Feelings, Part Deux

So, I know that I can trust God to take care of us; He's proven it over and over....why do I have this fist-sized knot in my stomach?

The easy answer is that I'm human, that I'm not fully trusting God, and I'm sure those are partly to blame.  More than that, I think it is unexpressed frustration and anger.   I know life isn't fair, but as I look at what is going on in my company ahead of the layoff, I am both saddened and angry that I have not had any input to the "big plans."

I watched as a VP touted the new plans as innovative and "course changing," and how excited HE is,  as HR will be taking care of everything that specialists (training, org development, recruiting, talent management--whatever that is) have spent considerable time developing expertise through study and practice.   My comment to my coworkers as we left the meeting was, "I hope if he ever gets a heart attack, that he'll have a GP (general practitioner) to care for him instead of a cardiac care specialist."   Maybe then he'll feel differently.

This is the logic that is currently being spouted from our corporate leadership--that HR people (they include us professional training and org development people in with them!) have to be able to be a jack of all trades.   They are entitled to that opinion, but my guess is that within 5 years, that "logic" will fall apart.   Of course the entire HRBP (HR Business Partner) is the concept du jour of the HR world, but I wonder how many business leaders look at this and snicker.

I've spent about 20 years in training and development, and personally, I consider it an insult to say that an HR Business Partner (should there have ever been an HR person who wasn't aligning their efforts to the business?) can take on training/OD as well as recruiting, compensation, benefits, etc. and perform well.   I know the years I've spent dedicated to training and OD and how much I am still learning.  I think it amusing to assume that because it is pronounced, HR employees will suddenly become expert in fields they've spent little time learning about and practicing in.

Well, I thought I'd feel better getting this off my chest, but it's just sunk down into my gut again.  This is going to be a fun Fall!

Feelings...woe, woe, woe feelings....

Not being a new comer to the job search discipline, you'd think by now that I wouldn't get too excited about having to go through the whole process again.....but you'd be wrong.

First and foremost, I know God in is control, but why do I feel like "this" on Sunday night before the first round of layoff notices go out tomorrow morning?   Perhaps it is the whole uncertainty of the future thing.  I like where I live, I like what I do, and even I like where I do it.  Who would want anything to change?    Even if you are miserable in your job, the prospect of being laid off and having to search again just seems to trump the other feelings of misery.   Of course, we'd all like to think that we're in control of our own destinies (an illusion), and having something happen to us is most disconcerting.

We all are disturbed at the prospect of change while in our comfort zone at a job, regardless of how "bad" we thought it was.   We realize the prospect of having no job at all is very real and no longer an academic discussion at lunch with our coworkers.  

I'm watching people who've been at my company 25+ years struggle with the feelings that go with the question "what will I do if I'm laid off," and that's just no fun to watch.  Mind you, I'm not having happy feelings at the prospect of being laid off, but I'm not struggling with feelings over the fact that the last time I had to look for a job was when Ronald Reagan was president.

Think about where you were 25 years ago and HOW you looked for a job.  Are newspapers still the first place you'd look for a job today?  Will you go "pounding pavement" and knocking on doors (you won't get past the security desk)?  Will you look for any job just to get into the company and work your way up?  If you've had to look for a job this century, you know that all three of the questions above no longer are possible (or are rarely possible).   This fact, in and of itself, can lead to panic.

I was at a job search resource group and sat down next to a man who'd been in his job with a large, well-known company for 25 years.  We talked a little, and though we were both out of work, I felt bad for him.   The only good thing I could tell him was that being at that job search group would help him tremendously and that he should throw himself fully in all its activities and workshops.  Still, there was a look of doom and gloom on his face that my encouragement just couldn't seem to erase.

Now, we all should keep the perspective that there's always someone worse off than I am, but even knowing I'm not months from retirement or have been in the company 25+ years with no clue how to find jobs in the outside world doesn't seem to make these butterflies settle down in my stomach.

