How can you lessen the shock of a sudden change from ‘employed’ to ‘unemployed’? asks Kemetia Foley
For the last three years, I have been working with the underemployed and unemployed in our region to review and re-introduce key communication concepts, to build a stronger, more confident foundation to showcase their capabilities and experiences.
What I did not anticipate was the number of individuals woefully unprepared for a rapid change in their employment status. I have been in those shoes! I know how incredibly challenging and disheartening that instance is – to feel that one is providing value to an organization, to have a steady paycheck and benefits, and then *POOF* it is gone.
Many situations are out of the employees’ control: bad financial stewardship of the company; company products being recalled; industry decline, etc.
What are the factors that require the individual to make some tough decisions about next steps? Most importantly, what are the immediate steps one can take before the situation becomes critical?
Case Study
JK has worked in a town of 25,000 people as a Senior Executive Assistant for a manufacturing firm for 15 years. Their pay includes company contributions towards benefits of medical and dental. Employees can contribute to a 401(k) retirement savings plan, but the company does not match. JK has another 10 years on a mortgage, and their adult child pays $200/month towards the bills.
JK has had the same boss for the entire 15 years. They know the database system the company uses, which was custom coded for the organization. They have an intermediate knowledge of Outlook and can navigate and utilize the custom Excel templates and reports the finance manager created for that department. JK’s manager is thrilled with their work and lets them know they are so glad JK knows the system so well. They’d be lost without them. And JK loves the job, which is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an hour lunch. They are paid $28 per hour. The company offers approved overtime, but no annual raises, just bonuses.
JK has taken a few online classes but has obtained no certifications. JK distrusts social media accounts because of bullying and spamming. Besides, they work with everyone they need to know. Because it is an industry town about 25 miles from the nearest major city, few people travel to the city, preferring to save gas or enjoy their time at home. A handful of JK’s colleagues and neighbors work a second job.
JK arrives at work on a Monday to find colleagues in the parking lot; they are angry and crying. The company doors are locked. There is a note that the company has filed for bankruptcy and that management will reach out to employees individually to manage their last paycheck.
JK is in shock. They did not see this coming. What now?
This is a fairly common occurrence. By no means am I putting the onus on JK to have seen the issue coming with the company. (Certainly, some administrative professionals would expect a colleague with a Senior EA title to see things coming, but in the States, the title does not always reflect educational level, experience, competencies, or skills.) But here’s what tends to happen (and this is U.S.-based):
- JK will go to the unemployment office and at the intake find out what eligibility they have and how long the unemployment benefits will last.
- If the unemployment system for that particular region or state is robust, the newly unemployed person will be offered career and employment counseling options.
- JK will create a resume and start applying to online job advertisements, with or without the assistance of others or a recruiter. They may ask friends, family, or neighbors about any opportunities.
- JK encounters many frustrations, as they are not familiar with the current world of online job searching, much less informed about how job boards and recruiting firms operate.
I think about Lucy Brazier OBE and her prediction regarding the state of the administrative profession – that an administrative support person will either move into a project lead type role or another role with advanced skills and responsibilities, or they will be left behind.
I have experienced it, learned from it, as well as witnessed it in others. It is heartbreaking to witness.
What steps can an administrative or executive support professional take to place themselves in a better position for these circumstances? These apply to all professions, not just this career field.
Where are the opportunities missed?
Know Who YOU Are!
Can you succinctly describe yourself and your skills in under five minutes? My elevator pitch would sound like this:
I train and educate workforce development participants, of all ages, about the communication and hard skills needed to move their careers forward with an empathetic, sometimes humorous, yet realistic approach based on WorkReadyNH curriculum objectives.
(Where’s Kemetia in this? Keywords: humorous, realistic, empathetic. That’s who I am!)
Know What You KNOW! (And Be Able to Speak to It)
Do you truly know your top five skills? Top five traits? Can you rattle them off if asked? Can you verbalize them differently based on your audience?
What would they be? Some examples might sound like:
- International travel planning
- Navigating the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office system
- Creating complex data graphics using data visualization tools such as Tableau
- Establishing file naming protocols for our department’s shared drive, making it far easier and more efficient to retrieve documents
Avoid Networking at Your Own Peril
There’s a difference between networking in-person, online, and within your organization. Oftentimes people wait entirely too long to build that network of peers. You may have worked with me five years ago, but did I know you? Did I ever go to you with questions or for help with a project? Or vice versa? How can I speak to your capabilities or experience if I only met you one time? How can I help you? I can provide a list of resources, but I am not going to recommend you because I don’t know you and my reputation is at stake! Yes, it takes time and effort to go to networking events or to belong to a professional organization, but in the long run it is a benefit that will pay off with a better, more expansive list of people that just might be able to connect you with a company, a colleague, or a recruiter.
Pay Attention to Workplace Trends and Learning
Use a search or query tool to find out the top three skills employers in your region are looking for in a candidate. Or utilize job sites to review what the current positions are asking for in terms of skills that you don’t have. Pick one. Start learning it. Earn a certificate in it. Document that learning on your resume and on LinkedIn.
Get Recommendations in Advance
Be sure to have the personal contact information of any manager or supervisor that has written your evaluations. If they leave, you’ll want to be able to reach them should you need a reference. Even better, ask your manager, supervisor, or colleague that knows your work best for a LinkedIn recommendation. Do this BEFORE you are looking for another position.
Other factors impacting employment:
- Geographic, industry, and economic demographics
- Personal matters that can impact flexibility for work scenarios (reliable transportation, childcare availability, elder-care needs, etc.)
Remaining relevant is important, but so is remaining connected. Your resume should always be up-to-date. Remain connected and involved in the world around you. Pick just one thing, just one piece that you know you can work on, you can learn about. Take that one step. I suspect you’ll be glad you did.
