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#JobSearch : How To Cope With Being Laid Off. After Death, Job Loss is Ranked as One of Life’s Most Stressful Events. How did You Manage?

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Employers have been downright coldhearted lately in how they have laid off people. Jacob waited on Zoom for the company meeting to start. Several hundred sales reps and managers from across the US were tuning in to hear the latest sales news from the company’s vice president. Instead, Jacob got the shock of his life. With panic in his voice, he called for career help and said, “The VP opened the meeting to announce that everyone on the call was being let go, effective immediately. It was a cost-cutting measure. The company was moving all its sales jobs offshore. I couldn’t believe it. In the span of three minutes, we were all fired with only two weeks’ severance. I’m frantic about losing my job. I’ll blow through my savings by the end of the month.”

“After death, job loss is ranked as one of life’s most stressful events,” says Dr. Gregg Jantz, a psychologist and founder of A Place of Hope, a counseling and treatment center. The bestselling author of The Anxiety Reset continued, “People feel a betrayal of trust, especially when the job loss comes as a shock. It’s so traumatic.”

As the tech industry continues to make headlines each day with more and more layoffs, it’s hard to handle all the feelings you face as you make this difficult career transition. Dr. Jantz stated, “The normal response to betrayal is intense anger. It is a sense of injustice, feeling that the employer didn’t respect or value you. People get very upset thinking the employer didn’t appreciate all their hard work. As a result, you want to get even, retaliate, and strike out at those you think have wronged you. We want revenge,” he stated. Jacob echoed that sentiment, mentioning a colleague spilled water on the company laptop to destroy it before he sent it back.

Couple job loss with what Dr. Jantz sees happening throughout the nation. “We are in the middle of a mental health crisis in our country. The No. 1 diagnosis in America is anxiety, and No. 2 is depression. When you lose your job, these feelings intensify.”

What Not To Do

This transition will not be easy. You’ll have a range of emotions that contribute to the blues. You may also experience uncontrolled fear, negative self-talk, devaluing yourself, self-pity, and moping.

You’re entitled to your feelings. Don’t ignore them—but be careful. Dr. Jantz warns that you don’t want to sabotage your future. You might do something that you’ll regret. Do not comment on social media or express anger at your boss or company. They may be wrong, but you have much more to lose than they do. Instead, Dr. Jantz recommends you allow 24 hours to pass before you do anything. You need time to lower the intensity. Instead, if you vent too fast—sending nasty, raging emails or social media posts—you will become a victim, and this action will make your job search longer and harder. When you display anger and feelings of betrayal, the danger is that you’ll be radiating a spirit of blame in your communications. You do not want to come across with that attitude in an interview.

Carefully select the people you share your feelings and outrage with. Dr. Jantz advised, “Be careful what you do to the people around you, such as continuously venting, being irritable, displacing anger at others. You are targeting it at friends and family that love you, and they had nothing to do with this event. This is not the way you should release your feelings.”

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Coping Strategies

You can do several things when you are handling these overwhelming feelings. Here is what Dr. Jantz suggests.

 

  • Practice good self-care, including nutrition, sleep, and exercise. If you feel anger, pair it with some movement—walking, working out, exercising—as you process that anger. Put feelings on paper. Turn away from self-destructive behavior, and don’t punish yourself. Refocus and define what you must do to fortify yourself to increase your well-being. If you isolate, stay at home, and withdraw, you may suffer from depression symptoms.
  • Resilience is what you want, not to feel defeated. Ask yourself, “Am I full of anger and bitterness? Has anxiety and fear taken over my life? (Take an anxiety test here.) Use positive self-talk to reassure yourself that there is nothing wrong with you and that you aren’t defective, just going through a rough spot.

 

To jump-start, your job search, read this Forbes article: How to Quickly Bounce Back From A Layoff

 

Forbes.com | Februrary 1, 2023 | Robin Ryan 

#BestofFSCBlog : Over 6K Reads. Layoffs Aren’t The End Of The World. Here’s How To Land Your Next Gig. GReat REad for All!

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Companies and their constellations of managers, employees, investors, and boards love the word “growth.”  Growth means the expansion and more funding. It means hiring up and scaling output. It leads to fun office perks and big bonuses. It signals success, and which company doesn’t want to brag about that?

We’re now seeing that the overambitious growth at startups and established tech giants alike — MicrosoftMSFT +0.8%, GoogleGOOG +0.2%, AmazonAMZN +0.5%, and Meta — has a human toll.

“Successfully managing any professional transition involves first reflecting on where things stand in your career, then taking concrete action to make your professional ambitions a reality.”

This hiring-and-firing dynamic has ensnared 160,000 workers who were laid off from tech companies last year and an estimated 46,000 more workers who received their digital pink slips via Zoom, Slack and email this month.

Job cuts show no sign of slowing down as companies navigate a combination of high-interest rates, diminished profits, a pullback in investments and a lagging economy. So we’ve compiled expert advice from our contributors on how to burnish your resume, hone your soft skills and land a new job quickly.

 

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Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Highlight Soft Skills

Despite the sustained gloomy outlook, tech workers can still leverage both hard and soft skills, writes Future of Work expert Sarah Doody. “Regardless of your role at a tech company, your skills and expertise are valuable and can transfer to many other industries,” she writes. “Just because your last job was at a tech company, that doesn’t mean you can’t get hired in another sector, and maybe even with a salary increase.”

