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#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 

#YourCareer : How To Set Yourself Up For A Productive 2023. This Could be a New Job, a Promotion, etc.

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The new year brings with it a chance to start afresh, take on new challenges and set yourself up for the year ahead. For many, this will mean getting ready to take the next step in their career. This could be a new job, a promotion, or taking on new responsibilities within their existing role.

For others, this could simply mean going into the new year with a positive attitude and ready to be the best they can be at work. Whatever the case may be for you, it’s important to start the year off on the right foot.  But how do you set yourself up for a productive 2023?

Complete your pre-holiday tasks

First and foremost, you don’t want to go into the new year with a to-do list the length of your arm, trying to catch up on last year’s work. You want to enjoy your holiday without overdue projects playing on your mind.

Therefore, it’s important to make sure you complete your pre-holiday tasks to the best of your abilities, without rushing or overdoing it, of course.

Depending on your career plans, these activities will differ, but the best way to kick off the new year is going to be organized with a clean slate.

 

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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 …

Take a proper break

Your career is a big part of your life and one which can consume a lot of your time and energy. However, resting and recharging are crucial if you want to continue to be good at your job and love what you do.

The festive season is the perfect time to unwind and spend some time with friends and family. So you need to do just that.

No matter what industry you work in, it’s important that you take a proper break wherever you can and allow yourself to go into the new year feeling refreshed and ready.

This might mean taking a few days off, switching on your’ out of office’ response to your emails, and shutting down your work computer or phone for a few days.

Although it can be tempting to dip back in or quickly reply to one or two emails, remember balance is important, and you deserve a rest.

Set tangible goals

Going into 2023, it’s a good idea to set yourself some goals that will point you in the right direction and help you to get off to a productive start.

Your goals should be as specific and relevant as possible; they must also be measurable and achievable. Give yourself a date by which you would like to achieve your goals, as this will allow you to measure your progress.

For example, if you’re looking for a new job, you might wish to set a target for how many jobs you want to apply for each week.

Alternatively, you might want to learn new skills or put the wheels in motion for securing that promotion.

Everyone’s goals will be different; just ensure these are attainable and you’re not setting yourself up for failure. You could even break larger goals down into smaller objectives so that you can tackle these one step at a time. This also makes it easier to monitor your progress.

Bridge your skills gaps with courses

It doesn’t matter what stage you’re at in your career; you are never too senior to stop learning. In fact, it is important that you are always building on your knowledge and developing your skills.

So, as well as staying up to date on the latest industry trends, it is a good idea to bridge your own personal skills gap by taking relevant online courses.

The great news is there are loads of courses and providers to choose from, so you’ll be able to find the type of study that best suits your lifestyle.

Taking online courses can be particularly important if you’re planning on changing jobs or advancing in your current position in the new year. It means you can continuously update your resume and your offering.

Monitor your progress and adapt

Once you’ve set yourself goals and begun taking the necessary steps towards achieving these, you need to make sure you stay on track.

The best way to do this is to keep checking in on yourself and revising your targets where needed.

Ask yourself, are you on track, or have you fallen behind? Is there more you can do to reach your goals? If so, what steps do you need to take?

You should also take this as an opportunity to consider any feedback you’ve received in the new year, be that from your boss, recruiters, or your colleagues.

By taking stock of what you want from your career in this way, you can take proactive steps to set targets and start working towards your larger career goals in the new year.

Give yourself a chance to relax over the festive period and go into January with a positive attitude; this will set you up for a productive 2023.

 

Forbes.com | December 17, 2022 | Andrew Fennell

 

#YourCareer : New Trend: ‘Acting Your Wage’ Is Detrimental To Long-Term Career Success. Your Efforts Should Directly Match the Rate of Pay. Thoughts/Comments?

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Acting your wage is the next viral trend emanating from TikTok after quiet quitting. According to the TikTokers, if your boss is only paying you minimum wage, that means you should just do the bare minimum amount of work.

