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The Times of India Monday July 28, 2008
'Outplacing' employees to become leaner |
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Busniess Line Thursday July 08, 2008
Hefty salary hikes turn a thing of the past |
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Livemint.com (THE WALL STREET JOURNAL) Tuesday June 10, 2008
Small outfits offer big opportunities |
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Busniess Line Thursday May 22, 2008
They are beginning to look beyond IT space |
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The Times of India Saturday March 15, 2008
More pink-slips for techies this year |
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The Economic Times Tuesday March 11, 2008
Hiring in IT industry slows down 40-50% |
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Corporate News Wednesday March 5, 2008
Microsoft, Infosys 'incubating talent' to beat attrition blues |
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The Times of India Monday January 14, 2008
Rookies rule the roost today.... Fresh Look |
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The Times of India Friday January 4, 2008
Bada title, chhota kaam from indian techies |
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The Economic Times Wednesday January 2, 2008
ENABLING COMFORT At Workplace |
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The Hindu Business Line Wednesday January 2, 2008
Hiring moves beyond realm of IT, ITeS |
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Pink Slip Blues |
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The Times of India |
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October 20, 2008 |
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Nirupama V G |
When the mantra changes from Head Hunting to Head Chopping, security becomes a myth. It matters little whether you have been the best performer or you have been with the company for ten years, you could be pink-slipped any moment.
Organisations may call it downsizing, right sizing, firing, retrenchment, streamlining, rationalising, termination, dismissal, axing or lay offs. But as far as emp l oye e s are concerned it j u s t m e a n s one thing: job loss. E m - p l oye e s can lose a job for a variety of reasons and ironically often due to external factors beyond their control even if they are the best of performers. Organisation would decide to hive off a division or the entire company can be shut down because of losses. A few employees may lose jobs because of unscrupulous restructuring, while some may lose jobs because of cost cutting measures. Such adjustments are part and parcel of conducting businesses in today’s world.
Call it the hysteria before the storm, what frustrates most is the unpredictable situation on which you have no control. The psychological repercussions have far reaching impact as many of us identify ourselves with what we do for a living. When the job is taken away, we lose track of who we are, what we are and why we are around. You find yourself suddenly insecure, frustrated, angry and these build up to huge amount of stress. Emotional issues aside a number of practical issues need to be addressed.
How to face job loss Prepare yourself: Given the present economic conditions, expect the unexpected. Bear in mind that no one is indispensable. Therefore, keep your eyes and ears open to what is happening in the organisation, industry and check as to how long your savings can provide for yourself and your family. Plan accordingly and keep your expenses to the minimum till you find another job.
Reach out: While it is a good idea to make a good resume and reach out to as many job portals and consultants, a better approach is to work in a focussed fashion. Meet reputed consultants and take their advice since they will have a better understanding of the market conditions. They would also be able to tell you if your skills can be retrofitted into another industry/organisation wherein you would have more stability or where your skills could be better utilised.
Be truthful: The normal tendency is to hide that you have been fired because for many people it’s demeaning to say you lost your job. But one must realise that if employees are fired for no fault of theirs, it would be better to be candid and explain as to what were the reasons for the organisation to lay off. Reference checks are getting stronger and given the economic down turn recruiting standards and integrity would is getting more stringent.
Be flexible: It would be good idea to be flexible on location and compensation when you don’t have a job in hand. Many employees feel by moving to a different location or taking a cut in the c o m p e n s at i o n means compromising. In fact, it may open up to a new, more satisfying job. While it is not always advisable to take a pay cut, keeping your long term career goals, the organisation and the position, it would be better to look at stability rather than just compensation.
Be positive: The hardest part is to be positive when your job search extends days, weeks or even months. A negative attitude will hurt you emotionally, plus your frustration and body language can give a wrong impression to a potential employer. While you spend a respectable amount of time in job search and follow ups with consultants/friends to whom you sent the resume, spend some time also away from it to pursue a hobby, learn new skills, take a long walk and spend more time with family.
(The author is MD of Ad Astra Consultants)
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