Skills such as communication, critical thinking, problem solving, team work and work ethic should not be overlooked — “they can often be the difference between you receiving job interviews and offers or not,” Doody writes.

Offering actionable advice on how to highlight these skills, she says to start first with asking colleagues and close friends for feedback.

Sell Yourself Even If It’s Hard

Selling yourself might not come naturally, but it’s a necessary part of landing a new job, Doody writes. Instead of repeating that famous mantra, “always be closing,” better to think of how to “always be connecting,” she advises.

“If marketing is about ensuring people know about you and what you have to offer you, then sales is about ensuring they connect the dots and see enough value in the product or service to actually buy it,” she writes.

Look For The Silver Linings

Layoffs could be a boon for non-tech companies looking for skilled tech workers, writes Leadership Strategy expert Gleb Tsipursky. These companies “can gain a competitive advantage by offering a positive company culture and opportunities for career growth,” he writes. “This can help attract top talent who may be looking for a more stable and secure work environment.”

While Leadership Strategy expert Caterina Bulgarella warned of the real costs of layoffs to the workers left still standing, Tsipursky says companies can use the shake-up as an opportunity to reevaluate culture and values.

After a tech company went through a recent round of layoffs, it “led to a more positive and productive work environment for the remaining team members, which in turn led to an increase in employee retention,” he writes in his latest post.

Make Your Next Move

Laid off or not, regardless of industry or position or title, employees’ careers will always undergo transitions and changes, writes Careers contributor Joseph Liu. It always helps to take a breath, slow down and assess.

“Regardless of the cause, transitions often open up a mix of personal and practical challenges that range from clarifying exactly what’s next to rewriting your cover letter and resume,” he notes.

Forbes.com | January 26, 2023 | Corinne Lestch

#JobSearch : Why Your Job Search Will Take A Hot Minute. Hunting for a New Job? Be Prepared for a Long Slog.

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If you are hunting for a new job, be prepared for a long slog. Layoffs from top companies have spooked both hiring managers and job seekers. You will be put off by job descriptions with too many requirements and not much clarity around the salary, as well as glitchy job applications that take up an inordinate amount of time. The hiring process will be slow. You will be forced to partake in three to 10 interviews, have meetings canceled at the last minute and get ghosted or receive a lowball job offer.

The United States job market is amid a white-collar recession, as college-educated professionals are predominately being laid off. There has been a steady stream of downsizing announcements from companies in the tech sector, Wall Street, media and other industries with a preponderance of office workers.

Layoffs are the focus of the current job market. To battle inflation, Federal Reserve Bank Chair Jerome Powell is executing his plan to cool down the economy. Hiking interest rates will cause companies to cut costs and result in workers being downsized, which is the unfortunate intended consequence. In past recessionary environments, it was typically the blue-collar and low-wage earners who suffered the most. This time, it’s different.

The Job Search Will Go Slowly

Out-of-work Americans are experiencing a more drawn-out and lengthy job search. They are spending more time job hunting, as employers are slower to hire compared to the pandemic. According to the Wall Street Journal, last month, 826,000 unemployed workers had been out of work for about 3½ to 6 months, which is up from 526,000 in April 2022. The number of people filing for unemployment benefits and continuing claims at the beginning of January was “26% above half-century lows reached last spring.”

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Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Companies Are Reluctant To Hire

When companies are laying off workers and cutting costs, your job search is much more difficult. Wanting to keep costs down, businesses are reluctant to hire, as economists predict a looming recession. With nearly 60,000 tech professionals laid off in January alone, there will be intense competition for the fewer remaining job openings.

It will be harder to get a premium to your current wage when there is a vast pool of applicants to draw from. Human resources will presume that job hunters are desperate and willing to accept lowball offers as a life raft.

Be prepared for wading through old, stale job listings, getting ghosted, interviews being canceled at the last minute and feeling like you’re being discriminated against because you’re in between jobs. You’ll have to be vigilant about fake job scammers trying to take advantage of your vulnerable situation.

Some companies will be cryptic about the actual pay, why the job is open, what happened to the last person who held the role and the future growth path. However, they will demand to know specifics about what the candidate would accept for a salary and every detail about their work-life experience.

The job descriptions can be long, riddled with corporate jargon and buzzwords and contain too many unrealistic bullet points that don’t even offer what it’s really like to work at the company. States like New York, Colorado and California legally require businesses to list compensation ranges in job postings. However, companies skirt this law by offering wide salary bands, which is unhelpful.

The application process can be horrendous. Online applications are fraught with glitches and lengthy questions that require too much personal data. Job seekers find the applications duplicative since people are simultaneously required to upload their résumé containing the same exact information. To add insult to injury, the companies that post job advertisements don’t even have the courtesy to provide a computer-generated email confirming receipt of the application.

Job seekers are pushed into meeting with several people over a three to 6-month period. In between interviews, there are long bouts in which they don’t receive any communications from the company. It’s not unusual for weeks to go by before receiving an email requiring an interview the following day at a predetermined time that they did not consult with you on.

Even after attending multiple interviews, job seekers are ghosted. Email and phone calls go unanswered and the applicant is simply ignored and forgotten.