It’s about setting boundaries. The ethos is that if the company and managers fail to offer empathy, encouragement, the compensation you deserve and psychological safety to do your job without the fear of being yelled at or abused, there is no reason to overextend yourself working and let it affect your quality of life.

Your efforts should directly match the rate of pay. According to proponents of this work style, there’s no reason to work after 5 p.m. or on weekends. While white-collar quiet quitters are just biding time, blue-collar “act your wagers” are only doing precisely what they are paid to do and nothing more.

 

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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, UK, & Mexico!  

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

 

Article continued …

Variations Of Quiet Quitting And Acting Your Wage Have Been Around Forever

Quiet quitting and acting your wage are nothing new. There have always been people who just coasted along. In the ‘90s, Gen-Xers were labeled as “slackers” by Baby Boomer bosses, believing that they were lazy and just coasting through the workday. During the pandemic, remote workers were accused of cyberloafing. In the 1960s counterculture movement, the Boomers were considered lazy hippies by their Greatest Generation parents. In the ‘50s, the Beat Generation was derided as “dangerous, marijuana-smoking miscreants.”

Young People Were Dealt A Bad Hand

It’s understandable, especially for young people, to be disenchanted and disengaged with work. Gen-Zers grew up in the shadow of Sept. 11. They lived through the great financial crisis, the pandemic, wars, losing their senior year of high school and a chunk of their college experience when schools sent them home, political and social upheaval, runaway inflation and high-interest rates making it nearly impossible to save money, purchase a home or lead a life anywhere near their parents’ lifestyle.

Job postings for entry-level positions require three or more years of relevant experience. Companies will extend an offer, but it’s an unpaid internship or merely a contract with a vague promise that it can turn into a permanent, full-time role.

The Acting Your Wage Mindset Is Hazardous To Your Career Health

Despite the bad hand dealt to this cohort, slow-walking your job isn’t the answer. You may temporarily feel good when you say “no” to the boss and assert your autonomy of not being forced into working long hours without any appreciation or extra compensation.

After a while, this attitude can become entrenched. It’s an “us against them” mentality. Workers will spend more time extricating themselves from working than the actual work.

You Can Do Better Than Just Scraping By

Instead of getting caught up with this tit-for-tat mentality, break the mold. You’re wasting precious time working a dead-end job that you hate. Determine what you want to do with your work life. Think of what type of job or career would make you happy and can offer a more-than-fair compensation. Then, embark upon pursuing your dreams.

You might as well start where you are now. Let the boss know that you feel overlooked and underutilized. The employer and employee can job-craft a solution to improve the situation.

The slacking can’t go on indefinitely. Either the manager will get ticked off, or the cyberloafer will get bored and either move on to another job or step up their game. Rather than coasting, show management how awesome you are by being productive. While everyone else is on cruise control, you must rev up the engine and blow past all your co-workers. It won’t be too difficult, as they don’t care.

People will start noticing you. Managers will want you on their team and projects. Promotions will come your way. Recruiters will hear about you and headhunt you for better-paying roles at other firms. Your confidence will grow, along with the skills that you’re honing. The best revenge on your boss and company is to succeed and make more money than they earn.

If you’ve tried to grow and advance within your organization to no avail, don’t default to acting your wage. Take the loss and move on. Start contacting recruiters, ask people within your network for job leads, check out job boards, go on informational interviews and acquire any new skills or credentials needed to procure the job you want.

How To Find An Act-Your-Wage Or Quiet Quitter

This cohort is not currently inclined to leave their jobs right now and don’t hate what they do for a living, but are not motivated or energized. When you are in the office, it’s easy to pick them out. They’re the ones who are looking over their shoulder to see if anyone notices them scrolling through social media instead of doing their job. They arrive at the office at the crack of 9:45 a.m., disappear for more than an hour for lunch, can’t be found when needed and sneak out the door at around 4:35 p.m.

When working remotely, it’s easier to coast. You go through the motions. The person will put in the bare minimum amount of effort to ensure they don’t get called out by the boss. They’ll work a little, then scroll through social media, maybe watch a Netflix series, call some friends, take a nap and slow roll the day away.