"The Only Thing That Remains Constant is Change"

So, I am at my current job for a year and a few months, and I've now received news that there is going to be a 5% reduction in force.  Needless to say, there are a lot of "non-value added" discussions taking place around the office.  Everyone is wondering if they'll get the call.

The first thing I tell people when they hear this news is that no amount of worrying, scheming, nail biting, trash talking, etc. is going to change what's going to happen.  HR folks are looking at workforce and numbers, and in a large company, they surely do not know who they are cutting by recommending that Dept X cut heads by 10% vs. Dept. Y who is told to cut by 5%.  That's when I tell people to remember that God is in control of the company as well as our lives.

Even with that being the case, it is prudent to get your job search "machine" in motion.  Since you've kept your resume up to date (HAHAHAHA), you're at least 2 weeks ahead of everyone else.  Make sure you begin contacting your professional acquaintances (hopefully, you've never let those relationships slide) and let them know what's going down, and that you'd appreciate any input they have on the job market.  Also, now is the time to locate a few of the key job sites for your profession, and use an RSS reader to subscribe to job listings in your field and area so that you can review the jobs pulled to your reader quickly without having to wade through the muck of a gazillion job listings.  Get your resume out on a few job boards, into professional associations' job banks, and most of all---NETWORK with others in your profession to learn of opportunities and what has been happening in your field, since you most likely got lazy/busy for all the time you've been gainfully employed.

But first of all.....deal with your feelings.  I've talked to a couple at my company that have been with the company for a long time (20+ years) who think it may be "their time" to go.   If that is you, you'll have more emotions to deal with that many of the others, but it isn't the end of the world, just the end of the world as you've come to know it.  It may be that you are about to embark on a new chapter of your life, even if you thought the book of your life had been finished ages ago.  For most who fit that category, the timing stinks, as you are probably struggling with mid-life issues anyway, and now, your job, the thing you may have thought defined you, is going away.  Your life isn't going away, but you may feel like it is.

For the rest of us, it will be an emotional time until all of the layoffs happen, even if we don't think we have anything to worry about.  Of course, now is the time we start thinking about the Dave Ramseys of the world who try to get everyone to get out from under their debt.  Heavy consumer debt can make layoffs even seem more like the end of the world.  Get your spending under control, because you might need some cash for a rainy day very soon.

All-in-all, the emotional part of a layoff seems hardest to deal with for me.  I'd almost prefer for it to happen as it did for me a few years ago---rumors of layoffs were all around, but I didn't see it coming until the boss called me into his office one Friday morning.

Bottom line:  ALWAYS be ready to find a new job, and ALWAYS keep your networks warm.  In this or any economy, none of us know when/if the boss will insist that we come to his office on Friday morning.

Sadness...

I'm sure some who'll read this will write me off as a nut job, but having been given reasonable mental ability and a fascination with the behavior of human beings, I can only express sadness for the actions of many of our politicians (not leaders) of late.  The great men who founded this country would be shocked to see our government forcing anything on Americans, a majority of whom do not favor it.  The health care debacle will haunt us the rest of our lives and will negatively impact an already sad state of affairs for job seekers.

I so hope the coming years will prove me wrong.  This isn't 1964 with a large group of Americans being savagely discriminated against--many thought wrongly regarding discrimination and desegregation in those days.  This is 2010 with a mixed-race man in the White House who won't release his full birth certificate information, and who seems bent on taking America down a road to be just like "the rest of the world."  Folks, I don't know about you, but I don't want to be like the rest of the world--otherwise, I'd move there.  We have the highest standard of living in this country in the world, and if you've traveled anywhere outside the US, you know just how true this is.

That's why people come here anyway they can from everywhere, seeking the opportunities (not guarantees) that this country offers.  What I think is ironic is that some want to give it all away, not realizing that in doing so, they will make this country less desirable to live in, and in the process, take money away from people who are working hard and give it to someone else.  I think most Americans are very compassionate people, giving more money away than anyone else, trying to help other countries and other people.  Sure, we're not perfect, and even a cursory walk through US history would turn up big mistakes, but I believe that the collective desire of Americans is to do good and help other people, or so I was raised to believe.