After a lengthy and stressful interview process, including conversations about compensation, a lowball offer is presented. Some companies make it a practice not to provide a written offer unless a verbal offer is accepted first. It is accompanied by intense pressure to say “yes” immediately—without time to deliberate on the offer.

The Contagion Effect

Layoffs can cause a domino effect. There is a herd mentality amongst corporate leadership. If a bellwether company is conducting layoffs, other firms will follow suit. Boards of directors will wonder if everyone else is downsizing, why isn’t their company? By reducing headcount, shareholders and the board will benefit. In addition to saving, they make money because the share prices often go higher following a layoff announcement, as investors applaud the company’s fiscal responsibility.

Once a few firms within a sector lay off workers, it gives permission for other companies to follow suit. It makes it easier for the CEO and C-suite to conduct layoffs if everyone else is doing it too. They can prune the low performers without worrying about being accused of discrimination or biases and place blame on the economic outlook.

This month, Salesforce, Microsoft, Amazon and Google announced layoffs of around 10,000 workers or more. Capital One, Wayfair, Spotify and other relatively smaller firms also announced plans for downsizing personnel.

 

Forbes.com | January 24, 2023 | Jack Kelly 

#YourCareer : You Are Not Your Job. The Recent Wave of Layoffs is a Wake-Up Call that You are Not your Job. GReat REad for All!

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The recent wave of layoffs is a wake-up call for you to realize that you are not your job. Your identity is not the company you work for—no matter how cool and prestigious it is. You are also not your net worth, the neighborhood you live in or the Lamborghini you drive.

Upon meeting someone, the first question you typically ask is, “What do you do?” The answer is intuitively interpreted as a request to provide your job title, the company you work for and what you do at the office or virtually at home. It’s not, “I’m a husband, father of two kids and the pet dad of two adopted cats and dogs.”

The reason for this knee-jerk response is that, in American culture, identity is inextricably tied to your job and career. It becomes a defining character, identity and personality. You’re known as the lawyer, investment banker, accountant, doctor or startup founder. These identifiers indicate your social status and allude to how much money you make.

 

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Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

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Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

The Wake-Up Call

When you’re wrapped up in your job and company, getting let go is devastating. The loss of income is difficult, and you worry about making ends meet. While money is essential, the existential dread and thoughts over who you are now are emotionally and mentally painful. It took the downsizing to realize just how much you are your job.

Those who’ve devoted everything to their careers have now woken up to the fact that they’ve fallen out of touch with family and friends. Since you were so busy cultivating your professional life, you put your family, friends, hobbies and social events on the back burner. On top of the stress of looking for a new job, you feel isolated and adrift, not sure who you are anymore.

In what is being deemed a white-collar recession, nearly 160,000 and 56,570 jobs were lost in 2022 and 2023 respectively in the tech sector alone, according to Layoffs.fyi. Several other industries, including Wall Street and the media, are also undergoing downsizing.

If you spend time on LinkedIn, you’ll see a constant flow of posts from people formerly working at big companies, such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Salesforce, Stripe and Meta, announcing that they’ve lost their jobs. Most people offer a stiff upper lip, speak fondly of their work experiences, appreciate the time spent at the organization and love the folks they’ve worked with. On TikTok, you’ll see younger workers revealing their raw emotions, many crying and expressing heartfelt messages about being downsized.

What To Do Next

The dot-com boom and bust in the late 1990s, downsizings during the financial crisis in 2008 to 2010, job losses in the pandemic’s early months and the current tidal wave of layoffs clearly show that there are no guarantees of job security.

Think deeply about what you truly want to do and achieve in your career. Try to avoid following the herd and the well-trodden path you instinctively believe you’re supposed to be on because of the expectations of your family, friends and society.

Ask yourself what you are passionate about and good at that can offer a compensation that you’re comfortable with. Seek out opportunities that provide meaning, fulfillment and purpose. Don’t make a decision based primarily upon the marquee name brand of the corporation that will impress your old college buddies, but could make you miserable. If you find something that makes you happy and affords a better quality of life and work balance, go for it. It’s okay not to be a startup founder of a multibillion-dollar unicorn company.

Find friends outside of your office and profession. Get involved with activities that have nothing to do with your job. Cultivate new hobbies and passion projects that make you more multidimensional, not just a work drone. Use your paid time off to take vacations to decompress, explore the world and open yourself up to new vistas. These and other nonwork events and activities will make you more well-rounded, and your identity will culminate in more than your corporate job title.

The big takeaway lesson from the wave of layoffs is that you can lose your job at any time. Given the precarious nature of work, make sure you don’t sacrifice your time, energy and life—your whole self—for a company that will just fire you via email to cut costs and make shareholders more money on the stock holdings.

 

Forbes.com | January 24, 2023 | Jack Kelly 

#BestofFSCBlog : Over 22K Reads! When Hunting For A New Job, Focus On What You Can Control. It’s Essential to Have an Attack Plan. Great Read!

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It’s the new year and you’re thinking about switching jobs. Once the holiday season comes to a close and it’s back to business as usual, you recall everything that’s been annoying you—a narcissistic boss, sniping co-workers, lousy pay, no upward mobility and a lack of purpose and meaning.

