PREPARING FOR YOUR TERMINATION My reader(s) have been clamoring for more of my insightful and relevant look at job hunting (as the title of this journal suggests) so here we go again.
A few centuries ago a standard part of the office decor was a human skull (See Durer's engraving of St. Jerome at work in his study) called a memento mori, to remind the user that he or she must die. The modern day equivalent everyone should have (even if they do not work in an office) is a manila folder or envelope labeled IN CASE OF MY TERMINATION or for the squeamish label it IN CASE OF MY OUTPLACEMENT. Let's face it Downsizing, Rightsizing, Reductions in Workforce are a way of life in the workplace today. Companies have been told by most state courts that they can fire at will and even unions no longer have the power to protect their workers the way they use to (just ask the airline unions).
The manila envelope or folder should contain the following nine items:
- An up to date resume complete with accomplishments and skills.
- Your performance appraisals.
- Your compensation history.
- A contact list containing:
- People you know in your industry complete with telephone numbers.
- Third party recruiters you have worked with in the past or you have heard good things about (they can be you best friend at a time like this).
- An immediate action plan to implement when you are told you are being terminated (probably the most important component of your folder) :
- Do not rant and rave no mater how unfairly you believe you are being treated! You can always hire a lawyer later.
- Ask what kind of severance package will I receive?
- Ask can I keep my telephone and desk while looking for another position?
- Will I get help from an outplacement firm?
- What will you say as to why I am leaving both at the present company and to prospective employers?
- Do your best not to sign anything until you have had a chance to calm down and/or get a lawyer to look at the paperwork.
- Resolve not to be Bullied.
- Resolve to ask your boss, coworkers and direct reports, "If you could make one suggestion on how I could improve on the job, what would it be?"
- A consumer guide to outplacement services for your area, in case you are asked to pick your own outplacement service or you are not comfortable with the one you are given.
- A list of outplacement alternatives such as:
- Consulting - As in "I'm not unemployed, I'm a consultant".
- Third party recruiting (be one of the few, the proud, the brave).
- Retirement
- Stockbroker.
- Realtor
- Insurance agent
- Purchase a Franchise
- Go back to school to learn a new trade or to move into a new industry, e.g. Healthcare
- The name and phone number of one or more employment lawyers and don't be afraid to use it.
- A list of wants and dreams because this might be the time execute one or more of them. As the book title suggests, "Do What You Love and The Money Will Follow".
Right now you are probably saying to yourself that you have plenty of time to start the IN CASE OF MY TERMINATION folder, and you would be WRONG! As a professional recruiter and former engineering manager, I have seen people terminated just a month or two of being wined and dined and hired by the company because; no one further up in the organization shared that a reorganization was coming with the hiring manager. Update your resume the first week you are on the job and try to complete the rest of the list within a month. Pull the list out every six months or so and make any changes to the resume, list of recruiters, etc. that are needed. I hope you never need this list but it is better to be safe than sorry.
3:58:29 PM 
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