These folks don’t want to be fired; however, they aren’t engaged and don’t see long-term potential for growth, so there isn’t a burning need to put in a lot of effort. It’s a delicate balancing act of just working enough not to get busted. Some also choose to balance family activities, hobbies, food shopping and other nonwork-related matters during the day.

Disengaged At Work

According to a Gallup poll, only 33% of American workers are engaged in their jobs. More than 50% self-reported that they’re “just showing up” and 17% describe themselves as “actively disengaged.” These workers lack a real close connection to their job. They go through the motions. They’ll likely talk badly about a manager behind their back, gossip, spread rumors and treat customers and clients rudely. This toxic attitude could infect others and become detrimental to the company.

Cruise control could also be a result of a person feeling unappreciated, not given a voice at the table and overlooked for promotions. In this instance, it would be productive for the coaster to discuss the matter with the supervisor.

Being engaged at work is essential for the success of the individual, business and customers. If a person loves what she does for a living and derives meaning and purpose in her daily responsibilities, she’ll do a great job. Her boss, peers, subordinates and customers will appreciate her efforts and show gratitude.

Antiwork Reddit And Lying Flat In China

The r/antiwork subreddit “Unemployment For All” on Reddit has 2.2 million “idlers” who subscribe to the mission statement, boasting, “A subreddit for those who want to end work, are curious about ending work, want to get the most out of a work-free life, want more information on anti-work ideas and want personal help with their own jobs [and] work-related struggles.”

Idlers complain that they are frustrated by their jobs and bad, overbearing bosses. Other members say they aren’t inclined to search for a new job and just want to quit and stay home. The postings on the site reflect their anger and resentment. They contend that companies take advantage of them, push for longer hours than they were initially told, pay them inadequately and demean them.

Quiet quitting and acting your wage is happening in China too. As China was ramping up to take on America’s economy, tech titans in the country were celebrated. Billionaire Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, called for a tireless work ethic, on behalf of his employees, to eclipse the Americans. His work culture is known as “996.” Ma wanted everyone to work 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week.

Like the idlers on Reddit, the younger generation of Chinese workers have started to push back against Ma’s rise-and-grind culture. Gen-Z workers are accused of slacking off by refusing to work overtime, delivering medium-quality work, going to the toilet frequently and staying there for a long time, playing with their mobile phones or reading novels at work.

Not Everyone Is Slacking

In addition to the r/antiwork subreddit, there is also a large r/fatFIRE group. This crowd eschews the traditional wealth management advice of drastically cutting costs and living a frugal lifestyle to save money. The more than 325,00 members talk about ways to get rich. These motivated, success-oriented people discuss stocks, business deals, how to find high-paying jobs and other ways to make money and leave the workforce in their 30s or early 40s.

Their mantra is to “retire with a fat stash” and live off the dividends and payouts from their investments and side businesses. Many seek a cash flow of around $100,000 a year as the benchmark for calling it quits and leaving the work world. Their definition of having enough money to spend $100,000 yearly in retirement requires a portfolio of around $2.5 million.

 

Forbes.com | September 29, 2022 | Jack Kelly 

 

 

#BestofFSCBlog : Over 6K Reads! The Real Reasons Why You Are Not Getting Ahead At Work—And What You Can Do About It. Bosses will Hold you Back for Their Own Selfish Reasons. A MUst REad!

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You’d like to believe that you’ll rise to the top if you’re talented and a hard worker. However, it’s a naive way to look at your career. For most people, no one is going to come to your rescue and sweep you off into the C-suite. Instead, bosses will hold you back for their own selfish reasons.

The Boss Holds You Back Because You Do All The Work

Your supervisor knows you are a rockstar, but keeps it a secret from others within the organization, especially the top executives. Your boss purposely wants to hold you back. Secretly, the supervisor feels threatened by you.

They know that you are amazing, but can’t afford to lose you if you get a promotion and advance within the ranks. Without you, they’d be lost. The supervisor desperately needs you to make them look good. Rather than extolling your virtues and telling everyone about your accomplishments, the boss hides it.