Once you’ve concluded that nothing will change, it’s time to start searching. At the same time, you owe it to yourself to at least give it one more try. Arrange a meeting with your manager to discuss their plans for your future. There’s a possibility that the boss thinks highly of you and has big things in mind for your advancement within the organization. If that is the case, say “thank you” and run with the opportunity. To hedge your bets, keep an eye open for a new role, just in case the manager defaults back to their micromanaging, bullying ways.

Control What You Can Control

Start with taking control over what you can control. Hire a career coach to help write a new résumé and LinkedIn profile. Reach out to headhunters who specialize in placing people in your sector. Keep check of your mindset. This will be a marathon and not a sprint. There will be rejections, ghosting and rude treatment. It’s an unfortunate part of the interview process.

 

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Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Avoid Falling Into A Funk

The United States is currently undergoing what is being deemed a white-collar recession, with thousands of college-graduate office workers laid off from top firms, such as Goldman Sachs, Meta, Amazon, Salesforce and Microsoft. Hiring freezes and job offer withdrawals are becoming commonplace as businesses tighten their belts to cut costs and save money to get through an anticipated recession. January is a prime time to interview, and with a large number of out-of-work professionals in your sector, it will be competitive.

Fighting against the tide can be frustrating and exhausting. It’s natural to get discouraged and lose faith. Despite setbacks, such as being rejected for a follow-up interview, an offer being made to someone who you feel has less experience than you and having meetings canceled at the last minute, you need to remain mentally and emotionally strong. Remember, it’s not just you. This is a systemic issue affecting everyone. When you are at a low point, think of all the times you’ve succeeded and overcome obstacles.

Stick To The Game Plan

It’s essential to have an attack plan. This calls for a schedule to accomplish certain goals each and every day. On a daily basis, submit your résumé to jobs that fit your background and interests, speak with people in your network to see if they are aware of any open roles, ping your recruiter for updates, post on LinkedIn to burnish your brand and roleplay interviewing to stay sharp.

To keep a balance, exercise, practice self-care, engage in hobbies and meet with friends and family. Try meditation, breathing exercises and yoga to offer some calmness.

Shut off the television, stop doomscrolling on Twitter and avoid looking at social media sites that feature manufactured lives that make you feel bad about yourself. Stay away from junk food, alcohol and drugs. Tune out anything that may get in your way.

If You Are In Between Jobs, Don’t Disappear From Society

When people lose their job, they feel despondent and shy away from socializing. They make excuses to get out of previously committed engagements, as they dread having to tell people that they’re unemployed. The laid-off professional, who has their identity tied to their job, feels like a failure. They are concerned that peers will look down on them. They don’t want to keep repeating the story of how they were downsized and getting pitiful looks from family and friends.

Although you want nothing more than to put the covers over your head and stay in bed all day, take action and control over the situation. This is the time when you must reach out to people in person and online. If they don’t know you need a new job, they can’t help.

Prepare a brief pitch about what happened. “After 10-plus years at ABC Widget Company, along with several thousands of other employees, I was let go due to the deteriorating economic situation and its impact on my organization.” When people offer their condolences, quickly inform them, “Thank you for your concern. I’m secretly happy that this happened. I loved my job and career. If the reorganization never occurred, I would have probably stayed another 10 years at the company. I look at this as my reason to try something new. I interpreted this as a sign that I should take stock of my life and work and pursue a new opportunity that gets me excited to get out of bed in the morning. It’s time to meet new people, take on challenges and build the next chapter of my career.”

You’re A Fighter And A Winner

Psych yourself up. Before you go into a video interview, put on whatever music gets you pumped up. Have some coffee to get your adrenaline up, but not too much as to avoid the jitters and dry mouth. Do a little dance, jumping jacks or jog in place to get the blood flowing. Speak with someone before the interview to warm up and get comfortable talking.

Even with a good attitude, there will be bad days. Fight through it and keep moving. An object in motion stays in motion. One thing leads to another, if you keep on pushing forward. It’s also a numbers game. If you consistently submit résumés, ask for job leads, interview, work with recruiters, network on social media sites and in the real world, eventually, you’ll break through and secure a great new job.

 

Forbes.com | January 20, 2023 | Jack Kelly

#JobSearch : How To Land Jobs That Aren’t Advertised. Best Way to Stay Away from the Stack. Great REad!

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When looking for a job, many will start with job boards and Google searches to find open positions, which makes sense. The problem is, if you rely solely on these tools, you will only find those positions being advertised to thousands of other internet users.

It is only when you look beyond these platforms to the hidden job market that some of the most exciting opportunities present themselves.

What is the hidden job market?

For those who are unaware of this hidden job market, this refers to job openings that may exist but are currently not being advertised online. There are several reasons an organization may choose not to actively advertise a position, perhaps they intend to hire internally, or they rely on employee referrals.

It might also be that a newer role is still evolving and they’re not set on how to define the job title or daily responsibilities. But if you sit back and wait for this position to appear online, you might miss your chance of landing your dream job.

So, by looking beyond the jobs posted online, you’ll open yourself up to a whole host of new opportunities, but how do you find a job if you don’t know the role exists?

Reach out to your network

Over the years, it’s likely that you’ve built up a network of connections in your industry, and you should never stop expanding this network.

When looking for your dream position, it’s a good idea to reach out to relevant connections and let them know that you’re looking for work. You should also give them an idea of your skills and experience, as well as how you believe you can help their business.

