Preparing For A Layoff

Question:

I’ve survived another round of layoffs at my company, but I’m not sure I’ll still be here after the next one. Is there anything I can do now to prepare?

Answer:

Layoffs are tough for everyone involved, not just the person being laid off. The ones who aren’t laid off are still employed, perhaps more so than they want to be. They’re picking up the slack left by those who were shown the door.

Still, there are things you can do to make it a little easier if/when your turn comes.

According to Rebecca Brown, writing for DivineCaroline.com, one thing you want to do as soon as possible is to get whatever medical checkups you need out of the way. Do this now, while you still have insurance. You’ll probably have an option to have COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which allows employees to extend the coverage of a group health insurance plan for a temporary period); but you’ll find that COBRA is very expensive. If you have a flexible spending account to cover out-of-pocket expenses, now is the time to use that up too.

When you finish making those appointments, check your computer files. If you have anything personal on your work computer (which you probably shouldn’t), now is the time to take it off. If you are laid off, there may not be a lot of time to retrieve things. And when you’re stressed, as you will be, it’s easy to forget. Take a little time to get all that stuff onto your personal flash drive as soon as you can.

Another recommendation from Rebecca Brown is to revise your budget. How important is that venti mocha latte in your life? Brown suggests writing down every penny you spend for a few weeks. Looking over that list will probably bring to mind a number of ways you can save. If you cut some of those expenses now, you can save up toward the unavoidable costs you’ll incur (e.g., food, rent) when you’re laid off. And in case the layoff never comes, a little extra cash won’t hurt you. Consider it a good time to break habits that don’t benefit you in the long run.

This is also the time (if you haven’t already done it) to reactivate your network and add to it. Talk with your family and friends about their work. Is it fun? Would you enjoy doing what they do? Have them introduce you to their friends; they’ll have some good ideas for you too. Don’t forget your LinkedIn network; it’s also good for researching companies. Some 75% of people find their new jobs by networking: talking with people. You can too.

Write your résumé, too, or update it with your latest accomplishments. This is a good exercise to do every six months or so. Check the calendar at Frederickworks.com/events for the next available resume class.

Finally, says Brown, be gentle with yourself. It’s not your fault your friends were laid off; probably it won’t be your fault even if you’re laid off yourself. It’s just business/the economy/the way things are. Do your best, of course, but then let it go. Being anxious may be inevitable, but it’s usually not helpful. Allow yourself some (inexpensive) treats: an hour with your favorite tv show or funny videos on YouTube; a new novel (from the library) by your favorite author; a reasonable quantity of chocolate; an extra round of your favorite video game; a walk with a friend.

And of course, read this website further. Frederick County Workforce Services has everything a job seeker needs to find a new job. Check it out!