The reality is that you’re too good at your job. If you were promoted, no one could step into your shoes. This leaves you stuck in place. The boss won’t tell you the truth because it’s cruel and unethical to keep you trapped for their benefit and to your detriment.

 

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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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?

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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, UK, & Mexico!  

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

 

Article continued …

You Are Not Playing The Right Game

In school, you’re told that if you pay attention and work hard, you’ll get good grades. However, they don’t teach you about the real world. Working hard helps, but that’s only a tiny part of being successful. It’s not enough. You need to play the game. You need to shmooze the right people, get on the fast-track projects and make yourself known.

This means you have to get good at navigating and excelling at office politics. You need to work smart and let people know of the great work you’re doing.

It’s important to cultivate and build strategic relationships with people who can help grow your career. Seek out mentors who can show you the way, introduce you to key players within the firm and teach you how to avoid pitfalls.

Layoffs And Hiring Freezes

The current economy and job market for white-collar professionals aren’t great. On a nearly daily basis, there are announcements of layoffs, hiring freezes and job offers being rescinded. In this type of environment, you need to fend for yourself.

Everyone is trying to avoid being the person who will be let go. It’s a game of survival. Budgets are slashed. Cost cuts are commonplace. Management doesn’t have an appetite to promote and advance people. They are more focused on just keeping their heads above water. Your advancement or promotion is far down on the list of their concerns.

What You Need To Do To Turn Things Around

There are only four months left until the New Year. You have ample time to start laying the groundwork for a promotion and raise right now. Don’t wait until the last moment, as it will be too late.

You want to signal and have evidence that you are a much-needed employee. Keep meticulous track of all of your wins. Make sure that your boss is aware of what you are doing. Do this in person, as well as in writing. You want a paper trail of emails, memos, and texts citing all of the great work you’ve done. Point out the times when you exceeded expectations. Go above and beyond your responsibilities and keep your manager informed of the impact you’re making at the organization. In addition to the boss, subtly let others know of your accomplishments.

Play The Game

Go into the office regularly. With fewer workers around, you’ll stand out. Make sure that your presence is known. Chat with people in the hallways and cafeteria. Get in front of other managers, let them know what you’re up to and ask if they need any assistance.

Purposely send emails and texts and leave voicemails early in the morning, late at night and on the weekends. It may be rude, but these actions make the recipients notice that you’re working long hours and have a strong work ethic, unlike some of your co-workers who are quietly quitting.

Pop into the boss’ office to inquire what you can do to help them. Avoid fraternizing with people who tend to complain, gossip and are going nowhere fast. No matter how bad things get, always remain positive. While work-at-home attire has crossed over to the office, stand out by dressing as if you are a few levels above your station.

The Pitch For A Promotion

Before you know it, December will roll around. It’s time to capitalize on all the work you’ve done to break out and get to the next level. Put together an elevator pitch that concisely and succinctly sets forth all the great things you’ve done over the last year. Use this data to ask for a promotion, higher corporate title, a raise and larger bonus.

Be Prepared For Pushback And Go For The Jugular

Since your boss has been holding you back, there may be some resistance. If this happens, you need to be direct. Let them know that you know that they know you’re the one who’s been doing all the work. It may be uncomfortable, but call your supervisor’s bluff. Tell the boss, after all you’ve done, if a promotion, raise or bonus are not in the cards, you’ll let their manager know what’s been going on.

Say that you will start searching for a new job. Recognizing that the company is allowing attrition without replacement and hiring freezes are in effect, the manager will likely give in. They’ll realize that without you and no replacement on the horizon, management will discover that your supervisor is a fraud and has been riding your coattails for years. It’s a bold move, but sometimes you need to play hardball to get what you want to advance and succeed.

 

Forbes.com | September 1, 2022 | Jack Kelly

 

#YourCareer : Fed Chair Jerome Powell Says Fighting Inflation Will Cause Job Losses: Here’s What You Need To Do Now. In these Challenging Times, you Can’t be Complacent. MUst REad!