This can be done by email, simply asking if they have any positions going. Alternatively, you could set up a business meeting to discuss this with them in person or over the phone.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You now can easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 2.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

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Twitter: Follow us @ firstsunllc

Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs @

https://twitter.com/search?q=bestoffscblog&src=typeahead_click

Question: Want the ‘the best/current articles/blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Turn to LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great way to continue growing your network, but it also presents you with lots of other techniques for finding unadvertised jobs.

Firstly, you could share an update letting your connections know that you’re available for work and your credentials. This might encourage them to reach out and let you know about positions within their company.

Alternatively, you can join industry-related groups where you can share interesting insights and join relevant conversations. Getting your name out there and being part of the conversation increases your chance of being approached with exciting opportunities.

Attend industry events

Trade shows and industry events can be the perfect way to meet others in your industry and open yourself up to unadvertised positions.

Before you go, it’s a good idea to put together a quick elevator pitch and keep this at the forefront of your mind when meeting new people. You should also take with you an up to date copy of your resume, or at the very least, a notepad and pen so you can jot down email addresses and fire over your resume when you get home.

You might even wish to volunteer at these events, showing your passion for your industry and giving you the opportunity to network with lots of like-minded professionals and organizations.

Start with the company

Job hunting doesn’t just have to be about looking for the perfect role; in fact, in many cases, it pays to start with the company instead.

If there is a specific organization you’ve always dreamed of working for, this is the ideal opportunity to reach out to them and find out if they have any positions available. Just because they may not have advertised these online or on their website, it doesn’t mean the position isn’t there.

So get the contact details of the most relevant employee, for example, the in-house recruiter or the manager of your chosen department. Then, you can contact them with your resume, outlining why you think you’d be an asset to the company.

Suggest freelance work

Finally, and this will very much depend on the type of work you do, but if there is a specific company you want to work for, you could consider completing some freelance or contract work with them first.

Reach out to the relevant employees with your pitch, explaining your services, past experience, and how you can add value to their business. Then, if they think your services could be beneficial, you’ll have a chance to work with them, get to know more people in the company, and learn about any open roles.

In fact, if your freelance abilities are as good as you say they are, they might offer you a full-time position before you even enquire.

As you can see, when you’re job hunting, it always pays to be proactive. That way, you’re more likely to uncover unadvertised positions and secure your dream role.

 

Forbes.com | January 19, 2023 | Andrew Fennell 

#JobSearch : Monster Survey: 96% Of Workers Are On The Job Hunt. Be Prepared- A White-Collar Recession Starting to Take Place.

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Monster, one of the early online job boards, reported that 96% of workers are hunting for a new job this year, according to its December survey on job search plans and the 2023 United States job market outlook. The respondents say that they are seeking higher compensation.

About 40% of job seekers said they need a higher income due to inflation and the accompanying rise in costs. Sixty-six percent of the 930 poll respondents believe that it will be challenging to find a new job, and more than 10% report that they may have to take a pay cut due to the current economy.

Vicki Salemi, Monster’s career expert, told CNBC that even compared to the Great Resignation, the number is “phenomenally high.” In 2021, at the height of the Great Reshuffle, nearly 48 million people quit their jobs—an annual record.

The Hunt Begins In January

January is historically one of the best times to engage in a job hunt. The beginning of a new year is ripe for change. Even though it’s only flipping a page in the calendar, mentally and emotionally, it feels like a fresh start or a do-over from last year. Along with the New Year’s resolutions of losing weight and going to the gym, seeking a new job is one of the most common resolutions.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

This year, it’s likely that more people will start looking for a new job for several reasons. They need to increase their compensation to keep up with inflation and rising costs. With layoffs becoming relatively commonplace, if a person is feeling ill at ease at work or worried about being selected for downsizing, it’s rational to start getting in touch with recruiters, going on LinkedIn to network and hitting the job boards.

Right before Thanksgiving, there’s a steady deceleration in job-search activity. People start taking their personal time off, going on vacation or just trying to relax and recuperate. The hiring process slows down, as there is a collective, unspoken agreement to take it easy.

However, by the second or third week of January, it’s the adult version of going back to school. Human resources and talent acquisition are nudged by hiring managers to send them résumés and get the hiring process started, as they need to get through the work that’s piled up over the holidays.

Be Prepared: It May Be Tougher This Year

There is a white-collar recession starting to take place. College-graduate office workers in tech, Wall Street, media and other sectors are seeing significant layoffs.

When companies are downsizing people, they usually also enact hiring freezes, as they’re trying to cut costs. Just because there is a hiring moratorium doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply for a job. Certain jobs are required, such as compliance officers, and the companies will make exceptions for these must-have personnel.

As the Monster survey suggests, many people will be searching at the same time, so there will be intense competition. Job seekers must get started before everyone else also embarks on their job searches. Update your résumé and LinkedIn profile, contact recruiters, visit job boards, prepare and practice your elevator pitch and network.

Hiring Managers Need To Get Ready Too

Hiring managers need to get in gear too. They have to create job descriptions and ensure they are up to speed with newly enacted laws or bills pending, such as disclosing salaries or ranges on job advertisements, asking a candidate about how much they earn, and the possibility of doing away with non-compete contracts. A bill was recently introduced by the New York City Council that would make it illegal for employers to fire people without a good reason. The bill will offer security and protection from a manager capriciously firing a worker, if approved.

