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#YourCareer : 3 Signs You’re Being Quiet-Fired. Watch Out for these Signs. Has this Happened to You? MUst REad!

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Workplace pressure is something everyone goes through. Whether you work from home or clock in at the office daily, it’s normal to experience a bit of stress as part of a corporate company. But if you’ve been feeling a sudden change in your manager’s vibe, there may be more to it behind the scenes. This article explains what may be happening and signs to look out for.

What Is “Quiet Firing”?

According to global workplace analytics firm Gallup, “quiet firing” is a new term for a decades-old phenomenon at the workplace, wherein employers try to make workplace conditions worse for employees they want to “squeeze out” of the company. Whether it’s company downsizing or trying to avoid redundant positions, quiet firing is a way for management to avoid the hassle of firing or reassigning an employee.

Now, you might have already heard of “quiet quitting”, or when employees start becoming purposely inefficient and absent in their positions to justify leaving. Quiet firing and quiet quitting actually go together–when an employer starts to quietly fire an employee, the employee has no choice but to respond the same way.

Quiet firing is petty, unethical, and shows signs of weak leadership. This could affect an employee’s mental health, as well as potentially damage a company’s reputation. How does one spot this? Watch out for the signs below.

Your Manager’s Attitude Changes Around You

Great managers take the time to check in on each of their team members, no matter how packed their schedules are. These scheduled check-ins mean that the company values its employees and wants to see if there are opportunities they can give to help you grow, so if you’re the only one on the team missing out, that could be a sign.

The complete opposite could also happen. Instead of being overly distant, your manager could start being hyper-critical of everything you do. From reports to projects to nonstop questions through email, they might start nitpicking every detail out of nowhere.

Your Projects Start Being Reassigned

Getting less projects assigned to you may seem like a win at first but it’s not as peachy as it sounds. Ultimately the value you bring to your team is directly related to the impact you make with your work. Projects give employees a specific purpose, so having yours reassigned with no prior heads-up is a big red flag. This also means less opportunities to let your skills shine and showcase what you bring to the table.

Task reassignments also entail being excluded from email threads and task trackers you were previously in, as well as the lack of meeting invites. Some managers do this slowly throughout months of slow contact, while some kick employees out of threads in days. A change in your calendar compared to your team’s should start setting off some alarm bells.

 

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Article continued …

Your Manager Asks You To Track Your Hours

When managers suddenly ask you to keep track of your hours and activity once you clock in, there’s a big chance they’re looking for a reason to scrutinize your work. Doing so gives employers the excuse to use empty calendar blocks, vacant to-do lists, and less-than-perfect reports as reasons to downplay all that you do.

The biggest sign that you’re getting quiet-fired? HR communications are getting more frequent. It can start off as harmless updates which later escalate to sudden meetings about workplace conduct and even subpar work. Managers who want to quiet-fire employees will involve HR in an attempt to make downsizing seem more diplomatic.

There is no doubt that quiet firing is an unethical and harmful leadership practice. It promotes dishonesty in management, and it can bring down someone’s motivation to keep putting their best foot forward at work. I hope you never have to experience it, but now that you know the signs, spot them while it’s early and be proactive to find remedies. Rooting for you!

 

Forbes.com | November 24, 2024 | Sho Dewan

#JobSearch : Got Fired? Do This To Bounce Back Stronger Than Ever. Your Not Alone, in Fact, over 40% of Americans Have Been Fired. MUst REad!

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Even though it can feel like the end of the world, I know you will bounce back from being fired from your last role. I encourage you to look at this situation as a moment to reflect on your career and learn from the experience.

And just remember that you are not alone. In fact, over 40% of Americans have been fired at least once in their career. And according to data from Intoo and the Harris Poll, 23% of people lose their jobs three or more times throughout their career. What’s more important is how you will move forward. Here are 4 steps to help you navigate the aftermath and what you should do next.

Step 1: Get Your Mindset Right.

Getting fired from a job can be traumatizing. Layoff anxiety is a thing, and it can cause you to dwell on negative thoughts that can hinder your self-confidence. Take some time to grieve and let all your emotions out. It won’t happen overnight but take little steps towards accepting the situation and understanding that the past is the past.

This predicament is only temporary and you’ll more than likely be able to find a new job (that may even pay better) soon. The key thing is to learn from the experience, and use that lesson to improve upon your skills.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

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

 

Article continued …

Step 2: Audit Your Skills

Next, I recommend you to do a personal audit and review the skills you currently have. It may even help to assess your own performance in your last role, and try to see yourself from the perspective of your former employer.

Were there specific tasks or responsibilities that you could have handled differently? Did you receive any feedback or performance evaluations that indicated areas for improvement? Identifying these aspects will help you pinpoint areas where you can grow and develop.

