LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Learn the signs of a potential layoff.
- Get strategies for how to handle a layoff and move on to a new job. The recent high unemployment numbers underscore that an important part of career success is staying employed even when the economy is difficult. The first three sections we covered in this chapter all contribute to securing your job:
- Doing well in your daily work increases your value for that job.
- Maintaining open communication and a good relationship with your boss ensures that you stay positively in mind if layoff decisions need to be made.
- Having a broad professional network means other people may support your case.
- Being mindful of career advancement helps because organizations like to keep strong performers.
However, sometimes even good workers get laid off. Companies buy or merge with other companies, and this often means there will be overlap—for example, two human resources (HR) departments, two accounting departments, and so forth. The new company may not need or have a place for everybody.
Organizations may close their doors altogether. Enron, Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, and several nonprofits with money invested with Bernie Madoff closed quickly, without any warning in some cases.
Therefore, knowing that layoffs can happen through no fault of your own, you want to be able to see the warning signs (so you have more time to react) and manage a layoff so you get the most support and momentum to move on to a new job
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