Why is it that at this time, politicians force something on people that is clearly not supported by the majority?  Didn't Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence and address similar abuses that the colonists had to endure from England?  I don't begrudge helping to take care of people who can't help themselves, and I know that there are some who can't.  But I also know that there are some who can and choose not to.  By adopting the socialist model for healthcare, there will be no incentive for those people to work, since the government will meet their healthcare needs on top of their food, housing, etc. needs.   The poorest person in this country is richer than most of the rest of the world.  Healthcare is available and affordable, though we all like to whine about its cost.  For most Americans, we'd just have to play less and waste less money in order to pay for healthcare---if we were more responsible adults.

I know it sounds like I'm on a rant, but I just hate that I have to continue to work hard to provide for my family, and now a government already too big is telling me that I have to buy something whether I like it or not and help to pay for it for others who don't necessarily deserve it.   In addition, the economic impact on the country of adopting this plan will seriously impact the country.   People, we are seriously in debt, and we have politicians who insist that they way to get out of indebtedness is to spend more money!  This healthcare bill has the potential to send us into bankruptcy, and I'm still scratching my head when I hear people talking about what good managers the government will be--the same folks who bring you the IRS, Social Security, Medicare, the VA, etc.  Yep, quality management there.

I know liberals don't worry about things like the economy and personal responsibility for your station in life, that those who are concerned about such things are evil, capitalist robber-baron types, but most liberals don't mind the amenities (standard of living, freedom, etc.) that this country affords them.  Some decry capitalism as evil, but it is the nature of man that is evil and separated from God.  THAT is what produces abuses  in all forms of human government.  Say whatever you like, but we are losing our country in much the same way the Romans lost Rome (see http://www.thefreemanonline.org/featured/the-fall-of-rome-and-modern-parallels/) ---their worst enemy was their laziness and gluttony.  Government handouts/entitlements and suit-happy citizens and their shyster lawyers looking for quick wealth are easy illustrations of the laziness, envy, gluttony, and sad state of America.

Our country was founded by men who were sick and tired of having to endure unfair laws and rules imposed on them from afar, and I think that same mood exists in most Americans today....or, perhaps I'm wrong.  Perhaps most Americans would prefer to sit on their collective backsides, party, eat, play, and collect "free" money.   That is not what I signed on for in life, and as a Christian, that is not what I am called to.  I usually don't discuss this kind of thing, but it's just that watching this country implode like this is painful and sad.

Turned another year older recently, and I find that I no longer get excited about my birthdays.   It's not that I'm uptight about getting older (am I in denial?), it's just that it doesn't seem to be so big a deal.  The family is kind and wishes me well, as do some friends, business associates, my dentist, my graduate school, and a few others.

What was once the biggest holiday of the year next to Christmas is now a day I hope can just come and go without fanfare.  I do appreciate peoples' kindness, but it's really not a big deal.  Am I alone in this feeling?

Perhaps because it was such a big deal when I was a kid, my birthday is so tame now.  I look at what kids have for birthday parties now (especially a "Chuck E. Cheese's type of party) and what parents spend, and I wonder if there really is any celebration of the person.  The birthday boy or girl can't wait to get gifts, the kids can't wait to get party favors, and the parents can't wait for all of it to be over.   And when it is over, the countdown to the next year begins!

One thing my wife does every year on my birthday is to thank God for me--some of you may be laughing at this point.  It's very humbling to hear your spouse pray like that for you.  Here's a woman who has seen all of my moods, and many of them I am not very proud of, and she still loves me.  I don't think birthdays are about gifts; I think they're about knowing that you're loved and appreciated, and maybe, just maybe, you've made someone else's life even a little better for having been born.

As one radio talk show host once said, every man in middle age thinks it's the "big one" every time he has an ache or pain that is new to him.  He's right, of course, but so what if it would be the "big one?"  I have been blessed in every year I've been alive (even though some years I would have to search for the blessings), and if I die before finishing this blog entry, I know that I will instantly be in the presence of Jesus---an even more humbling experience.   He loves me, and He knows me far better than my wife--scary--and still loves me.  Can it get any better than that?

