R stands for Retrenched

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November 15th, 2009

U stands for Unemployed

In the current economic chaos, the possibility of the dreaded “r” word being used in your place of work is a real possibility. Reports of widespread job losses and company closures are all over the news at the moment. However, the picture is not all gloomy and a lot depends on you. During these uncertain times when employers are reviewing or cutting budgets and looking at new ways to optimize their workforces, it is important that employees focus on making themselves indispensable to their companies. Consider how you can add value in the role you currently fulfill, over and above what is expected of you.

Put the organization first

Unfortunately, some businesses have no alternative but to reduce staff, but employees who are seen to be adding value will be low on the retrenchment list. Employees who are eager to take on new challenges will also be valued in these tough times. Be flexible. Accept roles that might not be your first choice or best suit your qualifications in the short term, rather than risk being unemployed.

Alternatives for finding work

In times of uncertainty, temporary employment opportunities increase as employers naturally take a cautious “wait and see approach” when considering their permanent recruitment plans. This could be your chance. Taking on a temporary position in a new organization gives you the opportunity to expand your skill-set and bolster your CV with relevant work experience, which will benefit you when applying for a permanent position in the future. Check for those sectors where there is a shortage of workers and see if you can somehow fit in. Think about a career change and consider moving into a field which is crying out for qualified and talented workers.

Your CV

Make contact with a reputable recruitment agency to help you. Here are some tips from one such agency:

Update your CV.
Make sure you emphasize all of your skills and achievements.
Your CV is the first opportunity to sell yourself, so get good advice if you’re not sure where to start.

Your interview:

Make sure you research the company beforehand so you stand out and come across as more knowledgeable than other interviewees.

Think about accepting temporary employment.

Accept a temporary position in a different sector or line of work that you’re trained for, rather than being unemployed.

Being an out-of-work worker

Being out of work in normal times is difficult and challenging, but you have some choices and you have contacts you can call on. You can remain optimistic and be sure that if you don’t find something this week, it will be next week. Being out of work in a recession is another story altogether. It may take months and months before you find something that is half decent. And then when you do receive an offer it will not be in your exact field and you will have to make all sorts of irritating adjustments to your life.

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 2:13 pm and is filed under Economy, Employment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

R stands for Retrenched

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