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Preparing For A Company Layoff
Layoff on the horizon? Here are strategies for making the best of a bad situation.
by Beverly Y. Langford, author of "The Etiquette Edge" and president of LMA Communication. Dr. Langford teaches management communication in the Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University.
September 8, 2008
Y
our best friend sent you a text saying that her whole department was laid off this
morning. Your father had to take early retirement last year. All around you, people are
dealing with the realities of a tough economy, and companies are slashing headcount to
survive. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in the first half of 2008, 1.2 million
people lost jobs, not because of poor performance, but because of circumstances beyond their
individual control. To make matters worse, the rumors are flying within your own company.
What can you do to avoid being laid off or to make the best of the bad situation if the worst
happens?
Make yourself
indispensible and visible. Do your best work, and avoid developing a negative
attitude. Layoff rumors wreak havoc on morale. Stay away from the break room doom and gloom
conversations. Instead, focus on contributing noticeably to the company. If a company
is considering a layoff, it’s usually a cost-cutting measure. Show that you are always
finding ways to do your work more efficiently and save the company money.
Get on management’s radar screen. Go out of your way to speak to or
introduce yourself to decision makers at meetings and corporate functions. Have something
substantial to say about the company or the industry.
Collect emails, customer commendations and other documents that attest to your capabilities
and contributions. If a client or customer compliments you, ask that person to write your
boss about something specific you have done and send you a copy. Most people are happy to do so,
and you will have a record whether the layoffs happen or your job is secure.
Update your skills. Take advantage of any training or development that the
company offers. If the organization is cutting back on training, consider investing in
outside courses or certifications to enhance your marketability. Stay abreast of the
latest technology.
Put your financial house in order. Lose the $4.00 lattes and Prada
handbags. Establish an emergency fund with enough money to cover your living expenses for
three to six months. You can celebrate when the crisis passes or you get the great new
job.
Have a contingency plan for covering your health care when you are between jobs. Use
your credit cards with caution, paying the balance each month, and consider establishing a line of
credit now, while you have a job.
Get ready to jump-start your job search. Dust off your resume and make sure
that it focuses on specific accomplishments and quantifiable results. Get a personal email
address with a professional name. “Psycho baby” or “Hot chick” may be fun with friends but
won’t play well when you send an email to a C-level executive or an HR manager. Have some
personal business cards printed with your contact information. You can even create
good-looking cards on your computer.
Keep an open mind about moving to a different job or industry. Often layoffs create
the opportunity to go in a new direction. And, if the layoff happens, don’t be embarrassed
about telling everyone you know that you are looking for a job. You never know which contact
will produce results.
Network, network, network. If you have been empathetic and responsive to
others who have lost jobs, they will be eager to help you when the tables are turned. Broaden
your professional and personal network by joining and attending alumni events, professional
associations, conferences and non-profit functions.
Don’t forget to network within your own company. If influential people in other
departments know and appreciate you, they may place you somewhere else in the organization if a
layoff occurs in your particular area. At the same time, build a contact list of coworkers,
clients, customers, vendors and other associates in case you no longer have access to their phone
numbers and email addresses, and flag those you may want to use as references.
Layoffs are disturbing and stressful, but taking some steps to anticipate and meet the
situation head on can see you through the hard times and prepare you to shine even more brightly
when better days return.
