Peter Clayton doesn’t have a “blog” – he has a podcast site. He is the premier, the only podcaster to listen to (as far as I know) to provide value content to experts in the employment space. If you want to here a 40 minute interview with me back in the early days of JibberJobber you can go here… otherwise, you might want to sift through the others that he has interviewed (very impressive list) here.
Note that I’ll be following up with two more and then wrap up the whole thing… I hope you’ve enjoyed it so far. Remember, here’s the question he is answering:
Yikes! You just lost your job! You’ve been so busy at *work* that you don’t feel your network is as strong as you would like it to be! What are you going to do with (and to) your network in the next 6 weeks as you begin an aggresive job search campaign? And, outside of your network, what job search tactics will you employ? Or your best networking tips related to job searches.
“This happens all too frequently. And it usually happens to those dedicated employees working 60-70-80 hours a week – the “nose to the grindstone†types. Who haven’t seen a meaningful raise in years.
First. Your job is NOT your career. Most employed people spend 95% of their time on their job, and 5% on their careers. And this is why the “Yikes!†happen. You should always be planning your next career move. Networking does not mean showing up at a “networking event†to hand out your computer-printed business card to a bunch of other unemployed people in the same (desperate) boat you find yourself. Not that all of those types of events are not worthwhile. Just don’t expect to find a job – or job lead at one of them.
Second. If you’ve just unexpectedly lost your job with nothing planned – take a deep breath. Check-out websites like CHIMBY.com and careerhub.typepad.com which provide excellent online resources and information. Think about who you can call for LEADS. And when you make those calls, be specific. “I just got laid off†is the wrong way to start a conversation, even with a good friend. Also, “I’m looking for a new job†is way too vague to give anyone a real opportunity to help you. It’s far better to say something like, “I’m actively looking to a career change – am interested in using my X years of experience in Y – so ideally, a Z position (again X, Y and Z should be as specific as possible). follow up with, “I thought you might know someone who could provide some advice or direction.†Using this approach, you’re not putting your friend on the “hot seat†– and your far more likely to get referrals. (If there’s a specific person your friend knows, ask for an introduction. Again, informational interviews are very different from job interviews – and taking the informational approch will get you a whole lot more referrals).
Third. If you have over 10+ years of experience and are making 6 figures, use a good professional resume writer. They can save you hours of grief and help you target specific jobs and companies. If you’re not on Linkedin, you should be. If you are, it’s a great resource for finding contacts at companies you’re interested in working for. And lot of companies have started using Linkedin to source candidates.
Fourth. Don’t immediately throw your resume up on the major job boards – especially if you’re income is 6 figures.
Fifth. As part of your termination package, try and get your employer to give you 6 months to a year of support from a reputable outplacement firm. Depending on how long you’ve been with your company, you may have legal rights to benefits they won’t offer unless you ask for them.
Sixth. File for unemployment benefits immediately! They are NOT retro-active. You gain nothing by waiting. You lose.”
I added the bold to the numbers, but aside from that didn’t touch this. I think #6 is state-by-state… I’m not sure. I know that health insurance is retro… I’m not sure about unemployment insurance (UI)…. Thanks for the entry Peter!
So, what do you guys think?
> File for unemployment benefits immediately!
With all due respect, I list this as a waste of time. For other than the factory hands, it’s just not a good use of time.
For example, in one of my transitions, filing for the unemployment benefits in NY by a NJ resident required FOUR in-person visits and repeated under oath certifications that no activity was engaged in that MIGHT be considered “consulting, contracting, or collecting other economic benefit EVEN IF NO TAXABLE INCOME is earned or money is exchanged”. Sheesh! Who writes this stuff?
On another transition (I’ve been “out” seven times in XXXX years! Let’s call it several decades. I’m planning to be “earning” until I FINALLY land … in my grave. That’s the only time you can stop preparing, worrying, and networking!), I took thirteen hours to collect two checks for a total of $800! (I followed the outplacement counselor’s advice and did it. By the time, I collected my second check, I had a new and better job. I TOLD the counselor what I thought of his advice. He said I was “lucky”. I’d call it “focused”. Your Mileage May Vary!)
I think you just have to write this money off as “government theft”. To chase it, takes your eyes off the prize to begin again generating value, and retaining some of that value for yourself.
imho
Fjohn
John, good point and interesting perspective. I can’t remember if I blogged on my UI, probably not, I’ll make it a point to comment on my personal experiences with the state aid, including insurance. It is a freaky thing to go from a paycheck to zero bucks over night, and losing the company sponsered life insurnance and supposedly discounted health insurance is a real shocker. … more on this in a subsequent blog post.
/rant on/
FDR put on wage and price controls in ww2. Big companies to attract skilled workers couldn’t’ offer them more money so they offered “benefits”. Somehow, they were found not to be “cash compensation”. Thus the mess we have today.
Your “benefits” are tied to your job. Arghh. In one of my transitions, I bought my own “benefits” (i.e., major medical with a high deductible) for a few hundred a month. And, have always kept them as a backup. I have my own life insurance too.
So, even though now I’m a “corporate weenie”, I wouldn’t go into shock when I get that eventual “pink slip”. As I have blogged, on the first Sunday of every month, I have a meeting of the BoD of “Me, myself, and I” to plan what happens if this month is the “PINK” one.
/RANT OFF/