I Know I've Said This Before...

God is in control. Period. You will destroy yourself if you put the burden of return on your invested job-searching time on yourself. We have to be smart and work hard at job searching, but in the end, we do not control the process. My encouragement is to not let the process control YOU.

...and believe me, I know all too well how hard that is.

U.S. Job Seekers Exceed Openings by Record Ratio

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/business/economy/27jobs.html?_r=1&em

"Job seekers now outnumber openings six to one, the worst ratio since the government began tracking open positions in 2000. "

The last lines of the article: “I’ve learned that I can’t look to tomorrow,” she said. “Every day, I try to do the best I can. I say to myself, ‘I don’t control this process.’ That’s the only way you can look at it. Otherwise, you’d have to go up on the roof and crack your head open.”

So, I'm NOT Imagining Things...

Rebecca is spot on, again .... I just thought it was my imagination, seriously.

Job Search Seem Like It’s Getting Tougher? You’re Not Imagining Things

from The Interview Edge by Rebecca Metschke http://blog.theinterviewedge.com/the_interview_edge/2009/09/job-search-seem-like-its-getting-tougher-youre-not-imagining-things.html

It’s challenging trying to land a job right now – and getting more difficult. If you’ve been feeling the pinch and wondering if “it’s just you” rest assured…the phenomenon is real.

Two things are happening concurrently to create a perfect storm of sorts on the employment front.

First, the Labor Department reported last week that the number of available jobs has fallen by a staggering 50 percent-plus over the past two years; in July there were six unemployed people for every job opening. To put that into context, consider that at the beginning of the recession (December 2007) the ratio was 1.72 to 1.

For further comparison, during the height of the last recession’s lengthy jobless recovery the ratio was roughly 3 to 1. Because that was a much narrower downturn, you may not have felt the impact; ask the folks in the telecom industry, though – which was ravaged – and they will tell you the ratio seemed much worse than that.)

Then we have the fact that we’re in the midst of a buyer’s market, which only exacerbates the competition. Many employers with jobs to fill opt to bypass the unemployed and instead choose to set their sights on those who are still working.

This concept isn’t something new. There's almost always a preference on the part of hiring managers for passive candidates – people who are employed and not currently searching. Those folks are considered more desirable.

Various reports, however, indicate that the penchant for hiring companies to target only those who are employed elsewhere is on the rise. The belief is that if a person has made it through this extended downturn unscathed, there’s a good chance he or she could be a top-notch candidate. When you can afford to be choosey, candidates who've been laid off may not even get a first look. (This preference is extending across the board, from line workers to senior managers.)

This means unemployed job seekers are in waters that are only getting choppier.

I point this out not to discourage you – actually, just the opposite. Sometimes when the obstacles appear overwhelming, you can begin to doubt yourself. You might wonder what you’re doing wrong, or figure that surely you are contributing to the situation…when that may not be true at all.

Of course you should step back and objectively review your search strategy periodically to see what you can do differently or how you can be more effective. But the fact that you’re not making headway at the moment may not have anything to do with you. Sometimes circumstances simply are what they are, and the competition is extremely challenging.

Keep at it. Search smart, be creative, roll up your sleeves, understand it’s probably going to some time – but don’t give up.

The Interview Edge - required reading for people who are serious about their careers.

Waiting in a McDonald's Society

One thing most Americans aren't very good at is waiting, and that's just when we want to check out at WalMart. When it comes to waiting for the economy to turn around so that you can pay your bills, the lack of patience is a little better understood, but that lack of patience will do you about as good as yelling at the WalMart cashier to "hurry it up."

I wish I could report good news on the job home front, but like so many, I've noticed that things have slowed down to the point that I'm not getting the calls I used to.....though I am in a contract position at the moment and am very thankful for that!

