An increasing number of companies, particularly start-ups, are announcing layoffs and downsizings. These decisions are driven by business needs or merger decisions, in part due to economic and geopolitical factors as well.
The economy reopened to a huge demand for jobs and a surge in spending as people ate out, went shopping, attended events, and traveled. Stocks shot up and everything looked rosy. Fear of rising inflation, disruptions to supply chains, the cost of everything increasing, and an escalation in the Russia and Ukraine war has struck fear in the hearts of corporate executives.
As a result of too much hiring, they now feel the need to hold off on hiring and consider some layoffs in order to conserve capital. HR can show up at your desk, escort you to a conference room and let you go. No warning, personal improvement plan, or feedback and little recourse.
Hopefully, this will all turn around for the better soon. But if layoffs and job freezes continue, here are some tips on how people can prepare to quickly embark on a plan B or a job search.
⚙️Up the visibility of your contributions, self-advocate, show up, chip in, go the extra mile, hype it up etc.
⚙️Build skills through online credentialing platforms or most needed coursework.
⚙️Strengthen your career collateral like your Resume, LinkedIn, profile, bios, and cover letters.
⚙️Consider a content strategy or social proof with an updated and active LinkedIn, GitHub, Behance, conferences, publishing, blogs etc.
⚙️Engage with your network! Start spreading some goodwill, as it will be needed whether a layoff hits you or someone else in your network
⚙️Immediately begin to prepare interview questions
⚙️Know your transferable skills and your unique, differential advantage, here you find true potential
⚙️Update your resume with quantifiable, measurable benefits accomplished.
⚙️Refresh your LinkedIn profile capturing all of your upskilling, certificates, and accomplishments. Make sure it’s complete and robust.
⚙️Join LinkedIn groups, other professional forums and participate.
We will want to move jobs or lose our jobs at some point in our careers.
BOTTOM LINE IS NETWORK. NETWORK. NETWORK AND ALWAYS BE PREPARED.
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