Another option is to get feedback from others you have worked with. Reach out to former colleagues who may be able to provide valuable insights into your performance and shed light on any blind spots you may have. Be open to feedback, as it can be a valuable tool for personal and professional

Step 3: Choose What’s Next For You

Now is the fun part: you get to decide what’s next! While it may initially seem like a daunting decision, this can be a golden opportunity to reassess your professional goals, values, and aspirations. You get to ask yourself: what do I really want to do next?

Maybe you’ve always wanted to try out entrepreneurship? Maybe you’ve been in the same industry for too long and want a change of pace? Maybe the role you had did not bring out your best skills and you want to do something completely different? These are the questions to ask yourself that are going to shape your overall career satisfaction and personal growth.

Step 4: Start Applying

And if you’ve decided that you would like to get back on the horse, it’s now time to start applying to new roles! It may be tempting to just take your old resume and spam the “easy apply” button but that’s not going to do you any good. The first thing you should do is update your resume and LinkedIn profile to highlight the skills you gained and the impact you’ve made in the last few months.

Remember to tailor your resume based on the role that you’re applying for. If you’re looking to switch industries, it’s a good idea to be selective with what you include in your professional experience section by emphasizing certain roles and skills that align with your new field.

If you want to maximize your chances of getting the interview, one hack that I recommend to my career coaching clients is to look up the hiring team on LinkedIn and connect with them. Add a note to your connection request and let them know your interest in the role and the value you can bring to their team. That simple note can be the difference between you getting an interview or not!

Bonus Tip: Answering Interview Questions

It’s standard for recruiters to ask the reason why you left your old job. As a general rule of thumb, it’s best to approach this question with honesty and a positive mindset.

Even if your last job didn’t end on the best of terms, it’s not a good idea to bad mouth your former employer or colleagues. Instead, what I recommend is to reframe the conversation around the lessons you learned during the experience. This allows you to highlight your adaptability, a crucial transferable skill that all employers look for in their candidates.

Here’s a sample answer that can help:

My position was terminated in July 2022 after nine months with the team. I learned a lot in my short time there, but at the end of the day, it just wasn’t the right fit for either side. I think they were looking for someone with more specialized experience in paid media, while my expertise was more focused on SEO and content.

I also learned that I’m a better fit with roles that involve a bigger team, and that’s one of the reasons this opportunity caught my eye. I’m excited to pursue roles that bring out the best in my digital marketing experience and looking forward to learning more about this opportunity.

Getting fired can be unpleasant, and applying for a job after it can be downright daunting. However, it’s crucial to not treat it as the end of the world simply because it isn’t. The road to success is almost never straightforward. So hold your head high, keep walking, and know that your next opportunity could just be right around the corner. Keep moving forward!

Forbes.com Author:  Sho Dewan

 

Forbes.com | October 19, 2023

 

 

#YourCareer : What To Do — Besides Worry — Before You’re Laid-Off. Great Read!

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Waiting to learn if you will escape a looming layoff can sometimes be more stressful than losing your job. On the other hand, a study found the likelihood of developing a health condition increases by 83% in the first 15 to 18 months after a layoff, even for employees with no pre-existing health conditions.

This unsettling feeling is now known as Layoff Anxiety, a term that describes the emotions and health issues proceeding job cuts.

So what can we do beyond worrying while waiting for a layoff?

1. Deploy Defensive Pessimism

One way of making worry work to your advantage is by “taking your fear out to its extreme,” wrote executive coach Melody Wilding in a piece for Harvard Business Review. Deploying “defensive pessimism” is, according to Wilding, walking through your plan if you are laid off in detail to “anticipate how you will deal with obstacles such as your finances, health care, and finding a new job.” This strategy allows you to rehearse the worst-case scenario productively.

In the spirit of defensive pessimism, here are some options to consider instead of holding your breath in anticipation.

Experts recommend keeping enough money to cover three to six months of living expenses to replace lost income. Bestselling Author Bonnie Honeycutt listed the top three places to keep emergency funds, rather than in your checking account, as High-Yield Savings, Money Market Accounts, and Certificate of Deposits (CDs). Finding the extra money in advance to fund an emergency can prove challenging. Adding income sources is possible if your pennies are stretched beyond the pale.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

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Article continued …

2. Create An Emergency Fund

Experts recommend keeping enough money to cover three to six months of living expenses to replace lost income. Bestselling Author Bonnie Honeycutt listed the top three places to keep emergency funds, rather than in your checking account, as High-Yield Savings, Money Market Accounts, and Certificate of Deposits (CDs). Finding the extra money in advance to fund an emergency can prove challenging. Adding income sources is possible if your pennies are stretched beyond the pale.

