Don't wait for the chop

It’s happening again. Job cuts and redundancies have been relatively rare lately, with the employment market being squeezed by labour shortages. But as belts are being tightened everywhere, more employers are considering the possibility of letting people go.
Maybe you’re in one of those businesses. Maybe you can feel the axe looming over your head. And maybe you’re deciding right now whether you should wait for the chop, or make a break for it, while you still have the chance.
Here’s my top five tips for making sure that you do what’s best for you:
§ Check out your assumptions
When times are tough, rumours sometimes get out of control. Go after the facts instead. Fear is contagious, so make sure you are reacting to what’s really going on, instead of focussing on what people are afraid “might” happen.
§ Look after your relationships
One of my favourite sayings comes from Desiderata: “As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all people.” You never know when you will need a good rap from your workmates or your boss, so (without compromising yourself) make sure those relationships stay healthy. Too many people burn bridges when they feel threatened (and regret it afterwards).
§ Find out what support is on offer – and take it!
Most businesses these days offer some kind of career support to staff. Whether or not there are job losses on the horizon. Get information about what’s available, and if possible negotiate to get some support at a time and in a format that suits you. Don’t be too proud to ask for help.
§ Put a positive spin on it
Attitude is everything. Treat a potential job loss as a chance for a fresh start. Explore your options, and take the opportunity to spend some time thinking about what you really want to do with your working life.
§ Brush up your self marketing
You never know when you might need it, so make sure you are ready to market yourself at short notice. You’ll need a slick CV at least. And if you haven’t applied for a job in years, be aware that times have changed. Get some good advice on how to present yourself.
A final word…
Research says that less than 10% of people who voluntarily make a change in their working lives say afterwards that they “jumped too soon”. Most people say they wish they’d done it years ago. There’s a good reason for that. Most people are naturally cautious about messing with their career. Most people don’t take unjustified risks with their working life.
So if you’re feeling it’s time to pack your bags and get out of there, you need to listen carefully to those feelings. One of the things I’ve learned from people I’ve worked with is that the hardest thing about making a change to your working life is making the decision to do it. Once the decision is made, the rest is easy.