The Do's for Staying in the Workforce

While I remain optimistic that the economic picture will begin to brighten soon, the economic news continues to be grim. First time jobless claims are up again, although less than last month, and the national unemployment rate is 8.5%. So if you are currently employed, it makes sense to take steps to increase the likelihood that you will continue to be employed.

During my 20-plus years as a senior human resources executive, I have been involved in numerous layoffs. The process used to determine who stays and who goes is anything but an exact science. While some choices are obvious, many are not. There are three basic criteria used to determine who is terminated: 1) the importance of the job functions an individual performs, 2) the quality of an individual's work, and 3) whether the people making the termination decisions know and like you. There are things that you can do to increase the likelihood that you will survive a downsizing.

If you want to increase the importance of the work you are doing, focus on those aspects of your job that are most important to your boss and to the organization. Volunteer to help out on key projects. Attend and actively contribute at meetings where those projects are being discussed. Anything that makes your boss look good to his or her superiors is important work in your boss' eyes. And try to find ways to make or save money. Especially in tough times, rarely do companies fire someone who is putting money in their pocket. As to the quality of your work, while it may be difficult to quickly improve your performance, you can show that you are working hard. Come to work early, stay late, demonstrate a mastery of the details of the projects you are working on, and be sure to let your boss and other decision-makers know about your successes.

Of the three criteria, however, getting the people who will decide your fate, starting with your boss, to know and like you is the one thing that many employees frequently ignore, to their detriment. According to Stephen Viscusi, author of Bulletproof Your Job, "If your boss knows you, likes you, has a good impression of you, you're much less likely to be fired than someone who doesn't enjoy that relationship with the boss." When it comes to developing that kind of connection with your boss, Viscusi offers the following admonitions:

• Be Visible: "Introduce yourself." People tend to shy away from interacting with managers outside of their immediate team. But if you look for opportunities to introduce yourself to the "big bosses" at conferences or company meetings, for example, you broaden your exposure. The more "higher ups that know you and have a favorable impression of you, the less likely you are to get fired."


• Be Easy: Don't be viewed as a high-maintenance employee. Managers use layoffs as an opportunity to get rid of the gripers and malcontents. By the same token, they look to retain employees whom they have come to depend on. Do what you say you're going to do every single time. No excuses, no buck passing, no dog ate your homework, no computer crashes. If your boss knows without a doubt that he can depend on you day to day, as well as in an emergency, you will avoid the pink slip.


• Be Useful: The more of a role you play in the important work that gets done at the company, the more indispensable you are to your boss. Show initiative and don't be afraid to volunteer for tasks that are viewed as important by your boss and the organization.


• Be Ready: Preparation is the key to success. Be prepared for whatever might happen. Building a network before you need one by helping others will ensure that help is available for you if and when you need it. Being prepared will help you project confidence in the value you bring to the organization. "Confidence is very attractive. It makes you seem more capable, more valuable and more of a keeper when layoff decisions are being made."

Hopefully the rash of layoffs we are currently experiencing will soon be a thing of the past. Knowing how to position yourself at work so that what you do is appreciated by your boss and others in positions of authority however, is a skill that will be invaluable to you throughout your career.

A veteran human resources executive, Lee E. Miller is a career coach, an author of Get More Money On Your Next Job... In Any Economy and the co-founder of YourCareerDoctors.com. Mail your questions to Lee@YourCareerDoctors.com

Contacts, Not Web, Key to Getting a Job

Sunday, January 18, 2009

After leaving her job and enduring months of chemotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma, Ellie Mroz of Fanwood decided to re-enter the job market. She spent countless hours at her computer, clicking from job site to job site. She felt like she was "burying herself in opportunities -- none of which seemed to want her."

Once she decided to get out from behind the keyboard, she quickly found a job. Greg Redington, her boss, had tried to recruit her husband. Although her husband declined the offer, she and Redington had an opportunity to meet and really hit it off. That chance meeting led to him offering Mroz a job.

Although Redington didn't have enough work to keep her busy full time in his construction business, having heard her talk about her recent bout with cancer, he decided that in addition to business development, she could help him do something he had always wanted to do: start a nonprofit cancer foundation. Mroz not only quickly found a job in her hometown, but also gained the satisfaction of helping launch One Year for Cancer.

With the proliferation of job boards, it is tempting to think that all you need to do to find employment is log on to your computer, click and apply. While it makes sense to spend some time applying for jobs online, most people don't find their jobs that way. According to a 2008 survey conducted by ExecuNet, only about 25 percent of jobs are found by applying online, while almost 70 percent are found through networking.

If you want to find a job quickly, reach out to the people who know you. Liz Lynch, author of "Smart Networking: Attract a Following In Person and Online" suggests "reconnecting with former bosses, co-workers and classmates, in person, as well as going to events to meet new people in the industry you want to be in."

