Let’s face it — the news is full of talk about the tough economy and home foreclosures. While official, national unemployment has not increased much in recent months, employee wages and hours are down. And unemployment figures don’t always paint the complete picture, says Caroline Ceniza-Levine, co-founder of www.SixFigureStart.com, a career coaching firm in New York.
She says many temp and part-time workers and those who make job changes voluntarily aren’t counted in statistics, so the numbers don’t move a great deal. Ceniza-Levine says the employment market is tight right now, with some industries harder hit than others, “But at the end of the day, what really matters is whether or not you have the job that you want.”
She says that for those workers who are just on the fence about their jobs, now may not be the best time to test the waters. A certain amount of caution is in order. If you like your job and company, there are a few ways you can make your job more secure in shaky times.
First, keep your ear to the market and talk up your contribution to the company’s bottom line, Ceniza-Levine says. Then think beyond your own boss to determine whom your work impacts. “If no one benefits from your work, then when they’re trying to cut out the fat, your job’s in jeopardy,” she says. Build alliances with those people, not just with your boss.
Peg Buchenroth, senior vice president for talent management company Hudson in Chicago, says many employees are even reluctant to take a vacation during tough economic times. “They bank some of their vacation time as a cushion,” Buchenroth says. They’re also afraid that absence may make the company’s heart grow forgetful or resentful. And, she says, these fears may not be unfounded. This might not be the best time to take an extended vacation.
“Companies will have to come down to some tough decisions and there is the aspect of ‘out of sight, out of mind,’ ” Buchenroth says. This applies even more to telecommuters, who may want to increase their face time, heading into the office more often than usual. Even employees who work all their hours onsite should be more visible.
If you face a layoff or decide to make a job change while the market remains tight, you can increase your chance of being hired. “The same rules of engagement apply, only because it’s a tighter market, you have to be more polished,” Ceniza-Levine says. Keep a clean, presentable resume. “Any mistakes are less forgiven now,” she says. Prepare more for interviewing because you may get only one shot instead of three or four. She reminds applicants that employers are anxious, too. Add that to an already tense job interview situation and the savvy applicant will be upbeat, relaxed and confident.
As in your current job, focus on the bottom line, a major concern for today’s employers. It’s always good to list some accomplishments; highlight those things you’ve done or can do to save a company money or to make additional money.
Regardless of your job level, you should be able to list a few. Finally,
Ceniza-Levine reminds workers to prepare personally for the possibility of a layoff or extended job search. “Not everyone is prepared or expecting a layoff,” she says. “There’s a sense of urgency, very real time and financial pressure involved.” She leads workshops that focus on handling the layoff and job search like a company. “Itemize all of your expenses… know exactly how much cash is going out the door and how much is coming in,” she says. For instance, you may receive a severance package. Run the numbers and determine how long you have, how you will make money in the short term.
Aside from taking care of your finances, practice a little self-care. If you’re still working and worrying about a potential layoff, don’t go to the extreme and take no time off at all. “You may have fresher ideas, be much happier, more productive, just because you’ve had a break,” Buchenroth says.
After a layoff, exercise, volunteer and take care of projects you’ve neglected, such as cleaning out closets.
“That being said, don’t spend 20 hours de-cluttering instead of focusing on a job search,” Ceniza-Levine says. “A job search takes 20-40 hours a week for meeting people and researching companies.”
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