HelpI've Been
Downsized!
What Do I Do Now?
Karen Young Kreeger
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No matter how you describe it, being let go from
your job can be devastating. You experience many
feelings at once: shock, embarrassment, and a
loss of self-confidence. You may be wondering
what you could have done to prevent it. Pulling
yourself back into the job-search saddle--and
staying there--is the hard work. But how, and
where, do you begin?
Don't take it personally
The hard work comes both in the form of pounding
the pavement and finding and maintaining a positive
attitude. "What I tell candidates is that
the battle is as much an emotional one as is the
physical search," says Kathy Mattingly, president
of i.t.s.
Staffing LLC, a recruitment firm located in
Louisville, Kentucky that handles entry-level
to executive searches in the information technology
field. "Downsizing is something that is taken
personally and is rarely personal. That's hard
to separate, especially if you're a loyal person
that loved your job."
Michael Cozzens, managing partner at Virginia
Beach, Va.-based Wayne
Associates, a search firm that specializes
in technical staffing concurs. "The biggest
thing that I've seen throw people for a loop is
that they take it personally when they get downsized.
They need to realize that it was a reduction in
force, and that doesn't necessarily make them
a bad person. Until they come to grips with their
situation, they're not really starting in the
right spot for their job search."
This is especially true when you start to interview
for new positions. Career counselors and recruiters
say that sometimes the bitterness, defensiveness,
and shaken self-esteem can come through in interviews
through your attitude, spoken language, and body
language. Surround yourself with people who are
supportive, and if possible, take a short time
off to clear your head.
Make a Plan
After almost a grieving period, Mattingly and
others suggest that the most important next step
is to create your own battle plan. Literally,
write up a plan with specific dates and goals.
"Obviously get your resume and cover letters
in order," she states. "I think that
the job search is very much a multiple-pronged
process. I tell people that they need to use all
of them, such as looking at the classified ads,
tapping their own network--many times the best
jobs aren't even advertised--and find a headhunter
or recruiter in your industry that you're comfortable
with."
You can locate appropriate recruiters by watching
the classifieds or looking in the "yellow
pages" under "staffing." Most major
cities have recruiters in every major industrial
segment. Websites such as recruitersonline.com
has searchable lists of recruiters by industry
and location.
The most important outlet, say recruiters, is
to tap the web. There are two ways to do it. You
can simply post your resume to any number of job
boards and hope that a company HR person or headhunter
finds you. But what they say is more effective
is to actively search the web for current openings.
Cozzens says that job seekers will of course
have to do some of their own legwork to find the
most appropriate recruiter for their area of expertise,
if they choose that route. Look for who's working
with formulation chemists or with bench chemists,
he suggests, as examples.
So you've located some possible positions to
apply for. What's next? Jessica Lambert, a staffing
consultant at Kforce
Scientific, a specialty-staffing firm in Detroit,
Mich., warns that many job hunters will skimp
on their resume polishing, thinking they'll get
the chance to expound on their virtues in the
interview. "A lot of people aren't even getting
that chance right now," she says. The resume
is really what's opening doors right now, but
keep it succinct. On the other hand, make it long
enough so that your skill set is fully outlined.
Beyond resume preparation, says Lambert, another
prime suggestion is to keep a good record of your
job search. "A lot of people will submit
a resume for a position and not even remember
that they did so," says Lambert. "To
me, I find that insulting." Keep a list of
the jobs you've applied for, the companies and
the search firms you're using, and a brief description
of what they do. So when they call, you have your
"cheat sheet" ready by the phone.
What to Expect
What can jobseekers reasonably expect from a
recruiter during a period of downsizing? "I
would tell a person to be prepared to take a lot
of time on the job search because right now the
market is extremely tight and everyone is having
the same problem," says Lambert. The typical
job search is lasting four to six weeks right
now, she notes. So be mentally prepared for a
marathon, not a sprint.
Says Cozzens, a lot of times when a person gets
downsized, all they really want is their old job
back. "Just like you and me, they don't want
to move." But the possibility of stepping
right back into a similar position isn't equal
from city to city. For example, cites Cozzens,
if you're living in Wilmington, Del. there are
lots of options for chemists, but in say, Indianapolis,
there are fewer. In this situation--if there aren't
any jobs in your field in your hometown--the most
gifted and well-connected recruiter can't be of
much help. As a result, many people on the job
hunt waste their time with unrealistic expectations.
So he suggests that in your plan to honestly consider
your personal issues-like relocating--and other
priorities.
Many recruiters will help with resume and cover
letter preparation, and some, like Mattingly,
do go the extra mile in helping with emotional
counseling and coaching. She also has jobseekers
fill out a wish list with such items as salary
expectations and geographic needs, along with
questions about how important a casual dress environment
is.
"Some people just peddle what you already
have," she notes. "If the recruiter
doesn't understand your needs and wishes, they
aren't worth it." Recruiters also give tips
on interviewing, background specifics on the companies,
as well as negotiating an offer and closing the
deal.
Lambert also says that jobseekers need to keep
in mind when calling recruiters that the business
is high volume, especially in a downsizing cycle.
"A lot of recruiters are very busy and because
the recruiter doesn't spend 20 minutes to half
an hour on the phone with you is not a reflection
of your skills," she states. "I deal
with a volume of 100 to 200 resumes a week, with
10 job openings available at any given time. If
you're not brought in for an interview right away,
it may not mean your skills aren't good; it may
mean there isn't a match right then."
New Directions
Eric Celidonio, staffing consultant with Scientific
Resources, Inc. located in Needham, Mass.,
says that keeping yourself marketable in more
than one area is important to allow for flexibility
in finding a new job. "People become too
dependent on one aspect of their position,"
he says. "Oftentimes upon losing your job,
if you work for a big company, you may never find
something that's comparable to where you are,
in terms of salary and responsibility."
Try to get experience in a couple of areas, he
suggests. For example, for PhDs, some specialize
in process development, a catchall term for optimizing
a biotech or pharmaceutical process. Often in
a large firm, employees will be tasked with a
special aspect of process development, for example
media optimization or contaminant prevention.
"My suggestion is to go out of your way to
work with colleagues in other areas without stepping
on their toes to develop knowledge beyond what
you're tasked with," says Celidonio. "You
have to take into consideration keeping yourself
marketable."
Cozzens agrees. Jobseekers need to develop alternative
plans. For example, if you like working with people,
he suggests considering openings in tech service
or technical sales. "A lot of times this
kind of move doesn't occur to people," he
says.
Karen Young Kreeger is a freelance science
writer based in Ridley Park, PA.
Related Reading:
From CareerJournal.com:
How To Shrug Off The Job-Loss Stigma
Being
Jobless Doesn't Mean You're Clueless
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