Take heart:Walking the path of the worst-case scenario before it happensoften opens our eyes to the reality that a layoff doesn’t have to bepermanent. Although our time at one company may end, the journey of the rest of our lives begins when they let us go.

 

3. Nurture Your Side Hustle

Not putting all our eggs into one basket or diversifying our portfolio are age-old concepts. However, when it comes to full-time jobs, many employees push all their chips to the middle, betting on one source of income rather than exploring other options. I’ve been laid off twice in three years and can attest to the importance of having a little side income source. It kept the bills at bay.

Personal branding expert Stephen A. Hart believes that creating other offerings outside of your 9-5 helps maximize the skills we’ve acquired throughout a career. “We often discount the superpowers we’ve developed, but there is a lot that you can do and possibly teach,” Hart said in an email. “Begin by inventorying your acquired skills, talents, and wisdom. And look at ways you could create an offering to assist other people or organizations within your industry for a fee.” There are many quick ways to cash in on your knowledge, like coaching, consulting, and facilitating workshops.

4. Know Your Rights

Many factors play into layoffs, and the language used by employers significantly impacts workers. In her article for The Wall Street Journal, Vanessa Furham notes there are “some important differences between being furloughed, laid off or permanently terminated, and it could mean the difference between having healthcare coverage or not.” Another area to consider is that severance is only sometimes an option, and often companies forgo paying out unused vacation. All the more reason to use it before you lose it, in this case, forever. Knowing your rights and options before getting laid off can slice down the element of surprise when the news arrives.

Take heart: Walking the path of the worst-case scenario before it happens often opens our eyes to the reality that a layoff doesn’t have to be permanent. Although our time at one company may end, the journey of the rest of our lives begins when they let us go.

Forbes.com Author: Jennifer Magley

 

Forbes.com | May 18, 2023

 

 

 

 

#JobSearch : A Survival Guide for When You’ve Been Laid Off. Here is What you Need to Know, and Need to Do. Great REad for All!

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You can’t predict whether you’ll be laid off, but you can have a solid plan in case it happens.  The rapid succession of layoff announcements at Meta Platforms Inc., Twitter Inc. and other technology companies have put some workers on edge, and not just in Silicon Valley. AMC Networks Inc. recently said it is planning to lay off about 20% of its U.S. employees.

What to do immediately after

First, figure out what kind of separation this is—which often is more important than the reason your company is letting you go. There are some important differences between being furloughed, laid off or permanently terminated and it could mean the difference between having healthcare coverage or not. If you were fired, ask whether you will receive severance pay, as well as how you will be compensated for any unused vacation days. You could also be eligible for unemployment benefits in your state, depending on the circumstances.

Negotiate your exit, if you can

A severance package is sometimes offered to departing employees.

In many cases, severance pay isn’t required by law, but some companies have established policies for offering it. The typical formula for a severance package is one or two weeks of pay for each year of service. This is either negotiated when a job is offered or when a job is terminated.

Check your employer’s handbook or ask an HR representative about severance pay. You can negotiate for a variety of things, from more money, how the severance is paid, and continuing health insurance benefits, to services to help you land your next job. Don’t hesitate to explain your personal situation if necessary.

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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 …

Post on social media

One of the quickest ways to get a job lately has been to announce on social media that you were laid off. There are a couple of big benefits to this practice: Your network will take note and offer to help amplify your message, and people who want to hire will feel welcomed to call.

Career coaches advise that job seekers who post online steer clear of bitterness, signal an appreciation of their time at their former employer and say they are excited to find a new adventure.

Reach out to friends and family

After a job loss, it is important to stay connected to people who will support you.

Many laid-off employees can feel directionless and lose their sense of self. To avoid that situation, career experts say it is important to reach out to your network, your family and your friends. Create a routine that will give you a sense of productivity, whether that means sending out a certain number of job applications a day, working on a new hobby, or a daily workout. Setting yourself up for small wins can help you regain a sense of control over your life.

Reach out to your network

Now is a great time to power up your roster of go-to professional contacts. It is daunting to put yourself out there and ask for favors, but if you have been laid off, this is the time.

Sign up for The Wall Street Journal’s five-week networking challenge, designed to take the guesswork and anxiety out of developing contacts into relationships. The challenge starts when you sign up. Over five weeks, you will learn how to build a list of powerful allies, gracefully ask for help, and revive old connections to help you with your job search.

If you weren’t the one laid off, here’s how to reach out

Losing a friend at work or seeing friends get laid off is stressful. Don’t pretend it isn’t happening: The worst thing to do is to do nothing—even if you’re not sure what to say. Say something simple, such as “I’m so sorry,” and only offer help if you’re willing to follow through. Here are more tips on how to be a good friend or colleague.

