Editor's note: This article appeared in the January 28, 2009, edition of Quirk's e-newsletter.
Layoff and job-security worries weigh heavy on a nation where the unemployment rate climbs relentlessly and jobless claims are at an all-time high. The nagging feeling that you may be working on borrowed time is a tough one to shake. Dr. Richard Bayer, an ethicist, economist and COO of The Five O'Clock Club, a New York career coaching and outplacement organization, offers advice to help prepare wary workers for the uncertain economic year ahead. The following tips are taken from Bayer's book, The Good Person Guidebook: Transforming Your Personal Life.
Get your ducks in a row. People who have not yet been laid off should start testing their market with a preliminary job search. It shouldn't be an aggressive job search, but you need to go through all of the initial steps. "Go ahead and take a look at the opportunities in your area and industry," Bayer says. "Update your résumé. And keep an open ear regarding your company's future plans. True, all of this may be for naught if your company doesn't have any more layoffs, but just knowing in the back of your mind what your options are will help you focus on your current work - which in turn helps you stay in the good graces of your higher-ups."
Link yourself into important projects. (And remember, this is no time for false modesty!) The best way to protect yourself at your current job is to take assignments that are important to the future of the company. These projects will help you boost your status at the company and stay in front of those who hold your job's fate in their hands. That said, don't just quietly do the work - make sure higher-ups know you're doing it.
Don't actually look for a job, but do make some practice runs. Make an extensive list of the companies where you would want to work. Put together a list of contacts and start making some cold calls. Start with the companies you are the least interested in so you'll have a chance to practice your elevator speech before you get to your favorites. Say something like, "I am safe where I am, but a sensible person has to know what's going on in the marketplace. I have been interested in hearing more about your organization and wanted to make sure they know who I am." Ask if you can set up a time to ask them a few questions and tell them you just want 20 minutes of their time. It is also a good idea to keep in touch with your new contacts by touching base every six to eight weeks.
Network, network, network. (Did we mention network?) In addition to your "possible employers" list, keep building and nurturing your list of other business contacts. Go to trade association meetings to keep up with changes in your industry. Join social networks like LinkedIn to cast a wide net for contacts. In fact, says Bayer, you may even want to put together a luncheon or business dinner for people at your level or higher in companies in your industry or industries that interest you.
Consider doing freelance work. If you're worried about losing your job, doing some freelance work - writing, graphic design, accounting or any other project-based business - is a great way to build your contact list, bring in extra income and provide you with a safety net if you lose your job. Sound like a lot of work? It is. But not only will this plan help you avoid the layoff list - or, at the very least, prepare you for the job market if you're forced into it - it will act like rocket fuel on your career.