Downsized? Before You Walk Out the Door

Chris Wodke
http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

Your worst fears have come true and you have just been told you will be leaving your company.  Before you leave for the last time make sure to do the following:

____1.)  Review any compensation package offered.  Get a lawyer to review if needed.

____2.) Ask about any outplacement services you might receive.

____3.)  Confirm any severance payments and how they will be paid.

____4.)  Confirm any benefits owed to you such as vacation, commissions or bonus.

____5.) Get agreement on what will be said during reference checks.

____6.) Request a letter of reference from your supervisor.

____7.) Confirm the cost of continuing with former employers health insurance.

____8.) Check if you can negotiate any extension of benefits such as health insurance.

____9.)  Get contact information from your co-workers. The may be helpful for reference

               checks.

___10.)  Ask if there is the possibility of part time work or bringing you back as a
               consultant.
 

     There may be some room for negotiation with benefits offered as part of layoff. It never hurts to ask.  If you termination was due to illegal or unethical practices of you company seek legal advise. Do not sign any package until you have sought legal advice.

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation

10 Things You Can Do Right Now to Keep Your Job

Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

     In past articles I talked about warning signs which could signal your job is vulnerable.  If you recognized any of the warning signs your job could be in trouble. There are some steps you can take to secure your job and some steps you want to take now just in case you find yourself on the outside looking in.  If you take these steps you have a better chance of keeping your job. Even if you find yourself unemployed by taking some of these steps you will be much better prepared for unemployment. Here are my top ten job securing moves to make right now:

1.)    Build Your Brand
If you haven’t already now is the time to assess if your talents and skills are a good fit for your job and organization.  Determine what you do well and apply those skills to your current position. Be known as the go to person in your organization. Develop an area of expertise. When you do have success, document it and talk about it.  Your boss should not be clueless about what you contribute to the organization. There is nothing wrong with talking about how well the team worked together on the last project and the successful outcome.  Make sure you give others the credit where it is due.

2.)    Step Up Your Game

This is closely related to building your brand.  If you have been cursing along for years, now may be the time to put in extra time or take on additional work.  Be sure your boss knows about your extra effort. Use your time wisely. No personal business, long personal phone calls or non work related internet use on company time.  Clean up any attendance or tardiness issues. This is not the time to take a mental health day. You also have to meet all your work commitments. No missed deadlines or going over budget.

3.)    Network
Your department may be in trouble, but other parts of the company may be doing just fine. Are your skills needed in that department?  Check out how things are going in other parts of the company and see if you can contribute, even if it is only on a part time basis.   Also look to build your network outside of work. Professional and civic organizations’ are a great way to connect with others. This may be valuable for leads on jobs if you should find yourself un-employed or to move to another organization.

4.)    Resume
Update your resume while you are still employed. To update your resume look at job postings for the essential skills needed for the job you want to obtain.  Look for keywords in the postings you will need to put on your resume. Updating your resume will help you to determine if your job skills are up to date. If needed your resume will be ready for a job search.

5.)    PlanWhat are the next steps you want to take in your career? Set some goals. The goals should be specific, timely, measurable, attainable and specific. Write down your goals and put a due date on them.  What things do you need to do to be marketable inside or outside of your company? Start taking action now while you are still employed.  What do you need to do to be successful in your current position?  Take action now, it might keep you employed.

6.)    FinancialYou will need 3-6 months of living expenses. If you are living paycheck to paycheck, you better get busy. You will experience much less stress when unemployed if you have this financial cushion. You will be less likely to take a job that is a poor fit if you are financially sound. Now is the time to cut expenses to help get you there.

7.)    Alternate IncomeIf you can generate some additional income you can weather a period of unemployment.  Alternate employment may also be a way to build job skills if you want to make a career transition. You may be able to start a business that can provide some alternate income when out of work.  If possible take a second job, especially if you need to build up your 3- 6 months emergency fund. Do you have items around the house you can sell?  EBay can be a great place to get rid of items you don’t need and make a little money.