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In a blunt 10-minute speech at the annual Jackson Hole Economic Symposium on Friday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said he’s following through with his promise to raise interest rates and do what’s necessary to cool down the economy.

Powell didn’t pull any punches saying that higher interest rates will push down inflation to the Fed’s 2% target level. As a result, the U.S. will experience slower growth and a weak job market. He freely acknowledges that many Americans will feel the ‘pain’ and lose their jobs.

How We Got Into This Predicament

Going back to the financial crisis, before Powell, the Federal Reserve Bank used its financial tools to prop up the economy and stock market. The Fed’s policies remained essentially unchanged up until now.

During the pandemic, Powell and the federal government flooded the economy with trillions of dollars to provide much-needed funds to families and businesses. One of the united results was the creation of an everything bubble ranging from runups in the stock and cryptocurrency markets, and venture-funded startups that minted multi-billion dollar unicorn companies.

Powell is in an unenviable position to make the economy worse before it can get better. It’s frustrating that we need to trust Powell, who, along with Treasury Secretary Janet Yallen, missed the harmful effects of inflation early on, claiming it was only “transitory” and would subside after a while. It didn’t, and inflation hit 40-year record highs.

Americans are now paying the price for the bursting of the bubble. The Fed and government’s massive spending programs led to record levels of runaway inflation, creating another tax on people and companies.

How Does Powell’s Program Work?

To dampen the economy, Powell is raising interest rates and withdrawing all the quantitative easing policies that were in place. In a more fiscally restrictive environment, businesses will feel the pain.

They will no longer have access to inexpensive funding, and their costs will dramatically increase. One of the intended results is that businesses will enact massive layoffs to cut costs. On a nearly daily basis, companies are announcing layoffs, hiring freezes, allowing attrition without replacement and rescinding job offers.

Powell has been telling the country that he will cause pain by raising interest rates and through quantitative tightening. The problem is that Wall Street and others didn’t take him seriously enough. They were betting that he was bluffing and would eventually ease up.

After an initial shock from Powell’s policies, stocks plunged but later rebounded, as investors thought they were out of the woods. Their misplaced optimism may have been the impetus for Powell’s no-nonsense blunt message.

His thesis is that as the economy shrinks, people lose their jobs. As more people lose their livelihoods, they’ll forsake spending money on purchasing goods and services. When this happens at scale, the economy contracts, causing a downward spiral.

For instance, interest rates on buying a home nearly doubled recently. The housing market went from people bidding over the asking price to families walking away because they couldn’t afford to pay the higher monthly mortgage rates. Housing is one of the largest sectors. If people cannot buy homes, there will be less need for architects, real estate agents, contractors, electricians, carpenters, plumbers and other blue-collar professionals.

 

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Wall Street’s Harsh Reaction to Powell’s Speech

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, a bellwether index for the stock market, plummeted more than 1,000 points on the news. Other major indices plunged as well. According to Bloomberg, Powell’s bare-bones speech resulted in a massive loss of around $78 billion for the fortunes of some of the world’s wealthiest people. To be clear, unless a person sold their securities, it’s only a loss on paper. If the stock market turns around in their favor, the values may increase again.

  • Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder and former CEO, lost $6.8 billion.
  • The high-profile Tesla CEO and possible Twitter boss, Elon Musk, lost $5.5 billion.
  • Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, watched as he lost 2.2 billion dollars
  • Grandfatherly Warren Buffett’s net worth fell by $2.7 billion.

 

What Workers Need To Do Now

In these challenging times, you can’t be complacent. Take action to protect your job or make efforts to find a safe role elsewhere. You may have to make some sacrifices. For example, you may prefer working remotely, but consider going into the office to be seen. Once key managers and executives notice your work ethic and productivity, they’ll view you as indispensable.

Below are areas you can be proactive now: 

1- Get in touch with members of your network. Ask around to see if anyone has some good job leads or can make introductions to a target company that you’d love to work for. If you decide to switch jobs, make sure the new firm is financially strong and doesn’t have plans to lay off employees.

