Are you afraid of getting let go? Do you not speak up in meetings because people like that end up “on the list?” Have you ever thought to yourself you would have no idea what you would do if you got let go or laid off?
Go from fearing being let go to confident you’ll be able to handle whatever comes your way with this five step framework.
1. Acceptance
The first thing we must do to overcome our fear of getting let go is to accept that we might get let go. Companies have bad years and must make reductions and changes to stay in business. Strategy can change and your area of expertise is no longer needed. And, yes, you might be the one chosen to be laid off because you are not the best fit for the role you are in.
I have been laid off once because a competitor bought the technology I was working on and once because the company had to downsize to stay viable. It happens, and you could be caught up in the reductions.
Accept this fact and then do something about it to not let the thought of being in job transition be a subconscious burden. It is possible to free yourself through preparation, and the following will show you how.
2. Take Inventory Periodically
On a regular basis take inventory of your skills, talents, experience, and accomplishments. We often overlook the fact that what we do everyday is not something everyone can do. And, if you are reading this, I know you are adding value. Take notes of what you are doing and accomplishing. Record training you have received, both formally and informally.
Also note what you really enjoy working on and what you don’t. What tasks and activities give you energy and which drain you? What do you excel at doing and what not so much?
Not only will you be collecting info that may end up in your resume or LinkedIn profile, but this exercise is also going to make you feel more confident because you will remember your accomplishments and value you are adding. Without scheduling time to reflect and record, we often we forget about the people we have helped, the initiatives we have started, and the projects we have completed.
3. Update Your LinkedIn Profile
After you do your inventory, add your accomplishments to your LinkedIn profile. This serves a couple of purposes. The first is you will have a running list of the value you are adding in your current role stored in one place. Need a boost of confidence? Check out your own LinkedIn profile! The second purpose is to show others (like recruiters and hiring managers who may wander by to check out your profile) what value you add. If you add to your profile at regular intervals, it will be less stressful than if you must do it all at once in the event you find yourself in job transition. Having your LinkedIn profile up to date will put your mind at ease.
4. Update Your Resume
Resumes take a bit more time to update than LinkedIn profiles, because you must select the highlights of your career and be concise (and interesting!) in your wording. Getting the formatting to look good can also take some tinkering and therefore time. So perhaps you don’t want to update your resume as often as you update your LinkedIn profile. But you will feel good if you update your resume periodically. Your resume will most likely need to be tweaked based on the job opportunity at hand but having a solid starting point will make the fine-tuning process go much smoother.
5. Talk to People
Connect with people and build relationships. If you love the industry or type of work you do, find an association where you can meet others with the same interests. Or learn about something you might like doing and connect with people doing that. Be curious about what the people you meet do for a living. Server others by connecting people you know with other people you know.
Many jobs are filled by people the hiring manager already knows or that have been referred by someone the hiring manager knows. Because it is nearly impossible to know who is hiring or who knows someone who is hiring for a role that’s a great fit for you, it is wise to stay connected. You might even consider putting some time on your calendar to intentionally reach out to people and say ‘hi.’ Time can get away from us very easily, but typically what gets scheduled gets done.
Summary
- Accept the possibility that you might lose your job.
- Take inventory of your accomplishments and experience at regular intervals.
- Update your LinkedIn profile with the accomplishments noted in step 2.
- Update your resume using highlights from your LinkedIn profile.
- Keep up your connections and build relationships. This will put you in a good position should you ever need to find out who is hiring.
This 5 step framework will help you to let go of the fear of being let go. You will be prepared and will have a jump start on your job transition journey. Your subconscious can take a deep breath and stop worrying about being let go. Because with your unique skills, talents, experience, and your preparation, you’ll be in great shape to find a role that’s a great fit for you!