WSJ.com | December 2, 2022 |  Vanessa Fuhrmans

 

#JobSearch : Concerned About Layoffs? 7 Actions To Take In Advance Of A Career Disruption. Great Holiday Project. MUst REad for All!

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Morgan Stanley, Pratt & Whitney and DoorDash are among the companies recently announcing layoffs. With downsizing affecting different industries and small to large companies, it makes sense to be prepared for a disruption in your employment – a job search “go kit” as Boyer Management Group puts it. This is especially true if there is an organizational change, such as a company merger as in JP’s case, or a change in leadership or company strategy.

Request: The company merged, layoffs are coming, and I need to prep for a transition. – JP

Answer: Especially with a turbulent jobs market, you might write something on having your job search “go kit“ ready in the event that his or her job situation can change suddenly in this economy. – Boyer Management Group

This isn’t about encouraging unnecessary anxiety, but rather, being proactive while things are still calm so that you are several moves ahead if something does happen. By taking preemptive action in advance of a career disruption you’ll be able to transition quickly into an active job search. Speed is especially important if you financially need to land your next job quickly and also to stay ahead of all the other job seekers who are laid off alongside you.

Here are seven actions you can take now that will enable you to bounce back from a layoff more quickly:

1 – Confirm your existing severance policy

It’s helpful to review your severance policy when you don’t need it, so there aren’t any negative feelings clouding your judgment. With a clear head, you can list any questions you need to research further, as well as think about what you might negotiate for should a layoff occur. Knowing what you’re entitled to allows you to plan how much runway you have to find your next job and therefore more realistically plan your job search.

 

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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 …

2 – Run your numbers

Severance is just one piece of your financial puzzle. You might have savings, another salary in the household or other income sources that will affect the deadline for your job search. Yes, you could wait till you’re laid off to do this accounting. However, knowing your numbers sooner than later gives you more time to plan. You might realize you have more time to look and want to go after a career pivot. Or, you might pursue a longtime dream to start a business or take a longer sabbatical.

3 – Explore lateral move prospects

On the flip side, your numbers might show you can’t afford much, if any, time off. If that’s the case, one of the fastest ways to land quickly is to move within the company. Know what the company policy is for exploring openings in other departments, subsidiaries or regional offices. See if you can find examples of people who have moved from one role to another, or who started as employees and are now consultants. Consulting to your company is also an option — even when a company lays staff off, they may still need the work done and would be willing to hire back staff on a contract basis.

4 – Collect contact information for references and supportive colleagues

Hoping to land within your same company is just one option, and the most productive job searches keep multiple options in play at a time. This means, you’ll want to be ready for an external job search, and that means having professional references for your work, as well as supportive colleagues who can point leads in your direction. Once you leave your company, you leave your equipment and your email platform behind. Make sure that you have in your personal phone and personal email the contact information for all the people with whom you want and need to stay in touch.

5 – Rekindle key external connections

In addition to current colleagues, your network should extend outside your company. (Networking done correctly doesn’t tip off your company that you’re looking!) Former colleagues, social relationships, even classmates from years or decades back are potential resources for your job search. If you have let these relationships lapse, take time now, while you aren’t looking and don’t need anything, to get back in touch with your extended network and rekindle lost connections.

6 – Update your marketing material

Update your resume and LinkedIn profile to reflect your most recent role and accomplishments. As you rekindle outside connections, you may find yourself catching people up on what you’ve been working on – that’s a mini cover-letter. If you catch up over coffee, your introduction is a networking pitch that will help you later in career fairs and interviews.

7 – Itemize the help you need

As you pull these items together – your marketing material, contact list, references, relevant financial numbers – you’ll find some actions easier to complete than others. This gives you an important early indication of where you’ll need help in your job search. Start thinking now about how you’ll get that help – whether you have a mentor or coach you can tap, what your alma mater or local library offers, what books or blogs you can start reading.

Positioning yourself to bounce back from a layoff will help you even if you’re never laid off

A bonus of working on your job search go kit is that these actions will help you even if you don’t use the actual tools in your kit. Knowing your numbers gives you peace of mind or a much-needed jumpstart to save more. Having updated marketing material helps you take advantage of unexpected recruiter calls – or the next opportunity to ask for a promotion or raise. Preparing for the worst increases your resilience and confidence, so you can focus on performing on the job – or taking a much-needed rest for the holidays.

 

Forbes.com | December 23, 2022 | Caroline Ceniza-Levine

 

#YourCareer : You May Be Quiet Quitting, But Could Your Boss Be Quietly Firing You? A MUst REAd for All!

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Quiet firing is a largely unreported trend that has been going on for years. You may have experienced this directly, but didn’t know that there was an actual thought process and concerted effort on the part of the manager to get rid of you.

If you ever wondered why you felt persecuted and targeted, here’s what happens with quiet firings.