2- Update your résumé and LinkedIn profile. Find recruiters who specialize in your space and can keep an eye open for opportunities. Don’t take too much risk with your investments in stocks or cryptos.

3- When you interview, don’t be afraid to ask tough questions. You want to ensure that the position is right for you and that you’re not just jumping on the first offer. Avoid disparaging your former boss, company and colleagues, as it’s a turnoff to interviewers. They’ll assume you’ll talk bad about them too when you leave.

4- If you want to remain with your company, request a meeting with your boss. Tell them you love the place, think they’re a great manager and believe in the corporate mission. Share with them your goals and aspirations. The best outcome would be that your supervisor is relieved the conversation isn’t about quitting, and they’re delighted that you’re committed to the company and want to advance. You can collaborate on a path to reaching your desired role within the firm.

5- Pay close attention to your finances. Pay off credit cards and other debt, as the interest rate will escalate. Reign in unnecessary expenses. Put aside money, in case you are out of work for a while. Find ways to earn additional income streams. This could include gig work, starting a side hustle or an online business.

6- Use this time to learn new skills that will make you more employable. There are many online courses such as the Flatiron School, Goodwill, Coursera and Codecademy. You could sign up to learn in-demand skills. The classes can be attended whenever you want. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a certificate, badge or accreditation that could help you advance within your organization or when you’re hunting for a new job.

Try To Stay Positive

It is easy and understandable to become despondent during tough times. You can’t let people pick up on it. Work on your mindset, as you need to be mentally strong during tough times.

Hiring managers and interviewers desire winners who are positive, confident and charismatic. Cast aside any negative thoughts and teach yourself how to come across as likable and charming. When a business conducts layoffs, management is more prone to retain people they like and are comfortable working with, even if it’s a choice between a more experienced colleague.

 

Forbes.com | August 27, 2022 | Jack Kelly

Your #Career : 19 Signs your Company Doesn’t Care about You…One of the Biggest Reasons People Leave their Jobs is Because they Feel UnAppreciated.

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“People come to work for more than a paycheck,” says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert, leadership coach, and author of “Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job.” “They want to feel that their contributions are making a difference. If an employer cares about your long-term growth and happiness, you’ll feel a much greater sense of purpose, and reward.”

Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of “The Humor Advantage,” points out that Google’s internal research into what makes a great leader at the company found that one of the key ingredients for was “expressing an interest in employees’ well being.” He says Facebook also conducted a company-wide study to seek out the key qualities that made their managers so great, and again, one of the top factors was “caring for their team members.”

“It can seem paradoxical when a company invests so much time in hiring and training an employee, only to eventually squander that asset,” Taylor says. “It’s important to be sure your employer cares about your success and job satisfaction, because without that genuine support, it’s hard to stay motivated, feel that you are part a larger team, and produce your best work. It’s a downward spiral. You could stagnate in your career — unless you notice the signs and take decisive action.”

Here are 19 signs your employer doesn’t care about you:

Your boss doesn’t offer any support, guidance, or feedback.

If your boss doesn’t take the time to offer any feedback, guidance, or support you as you work toward achieving your goals, it can be seriously detrimental to your career, says Kerr.

Taylor says if your boss seems primarily concerned with the tactical aspects of your job and project completion — and less so with whether you’re advancing your skills or being challenged by your work — they probably don’t care about your success.

Yes, he or she may just be a bad boss, but if you see they do positive things with your coworkers, but not you, it’s a bad sign.

 

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You’re not compensated fairly.

This is one of the most tangible signs, says Taylor.

“An employer that’s not concerned about what you can offer won’t compensate you properly or fairly. Even if you request a performance evaluation, you may be told it’s not necessary, or just ask any questions you may have. The suggestion may even arise that you take a pay cut.”

Monetary signs like this can be blatant red flags that you should start job searching, or you can hurt your long-term career advancement, not to mention experience much distress, she explains.

 

You’re passed over for a promotion you deserve. 

This is another blatant sign. You’re doing excellent work — work that is superior to your colleagues’ — and yet someone less deserving gets a promotion you were in line for.

 

They never ask you for input or ideas.

