resume Writer or Resume-writing Service? Here are some of the questions we have been asked by our clients or potential clients in the past, together with our answers to them. We hope you find them useful, and that they help you to make an informed decision. Technology in the Workplace - Boon or Curse? Like all new innovations, technology in the work environment can either work for you or against you. What is good for the employer or is not always the same for the employee. Prepare for Your Performance Review Before You Start the Job When you start a new job, you probably realize the first three months are critical to your long-term success. Everybody's eye is on the "newbie" as you learn the ropes. Employment Law: Attendance Rewards - Legal Ramifications If you were thinking of offering your employees special rewards as incentives for having good attendance records, then you must read on. In fact, employers that offer attendance bonuses may find themselves falling foul of the law. What Your Guidance Counselor, Career Counselor, and Own Mother Probably Never Told You... The alarm clock jars you awake at some insanely early hour. As you hit the snooze button you think, "there's gotta be a better way to make a living. Competency Based Interviews - 6 Steps to Success! Competency based interviews are intended to get the best from you, the candidate, whilst also fulfilling the needs of the organisation to get the very best person for the job. There are some easy steps to make the most of yourself and have a much better chance of success. Bullseye Interviewing An interview is much like a blind date. You have sweaty palms, heart palpitations, shaky nerves and a preconceived notion of what could happen. How Can You Find Freelance Writing Jobs? Do you think that there is a big sign that reads, "Freelance Writing Jobs, Apply Within"? There just is not. In fact, you may have a hard time finding writing jobs of any type advertised in any employment magazine or newspaper either. Experience Hear-See-Do Research indicates that we retain only 10% of what we hear; 20% of what we see; 65% of what we hear and see; but 90% of what we hear, see, and do.Every day at work we demonstrate Hear-See-Do when we use a combination of our knowledge, wisdom and skill to perform a task or plan what we will do at a later date. What To Do When A Co-Worker Turns Nasty A friend of mine laments that work would be great if only there were no other people there! No matter where we work, we will work with others. Often, those relationships are cordial if not friendly, but there can be challenges. Your Resume is Just One of the Tools in Your Job Search A resume is a tool. It allows employers to see what skills you have and what benefits you bring to the table. How to Get the Job You Want in Any Economy... Act Like a Headhunter Having spent the last few years of my career in the staffing and recruiting industry, I'm asked all the time by friends and relatives if I can help them find a more desirable job. I've helped my fiancé get a job, helped my college buddies get jobs after graduation, and even helped a few high school buddies find jobs having not seen them for years. It May Be Time to Walk in an Employers Shoes If you are in a job search and aren't receiving viable hits, it's time to walk a mile in an employer's shoes. Okay, I realize what you may be thinking. Personality Testing; Myth and Realities It is commonly believed myth that personality testing instruments can measure your personality and predict your future behaviors. The pre-employment testing mechanism has been following this creed without any solid evidence.
|
|
|
| © Career Consulting Limited.com 2011
|