8.)    Brush Up Your SkillsHave you kept up the skills you need in your job?  Are kids just out of college running circles around you?  Take some time to get current or develop new skills. Take advantage of any training programs offered by your current organization. Professional societies and career networking groups offer training. Other job sources to update your skills include: books, e-learning, certificate and degree programs. Your current company may pay for your tuition if you return to school.

9.)    Mend FencesIt is essential you get along with your supervisor or co-workers. This is as important as any technical job skills.  Get feedback on how you are doing. Ask others what changes you need to make. Follow up on the suggestions you are given.  Be tolerant of the working styles of your boss and peers.

10.)  Be Positive
       Come to work with a positive attitude and a smile on your face. Don’t engage
       in gossip and speculation.  Do any venting about the company and the situation
       outside of work.  If you do leave the organization, say only positive things about

       during interviews. You do not want to give an interviewer the idea you would
       say negative things about their organization if you were an employee.

You may do all of these things and still lose your job. That sometimes happens in a bad economy.  At least you will know you did your best to keep your job and be a valuable member of your organization. In my next article I will talk about the steps you should take immediately if you find yourself unemployed.

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation

Unemployment-Are You Next in Line?-Part 2

 By Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

In my last article I discussed some of the warning signs a company is in trouble and may be getting ready to shed jobs.  Nature culls the sick and weak from its ranks. Companies are no different. When hard times hit the biggest targets for lay offs are poor performers, perceived poor performers or those in weak political positions. Here are some warning signs you may be vulnerable:

Performance

If you recently received a poor performance appraisal or are on any type of performance improvement plan you are in a vulnerable position.  Any documentation of poor performance is a bad sign as well. Have you missed an important project deadline?  Are you projects coming in over budget? Are any measures of performance such as sales down? These are the types of things that will be looked at when decisions are made to let employees go.

Work Assignments

You are not invited to important meetings.  Your opinion is not sought. You aren’t invited to meetings, but your co-workers all have full calendars.  You are not being assigned to important or high visibility projects.  These are all signs you are not seen as valued by the organization. Do you spend time on personal business or on the internet when you should be working?  Others do notice how hard you work and how you spend your time.

Work Load

This goes hand in hand with work assignments. Do you have little or nothing to do?

Too much time on your hands is a sign either you or the company is in trouble.

If you don’t have work to do or are not being assigned work to do, does the company really need you?

Relationships’

Do you have problems getting along with team mates?  Do you have conflicts with your boss?  Are there complaints about you from customers?  Getting along with others is one of the most important skills you bring to the job. If you can’t get along with your peers or boss you just may not be worth the trouble to the company.

Attendance

Showing up every day and on time is a basic requirement for employment. Showing up late or having poor attendance may put you in a vulnerable position unless the absence falls under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

If any of the signs listed above you may be on shaky ground. Even if your company is doing well, they may use the poor economy as an opportunity to get rid of what they perceive as “problem employees”.  There are lots of really good qualified people on the job market right now so employers may be tempted to do some house cleaning even if they are doing alright in this economy.  The question is what do I do now? What if I see warning signs with the company or with my personal situation. In the next article I will talk about steps to take if you see some of the warning signs.

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation

Are you the next in line for unemployment?

Chris Wodke
http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

No one wants to find themselves out of work, especially in a shaky economy.

Unemployment can disrupt every aspect of your life from your finances to your self image.  Would you want to know if losing your job was a possibility?  If you knew the warning signs you could take steps to prepare yourself.

Sometimes there are signs either your company or your job is in trouble you’re your company is in trouble you may lose your job even if your performance is good.  Your company may be doing fine, but your job is in trouble because of workplace politics, interpersonal issue, poor performance or issues with your boss.  In part one we will focus on the warning signs your company might be in financial trouble leading to your job loss.

Merger

Your organization was purchased by another company or your organization purchased someone else. Job cuts usually follow as duplicate functions like accounting and payroll are combined.  The job cuts do not always come out of the acquiring company. Be especially alert of one of the organizations was struggling financial.

Industry Downturn

You may be in an industry that is in a permanent downturn such as airlines or manufacturing. These industries are all shedding jobs. If competitors are cutting jobs, your company probably will be too.  Some industries like housing and construction are in a temporary slump but are still losing jobs.  The cuts may not stop until the economy turns around.