If your boss or employer doesn’t care about your ideas or opinions, they probably don’t care much about you, says Kerr.

 

Your calls for help or resources are ignored. 

A company that doesn’t care about your well-being will largely ignore your requests for assistance or tools you need to deliver the best results, Taylor says. “Or they may just make it difficult by making false promises, or dragging out the process to truly address your needs.”

There’s a lack of inherent trust.

“For example, if your boss is more concerned about getting a doctor’s note to justify your absence from work rather than asking about your health and what they can do for you, this obviously reveals concern for you only as a commodity,” Kerr explains.

 

Plum projects no longer come your way.

You may suddenly lose a project you were handling, or you may no longer get those that relate directly to your expertise, says Taylor. These are never good signs.

Your boss bullies you.

“When they use bullying tactics or give you ultimatums, you may have a problem on your hands,” says Kerr. “Any threatening or intimidation style of behavior that is dismissive of your emotions and reactions means they really don’t care about you as a human being.”

 

You rarely find out about project outcomes.

“One red flag is that you will contribute to a project, but after it’s completed, you don’t know what the results were,” Taylor says. “You may be fortunate enough to hear it through the grapevine, but you feel as if you are not part of a larger picture.”

 

They don’t include you in any decisions.

It’s an especially bad sign when your boss is making decisions regarding your career or workload without first consulting you, Kerr says.

 

You get important company news after everyone else.

If you feel you’re the last person to hear about major company developments, you can easily feel that you don’t count. “You may hear things secondhand or by happenstance,” says Taylor. “It can kill your morale when the event directly applies to your projects.”

Your boss isn’t interested in your personal life … at all.

Some managers try to keep work relationships very professional and avoid talking or asking about your personal life — but if you notice your boss asks your colleagues about their weekends, or their kids, or their new puppies, but not yours, this is a bad sign, says Kerr.

 

You only hear from your boss when you screw up.

Here’s a big sign: You never hear praise from your boss when you do things well – which is 99% of the time. But if you make just the smallest error, you get an email or invited into their office.

“This is a key sign that they may be taking you for granted and only concerned about your work production,” Kerr says.

Nobody wants to accept your help.

“When you first sense these signs, your immediate reaction may be to contribute more and perform better — but even that may be met with resistance,” says Taylor. “Your boss seems to be circumventing you with no apparent cause. Unfortunately, when there is no explanation, the cause can be due to posturing or a land grab by managers who are rising stars, who want to see their own team members advance. Without the support of your manager, it’s hard to swim upstream.”

It’s best to take action through direct communication, while you seek greener pastures, she advises.

 

Your boss turns down your requests for a more flexible schedule or better work-life balance.

“If they consistently demonstrate a lack of concern over how working overtime might be affecting your family life, or immediately dismiss requests to switch schedules in order to attend an important family function, this can be a huge sign that they really don’t care about your personal well-being,” Kerr warns.

 

It’s hard to know where you stand.

“At companies that are political or more concerned with the bottom line, you will languish in a state of the unknown,” warns Taylor. “You can’t get prompt answers. Employers may either be complacent, expecting your long-term loyalty, or they may be on the fence as to whether to keep you on the team. The circumstances may be related to cost savings, politics, market trends, or other factors.”

Still, she says, the result can be maddening. “Studies continue to show employees would rather know they’re under-performing than remain in the dark.”

They make demands of you during holidays or your time off.

Does your boss not respect your weekends, vacations, or holidays? Requesting that you stay in constant touch or finish a project without any concern for how it might impact your time off is a bad sign they don’t care about you, says Kerr.

 

They blatantly tell you they don’t care about you.

“There are still old school managers out there who will constantly remind their employees outright that they can be easily replaced or that other people would kill to have their job,” Kerr says. “Any comments such as these that treat you only as a commodity reflect a lack of genuine interest in your personal well-being.”

 

They don’t fight to keep you.

The final sign is this: When you tell your boss you’ve been offered a job elsewhere, or that you’re exploring other opportunities, they don’t fight to keep you.