The Manager Has Something Against You

Sometimes a manager just doesn’t like you. The workforce isn’t different from the outside world. You become friends with some people and avoid others. The people you enjoy may share common interests and are generally on the same wavelength as you. The people you exclude from your inner circle may have different opinions or personalities that don’t resonate with you.

Bosses are human—despite what most people think—and anoint certain workers as rock stars and lavish them with attention, career-enhancing assignments, promotions, boosts in salaries, bonuses and corporate titles.

Conversely, if the supervisor never takes a liking to you, the treatment ranges from disinterest to making your work life so unbearable that you quit of your own accord.

Making Your Work-Life Miserable

To shove you out the door, the team leader will give you the worst tasks. They’ll criticize everything you do. In your boss’ eyes, you can’t do anything right. In front of co-workers, they’ll yell at you for making a minor mistake and treat it as if it is a catastrophe. You won’t be invited to important meetings. There will be conflated reasons for why you didn’t deserve a raise, promotion, stock options or bonus.

The manager will openly talk poorly about you in front of others. The staff gets the message that you’re being targeted and will withdraw from interest in you, as they don’t want to invoke the anger and wrath of the boss.

Unrelenting criticism, public humiliations, nagging, fault finding, thwarting any chances of advancements and souring senior management on you will eventually wear you down. There is only so much abuse you can take.

After a while, you realize that things will never change. You start quietly quitting, getting in touch with recruiters and searching for a new job. You figure you’d rather leave of your own accord than continue being punished and ultimately fired.

Some companies prefer to make life uncomfortable for workers, so they depart of their own volition. With attrition, businesses won’t attract the headlines, touting the number of people laid off. They also may not have to pay severance packages.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

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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 …

It’s Not Your Fault; It’s Just Business

After a blazing hot economy and job market in 2021, out-of-control inflation, recessionary worries, armed conflicts in Eastern Europe, supply chain disruptions, higher interest rates and other factors substantially cooled down the growth and enthusiasm. Businesses regularly announce job cuts, hiring freezes and job-offer rescissions on a daily basis.

The unpleasant reality is that managers are tasked with determining who will stay or be selected for a layoff when conditions deteriorate and the company needs to cut costs. It’s not an easy spot for the manager to be in. They’re told by senior management to evaluate their team and ascertain a ranking of the top performers down to the least productive members. The lower-ranked people are now in jeopardy of being part of the next round of layoffs. You may be a solid performer, but unfortunately someone has to go.

Why You Feel Micromanaged And Under Surveillance

In today’s litigious society, supervisors need to be careful before terminating an employee. The firing could cause the impacted person to claim that they were discriminated against and take legal action. An accompanying public relations nightmare and backlash will ensue, sullying the organization’s reputation.

To avoid this landmine, the manager needs to document why the person was chosen to be let go. They need to continually watch over your work product and offer constructive criticism when mistakes are made or a failure to meet the required goals.

Notes will be made to your file to create a paper trail of reasons as to why your performance was not up to standards. You’ll be called into meetings with senior-level executives to discuss your shortcomings and deficiencies. This sets up the paper trail leading up to the firing.

You’ll feel watchful eyes upon your every move. The manager will feel out your co-workers, clients and other collaborators to gain a sense of the quality of your work. Intrusive stealth surveillance software may be loaded onto your computer to see if you are actually working or surfing social media, online shopping or watching TikTok videos.

Sorry, It’s Time For You To Go

As the situation worsens at work, the company now possesses all the documentation to add you to the list of layoffs. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you are a bad employee or did something wrong.

Sadly, when companies are forced to cut costs, it’s the worker who gets the shaft. The C-suite needs to watch over the organization’s finances and reducing headcount is one of their go-to solutions. Try not to take it personally, as it’s only business.

Before Giving Up, Try Talking To The Boss

Although it may be a lost cause, you may want to have a conversation with your boss. Share with your manager that you feel that you’re being unfairly persecuted. Provide facts, data and any correspondence from co-workers and clients that show you are in fact a productive worker and good at your job.

Try to clear the air. Since you have nothing to lose at this point, be direct. Let the boss know that you are cognizant that there is a target on your back, believe the criticisms are unjustified and the rude comments made in front of colleagues are inappropriate and uncalled for.

Inquire if there is a way to reboot the relationship. It could start right now with an honest, nonconfrontational conversation in which both parties speak freely and actually listen to what the other person says.

Call for a fresh new start, which will include incorporating all of the feedback the boss has offered. Since it’s a two-way street, the manager must put aside their animosity and view you in a fresh new light untainted by past prejudices.

 

Forbes.com | August 25, 2022 | Jack Kelly 

#YourCareer : Laid Off, Furloughed or Fired: Understanding the Differences. MUst REad for All!