Financials

Pay close attention to financial reports. Did the company make earnings targets?  Did the company pay the promised dividend?  Are sales down?  How is the market share?  Is the company position in the market dropping?  Has the company bond rating dropped?  Is the company having trouble paying suppliers? Problems in any of these areas are a warning sign. Has the stock price dropped?  The stock price is an indication of what the market thinks of the company. A sharp drop may be due to poor financial performance and is an indication of trouble ahead.

Cost Savings

Are budgets flat or being slashed?  The company may be conservative or this can be an early sign of trouble.  Have wage increases disappeared or been rolled back? Is there a hiring freeze?

Celebrations

Are important project milestones still celebrated?  Has the company cut back on things like retirement parties and anniversary celebrations? Holiday parties and celebrations are one of the first things cut and can be an early warning sign of trouble.

Perks

Have employee perks been cut or curtailed?  Are executive perks being cut or curtailed?

Are executives cashing out their stock options?  If multiple executives are cashing in options they may be concerned about the long term financial performance of the company.

Product Issues

Has the company lost a large product liability suit?  Large settlements can wipe out large amounts of profit.  Has the company had a very public product recall? Think of the recent problems with tainted peanut butter.  The suspect company is now out of business.

Is the company having significant product quality problems?  Large amounts of returned product or high warranty costs can adversely affect the bottom line. Bad product can lead to loss of reputation of your company and loss of customers.  Large enough losses can lead to job cuts.

Market Share/Over Expansion

Has the company market share dropped?  A lot of competitors may make it difficult to make a profit.  Has the company over expanded or expanded too quickly.  Think of Starbucks. There is one on almost every corner.  For the first time this year the company is struggling financially.  Has the market taste changed?  A few years ago Krispy Kreme could not pump out enough doughnuts to meet demand.  The fad started to fade and Krispy Kreme began closing stores this year.

Any of the above factors could lead to job loss if present in your organization.  In part two of the article we will take about some of the personal signs your job may be in trouble. In future articles we will discuss steps to take if you see the warning signs. Stay tuned!

Do you hate to write training programs? Too much work to do and no time to put together your training program? Asked to deliver training or a presentation and have no idea where to start?

Let Summit Training Publications take care of your program design needs with our off the shelf training in a box or one of our presentation modules.

Our off the shelf training solutions provide:

• PowerPoint Presentation
• Instructor Guide & handouts
• Student Guide
• Quiz
• Feedback Form

Subject areas include; Communication Skills, Employee Development, Human Resources, Quality, Product Safety, Safety and Supervisor Training.

Titles: Product Safety and Liability, Aftermarket Product Safety,Hazard Analysis, Product Safety Meetings, Warnings, Instructions and Manuals, Product Liability European Union, Obtaining the CE Mark, Risk Assessment, European Union, Product Safety Management Product Safety Audit, Workplace Violence, Substance Abuse, Sexual Harassment, Manager as Coach, Hiring, Firing, Performance Appraisals, Diversity, Americans With Disabilities, Business Etiquette, Security Abroad, International Business Manners, Customer Service, Customer Communication, Terrific Teams, The Manager as Trainer, Coping With Difficult People, Managing Your Boss- Problem Bosses, Malcolm Baldridge Award, Presentations/Public Speaking, Discrimination, Listening Skills, Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Total Quality Management, Motivation, High Achievers, Time Management, ISO 9000 Introduction, ISO 9000 Implementation, Quality Audit, Introduction to the Internet, Stress Management, Telecommuting, Flexible Work Schedules, Creativity and Innovation, Benchmarking, Effective Business Writing, Customer Letters, Motivating Self and Others, Project Management, Managing Multiple Projects, Brainstorming, PERT Diagrams, Train the Trainer, Train the Trainer-Delivery, Train the Trainer-Writing Presentations, Train the Trainer-On the Job Training, Train the Trainer-Using Visual Aids, Project Management, Peer to Peer Feedback, Surviving Unemployment, Interview Preparation