In order to make the most of the events you attend, Lynch advises you "develop a clear job objective statement that you can use as your 'elevator pitch' when you meet people at networking events. In a couple of sentences, describe what you're good at and what type of job you are seeking."

Print up your own business cards. You need something to hand out with your contact information when you go to networking events and meetings. You can get business cards made up at any copy store or order them online.

The internet also can be used to facilitate in-person networking. Social networking sites such as Facebook.com and LinkedIn.com enable you to locate people you have lost touch with. Once you find them, pick up the phone and call. Try to get a face-to-face meeting. Offer to meet for a cup of coffee or a meal. Pick a place near where they live or work so it is convenient for them. It is hard to make a personal connection with someone if your only contact is by e-mail. People are more willing to help you if you have met with them.

You can use the internet to identify people you know who work at a company of interest or who know someone who does. Rather than applying for a job online and risking having your résumé lost among hundreds of other applications, search your online networks for a connection who works at the company. See if they can ask someone to walk your résumé down to the human resources department or, better yet, to the hiring manager directly. That will help you stand out from online applicants and ensure your application gets a thorough review.

The internet also allows you to gather information about someone you are going to meet. What you learn online will enable you to quickly build rapport when you actually meet. Understanding the background of the people you will be meeting will let you tailor your answers to what each individual cares about.

Be sure to thank everyone who helps you in any way. People appreciate being acknowledged, and they are more likely to help you in the future if you show your appreciation.

A veteran human resources executive, Lee E. Miller is the author of "UP: Influence Power and the U Perspective -- The Art of Getting What You Want," and the co-founder of YourCareerDoctors.com, a website devoted to career success. Mail questions to Lee@YourCareerDoctors.com.

There's a Bright Side to Losing a Job -- Really

A few years ago, I wanted to go to a local restaurant I had never been to before that featured jazz bands. I called to make a reservation, and by chance, the person who took my reservation was the owner. I arrived at the restaurant with a woman that I had just started dating. I was greeted warmly by the owner, given a choice table and treated like I was his best customer. The owner even sent over complimentary drinks. To say the least, I was puzzled by this behavior but because I was trying to impress my date, I acted as if this type of thing happened to me all the time.

When my date excused herself to go to the lady's room, the owner came up to me and said "You don't remember me, do you?" I told him I didn't. Then he said, "You fired me. And I wanted to thank you. Although I was devastated when I was laid off, it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me."

He went on to explain that after he was fired, he came home and took over his family's restaurant. He had always loved jazz, so he decided to start bringing bands in on weekends. He added: "I love running the restaurant and it is a huge success. Although I didn't really like the job you fired me from, it paid well and I never would have left on my own."

On a single day this week, more than 70,000 jobs were lost when layoffs were announced at a number of major companies, including Caterpillar, Pfizer, Home Depot and Sprint Nextel. On a personal note, my future son-in-law was also laid off this month. That is lots of bad news in the job market and I expect we will see more in the coming months.

Losing your job is never easy. It is traumatic for the people losing their jobs. It causes hardship for their families. For individuals being laid off, there is a common fear, however unfounded, that they will never find jobs as good as the ones they just lost. For most people, the truth is exactly the opposite. They will not only find something, they will be happier and will ultimately be even more financially successful.

Despite the din of bad economic news, there are opportunities out there. Good economic news either seems not to get reported or is dismissed as an aberration. On the same day the layoffs were announced, the National Association of Realtors reported December home sales posted the largest monthly gain in seven years. While one month does not signal a turnaround in the housing market, the sales of more homes, even at lower prices, will lead to work for mortgage brokers processing loans, contractors doing home improvements and retailers selling appliances, carpets, furniture and home furnishings, among others.

As someone who has been through major layoffs as a senior human resources executive, here is some advice for those of you who may experience a period of unemployment during the current economic downturn:

Stay positive. While there are many more people seeking work than there are available jobs at the moment, there are jobs out there. According to the most recent available statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, there are 2.8 million job openings employers are seeking to fill.

Read the business news every day. Look for areas of growth where your skills might be needed. Identify companies that are expanding into new areas or launching new products. Determine where the government will be spending money. Be willing to take temporary work for companies that are experiencing sudden growth. Alternatively, offer to consult for a company that may not be doing so well but where your skills can add demonstrable value. If you can get your foot in the door and show what you can do, it will often lead to a full-time position.

New opportunities open up everyday. You need to be alert for them. Our new president has barely unpacked and the IRS has already announced it is seeking to hire hundreds of new tax collectors and auditors. If you had been vigilantly reading the news, you would already be aware of that; if you were interested, you might already have an interview lined up.

Lee E. Miller is a career coach and the author of "UP: Influence Power and the U Perspective -- The Art of Getting What You Want." Mail questions to Lee@YourCareerDoctors.com.