 

Forbes.com | January 17, 2023 | Jack Kelly 

 

#YourCareer : White-Collar Office Workers Are Having A Hard Time. The White Collar Recession is Very Real [and] it will Increase.” GReat REad!

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A steady flow of layoff announcements targeting professionals working in tech, Wall Street, media and other sectors could signal the beginning of a white-collar recession. The downturn in the economy is changing the worker-employer dynamic. Companies, after contending with the Great Resignation and consequent labor shortage, are now gaining the upper hand.

Bob Iger, the former and now once-again CEO of Disney, made one of his first orders of business to bring back workers to the office four days a week starting March 1. Salesforce co-CEO Marc Benioff chastised employees in a Slack message complaining that the company’s newest hires aren’t being productive, according,  his standards. Starbucks’ interim CEO Howard Schultz was displeased that employees disregarded his return-to-office request and is now requiring office workers to return for three days a week.

The tide is turning on the professional class. In prior economic contractions, it was usually the blue-collar and front-line workers who bore the brunt of job losses. This time, it’s different. Highly compensated, white-collar professionals are currently the most impacted by layoffs

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

The Change In Power Dynamics

During the pandemic, employers pandered to their workers, as it was exceedingly difficult to recruit, onboard and retain people. Record-high inflation, rising interest rates, China’s restrictive Covid-19 policies and other factors contributed to a more challenging environment. Now, business leaders are focused on reigning in expenses, cutting costs and letting go of employees.

Even the best-run companies face challenges in swiftly changing economic environments. In a letter to employees, Salesforce, the biggest private employer in San Francisco, announced that it was laying off 10% of its approximately 80,000 workers. Benioff also questioned why the subscription-as-a-service tech giant was facing “lower productivity” from its newly hired employees.

He raised rhetorical questions, such as, “Is this a reflection of our office policy? Are we not building tribal knowledge with new employees without an office culture? Are our managers not directly addressing productivity with their teams? Are we not investing enough time into our new employees?”

At Starbucks, Schultz asserted that the global coffee chain should remedy the unintended consequences of remote work. He contends that the company is losing the art of collaboration, doing work in silos prevents actual prioritization and his employees are losing their connection with a shared mission by not being together.

Iger mandated Disney employees to work in-office four days per week, saying “in a creative business like ours, nothing can replace the ability to connect, observe and create with peers that comes from being physically together.”

The Shift In Fortunes Between Blue And White-Collar Workers

According to the Wall Street Journal’s reporting of the recent jobs report, hospitality, leisure, manufacturing and retail laid off fewer workers than white-collar workers from September to November compared to a year earlier.

Average downsizings in the financial and insurance sectors from September to November nearly doubled since the same time last year. Real-estate layoffs increased by more than 20% over the same period, and by 14% in the information-technology sector. Job listings on Indeed.com for human resources and talent acquisition roles were down by about 36% last month from a year earlier.

The Wall Street Journal predicts that blue-collar workers stand a better chance than white-collar professionals.

Jason Calacanis, a venture capitalist and the host of the All-In Podcast, tweeted about the white-collar recession, “…The white collar recession is very real [and] it will increase.”

It doesn’t look like the prospects for white-collar workers will improve anytime soon. The World Bank cut its global growth forecasts and foresees a worsening in economic conditions, CNBC reported. According to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report, conditions could cause the third-weakest pace of growth in nearly three decades, ranking up with the global recessions caused by the pandemic and the global financial crisis.

The most recent Conference Board survey indicated that most executives don’t foresee more robust economic growth in the near term. More than 50% of CEOs worldwide and 60% of U.S. CEOs anticipate a lackluster 2023. On a positive note, the report shows that the executives feel there will be a pick-up in economic growth by the end of the year or into mid-2024. The chief executives are concerned over labor shortages and talent retention, once again showing how the current downturn strikingly differs from past tough times.

Despite the belt-tightening measures, old habits are hard to kick. Despite Goldman Sachs’ announcement to lay off around 3,200 workers, CEO David Solomon and other top executives were questioned over the costs of using private jet trips, according to the Financial Times.

Forbes.com  –  January 14, 2023 – Jack Kelly 

 

#YourCareer : White-Collar Job Cuts Call For Workers To Make Themselves Indispensable.. What You Need To Do To Keep Your Job Great REad!

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In the new austerity era, white-collar workers will bear the brunt of layoffs. Historically, heading into challenging economic times, blue-collar or frontline workers would be the first impacted by layoffs. In this current wave of downsizings, tech layoffs quickly rolled over to media, mortgage, finance and other sectors.

After years of halcyon times, it’s time for office workers to be circumspect and hold onto their jobs. The days of quiet quitting, acting your wage and joining the Great Resignation are over. Now, you need to make yourself indispensable.

You must go above and beyond what was in your initial job description. Remote work provides a healthy balance of life and work, but go into the office five days a week. Put in the hours, but also keep an eye open for new opportunities—just in case you’re targeted for the next round of downsizing. Integrate yourself with your boss, so you know what you need to do to exceed expectations and hold onto your job—or possibly get a promotion—while others who are not “playing the game” are unceremoniously shown the door.