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Innovation and reinvention are common themes in the modern workplace. This can often result in shifting resource allocation and employee headcount. The coronavirus pandemic has also resulted in many workers losing their jobs, temporarily or longer term. Regardless of economic conditions, employers cut staff for various reasons. It is unlikely that you will work for the same employer from college graduation to retirement the way some in previous generations did. You could face a sudden change in your employment status at any point in your life.

Human resources and career experts say it is important to be prepared and to understand your position.

1. Furloughed vs. laid off vs. fired: What are the differences?

“We have to let you go.” This phrase no employee wants to hear can also be accompanied by some confusion. There are some important differences between being furloughed, laid off or permanently terminated, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. Not all employers make accurate and consistent use of the terminology, so it is also important to understand the context of the separation. If you find yourself having this conversation with your employer, be sure to ask questions to figure out what it means for you.

Terms you should know:

  • Furlough: A temporary reduction in hours where an employee remains on the payroll but isn’t actively working or is on a reduced schedule. In some cases, an employee may be furloughed without work for weeks or months. Alternatively, an employee may work fewer days a week and take home a smaller paycheck. Furloughed employees may have an easier transition back to work because they remain on the payroll and usually maintain benefits like health insurance.
  • Layoff: A layoff is usually a temporary dismissal, during which the employer intends to rehire the worker. Layoffs often convert into a permanent separation if the employer doesn’t rehire the employee. Layoffs often don’t have predetermined time periods, and could last for weeks to months. They occur when work is no longer available at no fault of the employee. Usually, a layoff means an employee is removed from the payroll and stops receiving benefits such as health insurance.
  • Permanent separation: A termination without intention of calling the employee back. Depending on the context, this type of termination could include a so-called “reduction in force” or a firing. Employers can offer reasons such as elimination of a particular position, budgetary constraints, misconduct, violation of company policies or an employee not being the right “fit” for a role.

 

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Article continued …

It is important to understand the distinctions. A clear understanding of whether you are being furloughed, laid off or permanently terminated could mean the difference between having health-care coverage or not.

If you are laid off or fired for reasons unrelated to conduct, you will typically lose your health-care coverage, though you may be able to continue your existing plan under Cobra, or the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, a federal law that allows employees to continue their employer-provided health insurance. However, you will probably have to foot the bill for 100% of the cost of the plan.

Under furlough, on the other hand, employees usually keep their health-care benefits, but not in every case, says Amber Clayton, HR Knowledge Center Director at Society for Human Resource Management. She says that some employers’ health-care plans only cover employees who work a certain number of hours a week, which could mean furloughed staff lose eligibility.

Employers and workers should both keep a close eye on the language in their insurance policies in the event of a furlough.

In brief
  • A furlough is a reduction in hours, while a layoff is a temporary dismissal.
  • If you are fired it might be called permanent separation and could be due to your position being cut, budgetary constraints or misconduct.
  • Your benefit entitlement may differ depending on which situation you are in.
  • It is important to assess your skill set and plan your next move.
  • Take steps to keep your mind-set positive
2. Think about what is next.

Loss of income is a big financial burden for most people. A 2019 study by the Federal Reserve found roughly four in 10 Americans wouldn’t be able to come up with $400 in a financial emergency. It is important to come up with a plan to support yourself during your period of unemployment, whether that means taking out a loan, filing for unemployment benefits or taking on a different type of work than you are used to.

The next-step checklist:

  • Communicate with your employer. If you have been furloughed, check in regularly with your manager to get updates on the timeline for when you can return to work. If you were laid off or your position was permanently terminated, don’t be afraid to ask HR if there are other opportunities or open positions at the company that you can explore.
  • Get your finances in order. Even if your separation is a temporary layoff or furlough, you can and should look for other work. This is also a way to ensure that you get at least partial unemployment benefits, which you can apply for at your state’s unemployment insurance office. Some states require applicants to prove they have been actively looking for work. You have every right to work another job while you are furloughed.
  • Look for different types of work. If you are having trouble finding open positions similar to your last one, start thinking outside the box. “Think in terms of a portfolio rather than thinking in terms of a singular skill, singular professional, or singular career,” says Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva, founder of Reinvention Academy, a consulting firm focused on helping clients embrace change.

After you are laid off, furloughed or terminated, think about how you can use the time to diversify your skill set. Consider taking on a new kind of job that you might not have considered before. “Think of it as an opportunity to develop a skill and get paid for it,” says Dr. Zhexembayeva. She compares our career paths to journeys. “We all have a kind of bigger project, like a highway, but we also have country roads in the form of little side hustles.”