__________________________________________________
Rebecca's blog is top notch.

August 18, 2009

What Lies Ahead?

by Rebecca Metschke

Rebecca Metschke is the author of The Interview Edge, a comprehensive guide for those who are serious about their careers. Visit http://blog.TheInterviewEdge.com for free tips and strategies to gain a professional advantage.

10% unemployment through 2011 and the jobless rate still at 7% in 2016?

That's one scenario included in a report published by the Kansas City Fed last week. This isn't scare tactic, doom and gloom forecasting, either. It's actually quite plausible.

As the authors point out, the banking crisis has been a key contributing factor during this recession, and it'll continue to shape the recovery. First, tight credit forced firms to aggressively cut payrolls as they tried to control operating expenses and conserve capital. Now, because they can't rely on short-term financing to make payroll, they're very reluctant to rehire.

"Severe and persistent" unemployment increases. After the economy has pulled out of recession.

I don't point this out to put a damper on your day. Rather, it's all about being informed and planning accordingly.

I'm all about career preparation - you should be, too.

Chart your course. The Interview Edge can help you do that; you can get to the book from this page.

Perspective

Lately, I struggle, as all job seekers do from time-to-time, with a "heightened sense of self"---that is, a preoccupation with my own, perceived miserable state.  Now mind you, I'm working a contract for a well-known company, so cash flow is still green, but it is a contract position.   There is some tentativeness in being a contract worker, but as I've told many people, we are all, in a sense, in contract positions.

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is fairly well-known (though his explanation of the human condition is incomplete), so I will state my struggle in these terms:  a job is a job, and that puts food on the table, but it does not guarantee that you feel a sense of esteem and self-actualization.   All this said (and I know many who are job-hunting, jobless, and under-employed would agree with the above), I wish I could maintain a proper perspective on life during a job hunting period.

I have a fellow church member in his 50s who is has had a surprising recovery from PANCREATIC cancer, but who is now facing an uncertain prognosis after recently learning he has liver cancer.   And here is the part that really cuts me really deep:  when I call him to see how he is doing, his first question is, "How is the job search going?  Have you heard back from company x?"  I try to update him quickly so that I can ask him how HE'S doing, as his issues are much more significant than mine, and because I'm embarrassed by the whining that he does not know I've done about job hunting.

Despite this awareness of my lack of perspective, and like the Israelites in the desert having seen great miracles of God in their lives, I complain to God--and feel guilty.   Perhaps my prayer ought to be, "Lord, give me the right perspective to give you thanks every day."  

When I was growing up, the only kind of rejection that seemed to really hurt was being turned down rudely for a date by the prettiest girl you'd ever seen.  But, eventually you got over it, because you knew there were "plenty of fish in the sea," and after all, you weren't worried about losing your house, car, 401K, etc. in the process.   When you experience job hunting rejection, the stakes are much higher than a bruised ego, and you sometimes feel as though you'll never land a new job.  The emotions can then take you into a death spiral of ever self-condemning emotions.

_____________________________________

Overcoming Job-Hunting Rejection

With each rejection, we lose a little more dignity. Here's how to turn things around.

This article from BusinessWeek discusses 21 actions you can take to bolster yourself and your job hunt.

http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/may2009/ca20090522_290737.htm?chan=careers_managing+index+page_top+stories

....and then there's this....

The Smart Way to Tap Social Media

Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn activity means nothing if it doesn't move the needle on your strategic business goals

http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/may2009/ca20090526_882141.htm?campaign_id=managing_related

12 ways to stave off job-hunting desperation

Not that I have any personal experience with this.....

12 ways to stave off job-hunting desperation

http://blogs. techrepublic. com.com/career/ ?p=669   April 1st, 2009   Author: Toni Bowers 

It´s not unrealistic to feel panicked and fearful when you´re unemployed in the present market, but panic and fear may be keeping you from landing another job. Here are tips on how to overcome those feelings and put your best foot forward.

This one just speaks to me right now....

Now, I'm not in a panic yet, but I'm starting to feel a little like a teenager without a date to the prom that is next week or the last kid to be picked for a team....I may not agree with every word below, but they are pretty dead on in this article.  I'd one a #12...Take it all to God in serious prayer.

