I do not know, nor am I going to speculate whether or not we are about to enter a recession. Certainly, recent employment data is not encouraging. However, I am sure that we are entering a time that is especially uncertain. Therefore, I wanted to know what employment experts thought about how employees might deal with the uncertain times, and what recommendations we should make. The good news is the professional community generally agrees on some fundamentals and I would like to share them with you.
The second lesson is to make sure you practice self-control. In uncertain times the normal pressures of business increases because of that uncertainty (or fear). Often, relationships can become strained, teamwork can suffer and there is a strong temptation to lose control. Unfortunately, office politics can intrude and those wounded will not forget. As a result, a very good resume could be seriously compromised during reference checking. A trail of bruised feelings is not what a job seeker should leave behind.
However, little is more uncertain that what action a company will take in difficult times. I have clients whose previous employers were steadfast in protecting employees as long as they could. Others viewed downsizing as normal and had no trouble moving people out. Most companies are probably somewhere in between, but one way to find out is ask older employees what actions the company took in the past. When a trusted long term employee gives advice on what has happened in the past, listen to them. The individual may not be a star, but the fact is people remember and can provide some useful insight..
One factor which enjoys unanimous support relates to the importance of carrying yourself with respect and acting as though all is well. Maintain at least an outward display of commitment and energy. Projecting professionalism and self-esteem in hard times can gain respect, and even enhance your reputation. But, act like a reject and you will be a reject.
In the event of a downsizing, this advice is even more critical. I well understand the challenges of a disappearing lifestyle and work style. Any employee or job hunter who is not carefully monitoring their personal and professional styles, especially in tough times, can find that options for survival or other opportunities can narrow.
Do not panic. My colleagues and I know that many mistakes result from decisions born of panic. These range from college graduates who turned down an offer from a small company because he wanted a large one to senior managers who went to informal start-ups because they felt threatened in their current job. The common thread is they knew they were making the wrong decision but were driven by panic.
The fact is a layoff is not the worst thing that can happen. Being on a payroll is not the sole objective for most people. A worse problem is dramatically increasing your work hours and job responsibilities (with no salary increase) just to find that the company is closing or was sold. Making sacrifices to help the organization is commendable and if collectively carried out, might make a difference. But no employee, no matter how dedicated or reliable can make up for the mistakes of the senior managers who placed the organization in jeopardy in the first place. Employee efforts to save the company generally cannot be done and trying and failing is painful.
In previous articles I have discussed the basics: updated resumes, refurbished networks, etc. And, I understand that transitions are neither simple or painless, and predicting the future is impossible. But, when faced with potential for turbulence, each of us can objectively size up the situation, develop a strategy and be prepared to face whatever the future brings.