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Are You Ready?

Do you feel that?  The slight tension in the air.  The nervous laughter from your coworkers.  That feeling of dread when your boss calls a surprise company meeting…

Take a deep breath.  It will be okay.  You will be okay.

If you're like me, you know at least one person who has been laid off recently.  You might even be that person.  In the past 15 years, I've survived five rounds of layoffs and been laid off twice.  I've learned that, with few exceptions, managers don't want to lay people off.  Sometimes, the only choice they're given is who to let go, and they struggle with that decision.  It's an unfortunate reality for many professions, and there's a chance that more of us will be impacted before the end of the year.  This reality raises a few critical questions:

1. How can I avoid or prevent getting laid off?
2. How can I prepare for layoffs?
3. What can I do if it happens to me?

Sometimes, circumstances are beyond your control.  By the time you're aware of the real possibility of layoffs, the decision may have already been made.  The last time I was laid off, my Director wasn't even consulted.  Was there anything I could have done before the decision was made?  Maybe.  It's hard to know.  I don’t want to rehash my last article, The Importance of PIE, but I will remind you and me, both, that it's not just about being a hard worker.  You have to engage with others and create the perception that you are valuable, in addition to being good at your job, before decisions about layoffs are even considered if you want to feel like you have any control over the situation.

Here are a few tips for how to prepare for layoffs:

• ALWAYS keep your resume and LinkedIn profile up to date
• Build your network, both socially and professionally
• Stay current on topics and certifications relevant to your career and your professional goals
• Familiarize yourself with the job market BEFORE you enter it
• Find ways to volunteer
• Practice public speaking and interviewing

Let's explore these tips.

The first speaks for itself.  ALWAYS.  For the next item, look for opportunities to connect with others, not just on LinkedIn, but it can be a good place to build your network.  Don't go crazy with certifications and degrees; they don't always boost your resume and help you get interviews, but the right training can help you be a better project manager.

If you wait until you're out of work and stressed before you start looking for work, there's a good chance you'll dread doing it, not that I expect you to enjoy it.  I know I don't.  But, how well do you perform at things you dread doing and don't have a choice in the matter?  Be comfortable with the job market.  Figure out where to look and what to look for before you have to do it, and it will be easier.  

This may seem counterintuitive, but volunteering can help you prepare for layoffs.  It can look good on your resume, you might pick up skills you wouldn't have, otherwise, and it can help you build your network.  One of my best jobs came as a result of a friendship I made while volunteering.

Once upon a time, I was shy.  You might not think so now, but it still shows up, on occasion.  Get me in a room full of project managers talking about my experience managing projects and you'll want me to give other people a chance to talk pretty quickly.  Get me in an interview and ask me to talk about why you should hire me… That's a little harder.  Make me record video of myself answering interview questions with time limits (been there…) and get ready to boo me off the stage.

My point, though, is practice.  I was in Toastmasters, for a while.  It helped me develop my voice.  I haven't done this in a while, but I used to apply and interview for jobs I wasn't sure I'd get.  I was working in a job I enjoyed and had no pressure to get a new job, so I was able to go into interviews with a little more calmness than I would have had if I needed the job.  This helped me be calm when it did matter.

What can you do if you're laid off?  If you haven't already started on my tips, get started today.  If you're out of work and you have responsibilities, your full-time job is finding a job, but it's not about spending eight hours a day, five days a week, scouring the internet and submitting applications.  Yes, you have to do the work, but, as discussed above, there's more to it than flooding the market with your resumes.

Did you catch the plural on resumes?  You want to have one master resume, and when you're applying to different companies, in addition to communicating how you've added value at your past employers, you want to tailor your experience to demonstrate that you understand the position you are applying for.  That means tailoring your resume.  It can be mind-numbing, but you want the opportunity to talk to a real person.  You won't get that if your resume doesn't demonstrate you understand the position you're applying for.

Once you're out of work, you can still build your network, but now it's time to start using it.  Do you know people who work at a company you are applying at?  Talk to them and find out what you can about the company, the position, and the team you'll be part of before you interview with the hiring manager and/or team.

Are you familiar with the concept of informational interviews?  Maybe you know someone, or someone who knows someone, at a company where you want to work.  If you don't know the person directly, get an introduction through a contact who does.  Ask if you can talk to them about the company and what they look for in their employees.  You're not asking for a job; you're just doing your homework to improve your chances of getting one in the future.

Most importantly, let people know you're looking and what you're looking for - friends, family, professional contacts…  Flip the flag on LinkedIn that says "I'm looking for work".  If you don't, and somebody else reading this article does, who do you think is going to be ready if you both apply for the same job?

While not a Utah native, Aaron Porter (insert alphabet soup here) raised his kids here and enjoys the sense of community he's found in Utah.  He maintains an on-again, off-again relationship with his blog on projectmanagement.com where he also participates in discussions on project management topics.  His most recent collaboration was on a DAVSC quick reference guide, available to the DAVSC community.  This is Aaron’s second time on the PMINUC Board of Directors; his first time was from 2010-2012 as VP of Education.  In between board positions, Aaron enjoyed volunteering as a project manager mentor, in the chapter and with other non-profits.