12 ways to stave off job-hunting desperation

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/career/?p=669   April 1st, 2009   Author: Toni Bowers 

It´s not unrealistic to feel panicked and fearful when you´re unemployed in the present market, but panic and fear may be keeping you from landing another job. Here are tips on how to overcome those feelings and put your best foot forward.
------------ --------- --------- ---------
Mark Jaffe is an executive search firm president who was identified in 2008 as one of the "World´s 100 Most Influential Headhunters" by BusinessWeek.

According to Jaffe, "Nothing is more attractive to a potential employer than the heady aroma of desperation. Hardly a day goes by without employers asking me for candidates who are radiating pure terror." Of course, he´s being facetious, but he makes the point that if you want to land that next job, you have to lose the air of desperation.
Here are 12 tips from Jaffe on how to keep your calm in a tough job market:

1. Try to stay calm. Take a deep breath and relax. Hyperventilating is never pretty, particularly during an interview. Prospective employers want Jason Bourne - not Jason Alexander. Show them you´re capable, confident, and cool. No sobbing. 

2. It´s not you, it´s the economy.. Please, please remember that what´s happening is a reflection of the overall economy; it´s not a commentary on your specific qualifications. Sometimes stuff just happens, and we all get stuffed in the process. Don´t take it personally. 

3. Revitalize, don´t reinvent. Why is "reinvent" even a word? Companies need the experience and accomplishments you've earned over time. Leave the instant makeovers for people who have something to hide. Leverage what you already have instead of focusing on what you fear you may lack. 

4. Your money´s no good here. When times get tough, the tough get pitched a bunch of crap. If someone offers to craft you a "killer resume," put you in touch with the "hidden job market," or coach you to become a newer, more marketable you, keep your wallet in its holster. Whether they´re asking for $3,000 or $300, it´s overpriced. Don´t take candy from strangers, either. 

5. Seduction trumps selling. Your next boss wants to be enamored, not assaulted. In business as in love, infatuation rarely results from a hard sell or a soft shoe routine. By all means, explain but resist the urge to exclaim. Let people reach their own conclusions about just how "world class" an employee you are. 

6. Be realistic. Naked ambition is a great thing, especially on reality TV, but baby steps may be more effective in this business climate. Besides, starting at the top is overrated. Set your goals at achievable levels. 

7. Give yourself some time. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Listening too closely to your inner "job clock" can get you wound way too tightly. Yes, time is of the essence - there´s not a moment to waste - but most people underestimate how long it will take to find the right gig. Pace yourself and spare the whip. 

8. Work your network, but gently. Chances are you already know the person who will put you on the path to your next salary. Your network is a precious resource and should be treated as such. Now is the time to use it...but gently. Ask for a reference, not a job. When you don´t put your friends on the spot, they´re more inclined to think about ways to help you. 

9. Choose wisely. If Smokey Robinson was recording "Shop Around" today, he´d probably say: "Try to get yourself a bargain, son. Don´t be sold on the very first one. Pretty jobs come a dime a dozen. Try to find one that´s gonna give you true lovin´." Or something like that. Smokey knows about love and work. Whenever possible, be reluctant to jump into a temporary fix. As things improve, you´ll be defined - at least in part - by the compromises you made. 

10. This too shall pass. Despite what you see on the cable networks, we are not living in the End of Days. Yes, it´s miserable out there - worse than most of us have ever seen - but at some point it will just be a bad memory. Sooner than you or anyone at CNBC thinks. 

11. Don´t put your faith in recruiters. Seriously. We are not the answer to your prayers. Most of us never even answer our phones. 

12. Take another deep breath. Admit it, you´re all tensed up again. Deep breath, cleansing breath. And...exhale. Once more, and exhale. 

Toni Bowers is the Head Blogs Editor of TechRepublic (www.techrepublic.com). She has been in the publishing industry for 20 years, with concentration in IT-related topics. She has edited newsletters, books, and web sites pertaining to software, IT career, and IT management issues.