3. Getting laid off or fired may require you to shift your mind-set.

It is normal to feel anxious or upset about the loss of a job, especially when it contributes to financial stress. Try to channel your negative energy into positive action as much as you can. Remember that change is normal.

On average, U.S. employees had spent a little over four years in a job in January 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For workers ages 25 to 34, that average was just 2.8 years.

“If you are changing careers by choice or because somebody made that choice for you, the No. 1 thing is to stop thinking of it as something shameful,” says Dr. Zhexembayeva. “You are living in the world, and you will be facing a lot of disruptions. It’s not the fact that you avoid the disruptions that make you [a] success, it’s the fact that you stand up and keep going that makes you successful.”

Try these tips for positive thinking:

  • Write down your strengths. Make a list of your professional wins over the past year and use that to structure an action plan on how you will do more of it.
  • Practice mindfulness exercises. This doesn’t just have to come in the form of meditation.Any repetitive activity that you don’t find stressful will do, from running to cooking.
  • Get creative. Think about the skills you have that you could monetize. Do some research on how other people have made money with the same expertise.
Resources
  • Your local unemployment office. Not only can you file for unemployment benefits there, but these offices often offer resources to job seekers such as résumé-writing courses and interview practice.
  • Try a “Fear to Action” exercise. These free exercises can help you figure out the next steps you can take by drawing connections between your fears and their potential impact.
  • LinkedIn and Glassdoor. Set job alerts for your industry.
What to do next
 WSJ.com | February 24, 2021 | By Alex Janin 

#JobSearch : What to do if Suddenly Unemployed. Here are Some Things you Can do Right Way.

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When I was laid off from my sales job in my early 20’s, I was shattered.  It was a blessing but back then, I was terrified. I was living alone, paycheck to paycheck, and didn’t know anything about unemployment as I had been working since I was 15. I didn’t have savings, because I didn’t make much money and, you know, 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘴.

Today’s job seekers have such a wealth of resources available at their fingertips. Here are some things you can do right away:

FINANCES
✅ Apply for unemployment benefits. The sooner you do this, the sooner you’ll receive a check.
✅ Ask about health insurance. Will the company extend it? Check out healthcare dot gov for coverage.
✅ Look at your savings. Spend slowly, only pay monthly minimums. Ask for a loan, if possible.
✅ Talk to your lenders. Many will give you a two or three-month grace period before having to make a payment again.

 

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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 … 

RELATIONSHIPS

✅ 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀. Ask for a reference from your boss or co-workers before you leave. Not only will this help you while job searching, you’ll feel better as well.
✅ Reconnect with your network. Before you start sending out resumes, optimize your LinkedIn profile so your connections will know what you are up to when you reach out to them.

 

PLANNING

✅ Create or revise your career plan. Whether this came as a surprise or not, take time to develop your career plan. Ask yourself questions about what you want to do next. Do you want to stay in your current industry or try something new?

✅ Reward yourself when you reach milestones. When you’ve written a couple versions of your resume or cover letter, treat yourself to a nice dinner. When you’ve made the phone calls or reached out to your target companies, take a break and enjoy something you like to do.

 

ATTITUDE

✅ 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲. Remember, this is only temporary. You’ll be working again before you know it.

✅ Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Continually talking about it can create a rut that can be difficult to get out of. Take a day to reflect on the situation, then move forward.

 

If you find yourself unemployed, take a breath! Just remember, most people who want jobs have them. You will eventually have a job. So, think through your finances, your network, our plan, and keep a positive attitude. But keep taking steps forward. And if you need professional help with your career documents or coaching, don’t be afraid to ask for it.

 

FSC Career Blog Author:  Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog – April 6, 2021

#BestofFSCBlog : What to Do After You Get Fired. A MUst REAd for All!

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When Melissa Ben-Ishay was 24 years old, she was fired from her job as an assistant media planner for poor performance. She wasn’t passionate about the job, she says, and it showed. Still, she was disappointed, and thought it was unfair that she had been fired. She called her brother, Brian Bushell, who told her that getting fired was the best thing that could happen to her.

Ms. Ben-Ishay was known among her family and friends for baking tie-dye cupcakes. “‘Go home and bake your cupcakes,’” she says her brother told her. “‘We’ll start a business out of it.’”

Twelve years later, Ms. Ben-Ishay is the chief executive of “Baked by Melissa,” which has 14 locations in New York and New Jersey and ships cupcakes nationwide. “It’s very difficult to see losing your job as an opportunity when you’re in it,” Ms. Ben-Ishay says. But if you have a positive outlook, you can also bounce back after being fired, she says.

Take time to process the loss before trying to get a job.

The first thing you should do is take some time to reflect, says Ebony Joyce, a career coach and founder of Next Level Career Services. You can take some time to collect yourself, and don’t need to start applying for new jobs the same day.

