Last week, ABI held its first Savvy Geek Chix, an evening networking event where over 100 women, men and recruiters in technology gathered to exchange knowledge about surviving and thriving in difficult times: strategies for retaining your job, utilizing your network to find a job, and key steps to follow before and after a layoff.
A panel was moderated by Jerri Barrett, Director of Marketing at the Anita Borg Institute. Panelists were:
- Jo Miller, CEO, Women’s Leadership Coaching
- Sabrina Coleman, Senior Manager, IT Strategic Program Office, BioMarin Pharmaceuticals
- Dr. Tessa Lau, Research Staff Member, IBM Almaden Research Center
- Nehal Mehta, Enterprise Implementation Manager, LiveOffice
Here, ABI presents the top tips for weathering the economic storm discussed by the panelists and the audience.
1) How do you retain a job in these turbulent times?
Visibility Now more than ever, it’s important to work on highly visible projects, in particular those with a direct value to the bottom line (visibility and bottom line often go together, especially in hard times). As a technologist, remember to write, document, publish, and patent. Long after you are gone from a company, your name remains attached to that document and leaves a tangible and visible legacy which is benefitial in finding your next job. Know when to step outside of your job boundaries to maximize visibility. Now is a good time to find a problem that no one else is solving and bring it all the way to completion.
Network, network, network. Just “working hard” isn’t going to cut it. You need to make time to step away from your desk, now more than ever, in order to build relationships across the organization and to higher levels (think “wide” networks and “higher-up” networks). Having senior leaders advocating for your value is critical.
Build the right brand for yourself. Building your brand means 1) being known for that you want to be known for, and 2) focusing on the things that add significant value to the organization.
Do more with less. Now is a good time to idenfity all the possible ways in which you can do more work with less resources, such as working in partnership with others, leveraging technology, or implementing process improvements.
Have a mentor and mentor others. Having mentors provides you with critical network ties and constructive feedback on managing your career. Mentoring others similarly creates network ties that will be useful to you in times of need.
Ask for recommendations after important projects. You don’t want to be asking someone for a recommendation several years after you worked with them. Ask colleagues to write you a recommendation (for instance, on LinkedIn), after the completion of a major project. Collecting these recommentations and keeping your resume up to date are preventive steps which will help you in the event of a layoff.
2) How do you prepare for a layoff if you know it’s coming?
Face it, accept it, and get ready to move on. Getting laid off is a negative experience, but panelists, moderator and audience agreed that while you want to give yourself some space to process the situation, you don’t want to be remembered as someone who was a victim of the circumstances. Embracing this change is critical to one’s ability to move on. Acknowledge it, but don’t wallow in it. In order to see the positive, for example, you can create a list of the positive things, attributes or experiences that this organization gave you.
Collect your references. If you are aware of an upcoming layoff, collect your references from colleagues while you are still there. Also, make sure to update your resume while you are there and articulate the concrete accomplishments along with specific metrics of success.
Get ready for the difficult conversation. Think through the layoff process and prepare the questions you will ask in advance, to avoid feeling blindsided when it happens.
3) What do you do right after a layoff?
You have a new job, and it’s finding a job. Many make the mistake of viewing a layoff as an opportunity to take a vacation, or assume that “no one is hiring”, “the holiday season isn’t a good time to look”, or otherwise put off looking for their next job. Panelists emphasized that one’s ability to quickly focus on the task of finding a job, and treating that as their full time occupation right after a layoff event, is critical to finding the next opportunity. Assign yourself tasks each day, goals for networking meetings each week, and rely on your network for support.
Activate your network. Right away. Back to networking – with today’s social networking tools at your disposition, it is easier than ever to activate your network and let them know that you are looking for your next opportunity. Be specific and targeted with what you want so your network knows how to help you. Meet specific people in your network for coffee or a meal, and don’t waste their time – everyone is inundated with requests right now, and those people who have kept their jobs are doing more with less. So, schedule short meetings, offer to meet them for coffee at their company instead of asking them to travel somewhere, and be specific and to the point about what you need and are looking for.
Know how to network. A true professional network will establish relationships where others will know what you are good at, and checking in with other people regularly (and not just when you need a job). Reciprocate and help others in your network generously. It will come back to you in times of need.
Know the hiring cycles of key target companies. Knowing when the fiscal calendar and budgeting process of key companies close will help you strike at the right time. For example, some companies really push to close their job requisitions before the end of the calendar year (thus making the notion that job hunting is dead during the holidays erroneous – lots of companies want to fill those positions before they risk losing them in the next budget cycle).
Be Flexible. The old rules of what you can ask for in a job don’t apply right now. Focusing on the kind of work you want, while being flexible about the terms, will enhance your chances of success. If you are willing to take a consulting position rather than a full time position, for example, your chances of landing the assignment are greatly enhanced.
Target the growth centers in companies. Your chances of finding a new job will be higher if you look for those positions attached to a revenue center with clear impact on the bottom line. This means doing your research about which company divisions are growing, what technology is selling, and the new trends on the horizon.
Target one-off projects. While you look for more stable employment, you can keep your income, skills, and network going by taking some hourly projects through website portals such as crowdspring.com
Volunteer. Another way to keep your network and skills growing is volunteering. For instance, contributing to an Open Source project, or developing a website for your child’s school, can add to the skills and experience you can list on your resume.
Reinvention is the name of the game. In this job market, your ability to market yourself for multiple types of positions is critical. For example, even if you have never held the title of “Project Manager”, you can articulate how your past experience provides you with the skillset to enter this new role.
Lastly: believe in yourself, have fun, and don’t forget to exercise.
4) What is the number one thing NOT to do when you have been laid off?
Don’t stay connected to the company. Again, this involves letting go and not being the person who goes around to former colleagues badmouthing the organization or telling everyone the organization made the wrong decision. This burns bridges and hurts your chances of your former colleagues helping you.
List of useful websites for networking and finding a job:
LinkedIn (read Guy Kawasaki’s “Ten Ways to Use LinkedIn to Find a Job“)
April 3rd, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Excellent excellent post !!
April 6th, 2009 at 6:45 am
Thank you – very good advice.
April 6th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I will share this with colleagues who are struggling post layoffs, and those facing them as well. Thank you!
August 3rd, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Fantastic tips to stay employed…But…
If you do get laid off another option is to go out and do something for yourself. If you already have the skills, why not reap all the rewards. Start your own company. I did. Now I employ others and use some of those strategies mentioned above to stay ahead of the competition.