The Job Cuts Keep Coming

The plan, as it relates to job cuts, seems to be working for the Federal Reserve Bank. More than 150,000 tech workers were let go in 2022, and the new year ushered in thousands of more layoffs in January, as companies held off downsizing until after the holidays. Amazon says it’s letting go of more than 18,000 workers, up from the 10,000, which was estimated in November. Video platform Vimeo cut 11% of its workforce in pursuit of “ongoing cost discipline.” Salesforce is shrinking its 80,000-person staff by 10%. The software company added 30,000 jobs over the course of the pandemic, which CEO Marc Benioff now admits was “too many people.” Goldman Sachs is set to lay off around 3,200 employees. Coinbase plans to lay off 950 staff members, or around another 20% of its team.

What You Need To Do To Keep Your Job

Now is the time to take assertive control over your career by making yourself indispensable. Start by scheduling a conversation with your manager and human resources. Tell the parties that you love the company, your job, your boss and your co-workers and want to progress within the firm. Then, share what you’d like to achieve. It could be a lateral internal transfer or greater responsibilities. Flip the script by inquiring about what plans they have for you.

The best outcome is that they say you’re a respected professional and see good things for your future. If you leave the meeting feeling that the company doesn’t value your contributions and hasn’t put much thought into your career trajectory, it’s a sign that you should start thinking of the next play.

If there isn’t a path forward, continue to smile, work hard and produce, but also hedge your bets by getting in touch with respected recruiters in your space. Build a list of target firms you’d like to work for. Find the in-house talent acquisition recruiters, human resources representatives and prospective hiring managers and send them a LinkedIn invite or InMail, along with your résumé as an attachment.

Go into the office five days a week, even if your company offers remote or hybrid work options. You’ll disproportionately benefit from the proximity bias compared to your peers that are just small boxes in a Zoom video.

Exceed expectations by asking for high-profile, difficult tasks that others run away from. Disassociate with toxic colleagues who bring down everyone around them. You’ll need to put in quality hours to showcase what you’re capable of, demonstrating that you’re a keeper. Make sure that your boss and their managers are cognizant of your achievements. Shy away from boasting, but subtly let people know about your victories.

It will take hard work and patience. You’ll win fans by showing up and killing it every day. People will start perceiving you as one of the best go-to A-players that is irreplaceable and destined for great things in the future.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

Article continued …

Don’t Do This

You may feel resentful that you’re not getting promoted as fast as you’d like and raises, promotions and stock grants aren’t offered as freely as in the past. Despite the setback, don’t become bitter and vindictive by overtly complaining to co-workers or start quiet-quitting. You won’t be helping your cause with a bad attitude.

There has been a trend of workers chasing clout by airing internal dirty laundry on TikTok, Twitter and other social media platforms. It may give you a temporary high; however, there will be repercussions. You’ll lose favor with the bosses and prospective future hiring managers may rebuff your behavior, concerned that you’ll also say derogatory things about them.

Why Did Everything Change So Quickly?

With the availability of cheap money, interest rates artificially kept low by the Federal Reserve Bank and a boom in demand over the last couple of years, companies aggressively hired personnel. The exuberance was muted when the trillions of dollars in stimulus funds flooding the market to keep it going during the pandemic caused, in part, 40-year record rates of inflation. To counter the devastating impact of runaway inflation on American families, the Fed hiked interest rates to cool down the economy. An intended consequence of this program is to nudge businesses into cutting costs and laying off workers.

Forbes.com | January 11, 2023 | Jack Kelly 

#BestofFSCBlog : Over 14K Reads! 5 Secrets To A LinkedIn Profile That Can Compete In The 2023 Job Market. Great REad!

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The new year has arrived, and for the career-oriented go-getters, so has another list of professional goals to tackle.  Double the size of your professional network, promote your organization externally, find a new job after getting laid off, increase your annual salary, get a mentor…

Would you believe me if I said you could check any of these items off your to-do list just by giving your LinkedIn page a facelift? It sounds shallow, but it’s true: the likelihood you’ll receive a job interview or have a career-changing conversation within the next year rely heavily on the caliber of your LinkedIn profile.

You may as well shove those high heels back in the closet and forget about ironing that shirt because you can propel your career forward just by laying down on your couch with a laptop while wearing yesterday’s sweats. It may not be a professional nor ergonomic look, but in today’s age, it works. The phrase “getting your foot in the door” has never stood further away from its literal meaning.

 

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Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(#Jobsearch, #Resume, or #Networking) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Shiny LinkedIn profiles will dominate the 2023 job market

If the thought of rewriting your LinkedIn bio or brainstorming a catchy headline makes you want to run in the opposite direction, trust me when I say you should think again. With more than 875 million users worldwide, LinkedIn’s role in the hiring process is nothing short of massive. Jobvite’s 2020 Recruiter Nation Survey reported that 72% of recruiters use LinkedIn to hire new candidates. Every second, 101 job applications are submitted through the platform. Eight people get hired every minute.

But don’t be deceived – the prevalence of job listings does not equate to a surplus of work. According to LinkedIn’s December 2022 Workforce Report, hiring across all industries fell 4.9% from October to November and is 20.5% lower than it was during November of last year. Even more concerning, current hiring has fallen 11.9% below pre-pandemic levels – a clear indicator that the job market is entering a shift we haven’t experienced in years.

