If we’re in a recession and I’m not sure yet, it will be the seventh one that I have seen in my experience. I got into this profession in 1973 in the middle of a recession and just didn’t know any better. I remember coming out of higher education and just plain not knowing any better. I was unaware that it may not be a ‘smart move’ to get into the, what was then called, “the employment agency business.”
Our profession is always on the tail end of whatever the economy is experiencing. The people we placed this month started interviewing in the latter part of 2022. Just recalling the last four recessions, 1986, when real estate, banking and oil and gas all went on their butt at the same time in Dallas Texas, the dot bomb, 9/11 and 2008, I realize that kind of hiring we’ve seen up until recently won’t pick up again until companies out there have more confidence in themselves. Expansion and hiring are not things that companies do unless they feel the economy is stable and growing. Let’s face it, we’ve had 10 years of pretty excellent growth in the economy and we all knew that it was bound to get “corrected” somewhere along the line. That’s free enterprise. We just didn’t think something like a virus would cause it.
Life is uncertain! Plan for the best but prepare for the worst.
So, this is all nice theory to talk about, but even understanding it doesn’t help the 68-year-old engineer who got laid off today and called us, not having any idea what to do. I don’t know if understanding this helps the administrative assistant that we placed four weeks ago who got laid off yesterday. I know it’s really easy, but rather glib to simply say “well, just hang in there things will get better.” We all know that things are going to get better…we just don’t know when. And that’s the problem.
The people who are actively looking for a job full-time must take action, by following key principles of Prayer, Planning, and Performance.
Prayer
Even if you don’t believe in it… start now. Don’t bemoan the fact that you got laid off and call 10 other people to complain about it.
Plan
Update your resume, LinkedIn account, and make sure you’re going to be able to get a good reference from the people you have most recently been working for/with.
Perform
Volunteer in your industry, network, and set-up interviews in search of the next job opportunity.
One bit of good news. . . .an assistant controller we placed with the company about seven months ago got laid off from that company two or three months ago. The controller called her last week and said that laying her off was one of the biggest mistakes he had ever made and he hired her back! Good things do happen! She was ecstatic but her hard work and good attitude kept the door open for re-hire.
Have faith/believe and keep a good attitude, this too will pass and you will be better for it in the end.
