Most people in IT have had to endure it at one time or another. If you have yet to, the odds are that you will eventually. At the very least you know friends, family or professionals in your network that have been through it, sometimes more than once. What is "it" you may ask?
Layoffs (aka "RIF", aka "restructuring" aka "repositioning" aka "whateveryouwannacallit")
Throughout my entire career in IT I have never voluntarily left a company. Each one went through some kind of workforce reduction, and most of the time this was a result of a merger or acquisition. As a result, I have learned a few very important things that all of us need to ensure we are prepared for if (or when) that fateful company-wide memo is sent out:
1. Keep your network current (if you don't have one, start building it.) - There are sites like LinkedIn, Plaxo and Facebook that can help automate much of this. Don't make the mistake of solely relying upon the services these sites provide. Keep your own "black book" current with those professionals you needs to stay in contract with. Set a recurring calendar reminder and set aside an hour or two a month to review and update your contacts.
2. Keep your resume current - I also recommend regularly updating your resume. Include recent career milestones and accomplishments that may have happened since your last update. Setting a reminder to do this is also a great idea.
3. Re-check your skills - Do you still list DOS as a skill on your resume? How about HTML? (don't we all know HTML by now?) If your list of skills does not include emerging technologies or methods, you should spend some time studying up. Read books, check out free or inexpensive e-learning sites, and use your network. When looking at prospective jobs, some research into what that company has for systems, software or technologies can really pay off.
This is by no means a comprehensive list, however these three items (along with always being prepared) can help your odds should a layoff occur at your company.
-William
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
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