“You want to allow yourself some grace,” Ms. Joyce says. “Give yourself the opportunity and have a positive mindset regardless of the reason why it happened.”

Negotiate your severance package.

Depending on where you work, you might have an exit interview with a human-resources representative. You should ask whether you will receive severance pay, as well as how you will be compensated for any unused vacation days. Remember that you can negotiate within reason. During this conversation, make sure the employer has your current postal and email addresses in case there are any questions.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

Check whether you are eligible to apply for unemployment benefits.

To collect these benefits, you must be unemployed through “no fault of your own,” according to the Labor Department. That means if you were fired for misconduct, which could include causes such as stealing, lying or harassment, you will not be eligible. But if you were fired because you weren’t a good fit for the job or because you lack skills, you might be eligible for benefits, depending on where you live. You can learn more about eligibility in your state at CareerOneStop.

“It’s very difficult to see losing your job as an opportunity when you’re in it.”

                                                                                                                                                                                             — Melissa Ben-Ishay, Baked by Melissa

Take time to grieve if you were fired.

There are stages of grief when you lose a job, just as there are when you experience other types of losses, and it is normal to mourn the loss of a job or your career as it once was, says Jenny Logullo, a career coach and founder of Workplace Worth Academy. After you have taken time to grieve, you can begin to move forward, assess your skills and make intentional choices about what you would like to do next, she says.

Surround yourself with people who support you.

After Ms. Ben-Ishay was fired, she found support from her older brother, who encouraged her to keep going with her business even when she doubted herself. She recommends finding a support network: “Now more than ever, it’s so incredibly important to surround yourself with people who support you and have that confidence in you when you don’t necessarily have it in yourself.”

Think about how to frame a potential employment gap.

Typically, when you are fired, there was an action that you either took or did not take, says Ms. Logullo. Your next employer will want to know why you left the position, she says. So you will need to craft an explanation that demonstrates that you recognize what happened, and acknowledge what you did or did not do in your previous role so you can learn from it and correct for it in the future. Instead of saying, for example, “They weren’t happy with my performance,” you can say the position wasn’t a perfect fit, and you are excited to learn and build skills in a certain area in the future. “That kind of outcome-driven story is so much more motivating and promising,” she says. Think about how you will address a potential employment gap as you update your résumé, craft cover letters and prepare for your next interview.

Look at your job loss as an opportunity.

There is good that can come out of the situation, Ms. Ben-Ishay says, and you should try to stay positive and hopeful. “I think you are the way you respond to the things that happen that are out of your control,” she says. “Those moments define you.”

Resources
  • A state-by-state list of unemployment insurance contacts from the Department of Labor.
  • CareerOneStop may provide more information about unemployment benefits in your state.
What to read next
Further reading
The Debate in HR: What’s the Best Way to Fire Someone?

 

WSJ.com | March 3, 2021 | Allison Pohle

#BestofFSCBlog : #JobSearch – How to Deal with a Termination on a Resume. Great Two(2) Min Read!

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Your employer just let you go. You need to find another job, but how should you handle your termination on your resume? The days when you signed on with a company and stayed with it until retirement are gone. In today’s climate, employers are much more understanding when they see a less-than-perfect work chronology, but you still have to be careful how and when you present a termination.

Remember, your resume is a marketing piece:  positive, upbeat, and selling yourself to a potential employer. There are many reasons someone gets fired, some outside of your control. It could be corporate politics, downsizing, or poor management. But presenting the information correctly is important.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

Do not put the termination or the circumstances surrounding it on your resume. You will have a much better chance of impressing hiring managers if you deal with this question in face-to-face interviews.
If you were recently let go, resist the urge to keep your position listed as “to present” on your resume, giving the appearance that you’re still employed. You will have to explain yourself later on, and potential employers might think you tried to mislead them.

It’s a different matter if you were laid off instead of fired. In this case, you can mention the lay off in your cover letter. Employers are more forgiving of layoffs, so mentioning this might work in your favor.

Focus on your accomplishments in your resume. Your goal is to wow your potential employers by highlighting those accomplishments and skills. Even if hiring managers are wondering why you left a certain employer, your resume should be strong enough for you to receive invitations to interviews in which you can explain your situation in person.

Be sure to list all of your contributions to a previous employer, even any that laid you off. This too can be a red flag to hiring managers. Talk about your responsibilities, overall contributions to the company, and if you received any awards or special recognition. All of this will go a long way in your favor and that’s what you want.

No matter how the termination came about, you still learned skills and accomplished things at the job. Focus on these aspects when creating your resume, presenting the best pieces. But be ready to answer what you learned about losing the job as well. Being able to pick yourself up after a fall speaks to your resilience and ability to learn from mistakes.

 

FSC Career Author:  Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog – January 16, 2021