Job hunters looking to work from home face an especially competitive battle. Remote work makes up only fifteen percent of the jobs listed on LinkedIn, but receives 50% of the platform’s applications. The Washington Post dubs the growing clash between employees’ interest in remote work and the employers who are willing to allow it “the great mismatch.”

In a job market saturated with candidates, those with sleek shiny LinkedIn profiles rise to the top.

5 steps to glam-up your LinkedIn profile

1. Structure your profile around your career goals

Whether you partake in New Year’s resolutions or not, the beginning of a new year comes with the inevitable urge to imagine the future that lies ahead. Use this time to think about the career goals you have for the upcoming year. Doing this before you dive into a full-on LinkedIn makeover will help you structure the changes you do make around a specific purpose. A cohesive profile gives recruiters a clear message about who you are and what you have to offer.

Here are a few questions you can help you define the career goals you have for the new year:

  • Where would you like to see yourself by the end of the year?
  • What skill set are you primarily using in your career this year– and what key words reflect those skills when used on your profile (remember! Recruiters search by key words)?
  • How would you like your brand to change over the next year?
  • Think of a dream company you’d love to work for. What impression would you want to give in a conversation with a recruiter?
  • What topics and skills would be beneficial for you to learn and develop?

2. Revamp the details

A sparse or crusty LinkedIn profile gives recruiters little faith someone will perform at a high standard in the workplace. It’s just a fact of life: aesthetics matter, and this is especially true in the job market. Take the time to make sure the details of your LinkedIn profile are all straightened out. Photo lighting, punctuation, job descriptions – these may seem like small things, but recruiters notice when they’re done sloppily.

Look at the content you already have on your page and see how it can be improved or updated:

  • Profile Picture
  • Use a photo that closely resembles your current appearance
  • Avoid using photos with poor lighting or additional people you need to cut out
  • Wear business-casual attire, take the photo from the chest up in front of a plain background
  • Headline
  • Avoid the default headline that shows your job title under your name
  • Instead, give a wide scope of who you are by including skills, certifications, future goals, and your own interpretation of what it means to do the work you do
  • Use your headline to explain where you want to go. If you’re in tech, transitioning into communications, lead with what you want to go into.
  • About info
  • Make sure your bio is written in the first person (use the words “I” and “my”)
  • Double check for grammatical mistakes and punctuation errors
  • Avoid casual language, fragmented sentences, and an excessive use of emojis
  • Background photo
  • Make your profile pop by adding a background photo in the space above your profile picture
  • Avoid personal photos and group photos
  • Consider using a subtle image related to your career
  • New accomplishments
  • Add the jobs, awards, or major achievements you’ve had since last updating your profile
  • Previous work experience
  • Treat this section of your LinkedIn Page like your resume by describing the work you did with a few bullets led by strong action verbs
  • Format text consistently across all job entries

3. Reassess your keywords

This is the part where strategy comes into play. You can create the most aesthetically pleasing profile LinkedIn has ever seen, but it won’t be seen by recruiters if you don’t leverage keywords correctly. Keywords are terminology commonly used in a specific industry. Recruiters hiring for job candidates through LinkedIn will often filter results by entering keywords that relate to the position or industry into the platform’s search feature. The more keywords you include in your profile, the better chance you have at being approached by a recruiter looking to hire someone in that related field.

Think about some keywords that relate to the goals you brainstormed in step 1. If you’re looking to change jobs, you can probably benefit by rewording your profile’s “about” section and previous job descriptions to better reflect the skills sought after in your preferred job or industry. But make sure you avoid using keywords that stretch the truth – you may think this gives you an edge over candidates, but it will only be a detriment to your credibility later on.

4. Expand your network with LinkedIn groups

Scrolling through a seemingly infinite reel of LinkedIn posts makes it easy to forget that the platform, at its core, is a network of professionals. Passively consuming posts from college peers will rarely be enough to propel your career forward. Instead, you need to use LinkedIn to actively seek out professionals with valuable connections and opportunities in your field of work, and the finding right LinkedIn group is a total gem.

The easiest way to do this? Join more LinkedIn groups and take note of which one has like minded professionals and positive engagement. There’s a LinkedIn group related to just about every occupational field and professional development topic out there, including several for job seekers. You can read more about which ones I recommend here.

5. Become more active and explore creator mode

Your posts, comments, likes, and shares all play a role in shaping a hiring manager’s impression of you. In essence, they’re part of your personal brand. While some people may think it’s safer to avoid leaving a trail of activity, this path can be even more detrimental. A lack of engagement on LinkedIn reads as a lack of interest in professional development and few, if any, achievements in the workplace. Of course, this may very well also not be the case, but it doesn’t change the fact that a recruiter has no reasons to believe otherwise.

If you’re anxious about engaging with other professionals on LinkedIn, dip your toe into the water by liking and commenting on posts that come up in your feed. Keep in mind that comments that prompt a follow-up answer will spur more engagement than comments that just affirm the post.

You don’t need to make your own LinkedIn posts overly complicated. A quick update on a team project or a post highlighting your company’s community involvement is a short but positive contribution to people’s timelines. Do your best to remain active and consistent on the platform. Consider giving yourself a certain number of posts to aim every week or month.

Above all else, make sure the content you do contribute to LinkedIn stays classy and avoids conflict. There are better places you can go if you’re looking for tension, namely Facebook and Twitter.

 

Forbes.com | January 9, 2023 | Ashley Stahl