 

Businessinsider.com | March 14, 2016 |  

 

 

 

Your #Career : 5 Ways Other People Can Help (or Hurt) Your Career…Work hard, Put your Time In, & Move Up the Corporate Ladder, Right? Not so Fast.

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As important as it is to do your best at work and to gain experience, there are many mistakes you could make that would negate your hard work and damage your career. In addition, the truth is that you alone are not in charge of where your career goes (or doesn’t go); other people have more power than you may realize.

Free- Biz Man on Cellphone

This is particularly true if you are an employee because you have performance reviews and co-workers to worry about, but even if you own your own business, you will always have to interact with other people. While hard work can get you far, there will always be other players who can positively or negatively change your course. Here are five ways that other people can affect your career.

1. References

Sometimes a reference is a good thing. If a hiring manager has narrowed the search down to two candidates, and your references speak very highly of you, then you might get the job offer. Also, if you regularly check in with your references and you update them about new work experience and training that you have, they will be prepared to share this information when they receive calls.

On the other hand, be careful who you choose as a reference. It’s a common myth that companies can only give the dates that you were employed; employers are allowed to give an honest opinion about employees as long as they avoid misrepresentations or lies (however, many companies have set rules about how much information they will provide). Be sure to ask if it is acceptable to use someone as a reference, and if they feel comfortable giving you a positive one.

The work you do to move forward in your career is essential to success, but remember that other people can have a big impact on your career as well.

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2. Networking

The importance of networking can’t be overstated: meeting the right people can truly help your career. If you build and maintain a strong network of people who can share job opportunities with you, and even recommend you for positions, then you will truly be building important relationships. Still, as much as contacts have the ability to help you in your career, they also can easily harm you. If you have a bad experience with someone who is well known or important in your job field, you could easily find yourself unable to find a job at several companies that work with your contact.

In order to successfully network, it’s important to avoid some big mistakes; make sure to talk about more than just work, and truly build relationships and offer to help others too.

3. Reviews

Your boss can easily make or break your career, or at least, your ability to move up at your current company. If your boss is disappointed with your work, believes that you are lacking in some other way, or simply dislikes you, he or she can make it next to impossible for you to advance in your career or earn a promotion. Your boss can also help you though; if you impress your boss, you may quickly get promoted at your company, and you also may have the opportunity to meet new people and work on projects that will help your career in other ways.

Your boss isn’t the only one who might give you a negative or positive review. Your co-workers can also have a say: if they find you to be lazy or incompetent, your boss will surely hear about it.

If you have a customer-facing job, you may get a customer complaint. Most companies provide training for their employees, but if your supervisor continually receives negative reviews or complaints about your work, you might find that a complete stranger has the ability to negatively affect your career simply by sharing their opinion. Even a simple mistake during an important client lunch could have disatrous effects.

4. Job competition

We all know that we are likely competing against several other qualified people when we apply for a job or come in for an interview. However, it’s also true that you might lose out on a huge opportunity because a complete stranger is more qualified than you, or is better at interviewing, or simply knows the right people. It’s possible that you might be even farther in your career right now if years ago a hiring manager hadn’t received a better resume from another applicant.

Where you live alone might be changing your career path. According to the January 2016 Rankings from Indeed, it’s much harder to find a job in certain cities; if there are more unemployed people for each job listing, you may be facing more competition for the job you want.

5. Social media

What you put on social media can affect your career. If you post embarrassing pictures, or you complain about your job, then your boss or co-workers might see it. However, your career can be affected by what other people post too. If your friends share embarrassing or drunken photos of you and your boss sees them before you get a chance to delete them, the result could be funny, or it could be ruinous.

According to Kelly Services’ The 2015 Hiring Manager Research, only 12% or hiring managers said they had disqualified a candidate based on a review of their social media profile, but you don’t want to be part of that 12%. Also according to Kelly, social media can be an important tool when networking (68% of working professionals said they use social media as their primary method of networking.)

The work you do to move forward in your career is essential to success, but remember that other people can have a big impact on your career as well.

 

CheatSheet.com | February 12, 2016 |