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So Your Position Is Being Eliminated….

© Lincoln Bittner

As so often happens in today's economic times, companies restructure and close departments or entire divisions, laying off from 1 to 1000 employees at a time. If you are one of those who are being laid off, it can be a stressful time. The uncertainty of the future and the current employment climate all combine to create a high level of anxiety.

I have been 'downsized' more than once in the last 5 years, and like many people, I could see the handwriting on the wall long before my final day on the job. How you conduct yourself during this time between when you discovered the end was near and that final day can make or break your reputation with your employer. Despite what you might think, a skilled hiring manager will find out whether your former employer held you in high regard or not by making a few well-placed calls.

In a recent exit interview I revealed that I knew my position was being eliminated. Management was pleased because I had been conducting myself as if nothing was changing. Part of my conduct was that I had not said anything to anyone, including my subordinates, that could be interpreted as negativity towards the company or those working in the company. I also had not voiced my suspicions about the pending position elimination. In addition, I revealed that on the day I knew I would be terminated, I spent time working on a special project that would help my manager over the next few days. This really surprised him, and I could see the gratitude in his expression.

The first lesson to learn here is that even though your position is going to be eliminated, it is not a reflection on you as a person, your job performance, or that you can prevent it from happening. The truth is, business is business, and companies change direction to take advantage of what they perceive is the most profitable way to go. This direction happens to exclude you and possibly your co-workers. You cannot allow what is happening to affect your work performance, and you cannot make it personal. You must continue to work at the same pace as you have in the past in order to maintain your reputation for the future.

If you are in a position to help your soon-to-be former manager by working on a special project, do so. Your reputation is on the line, and leaving your manager with a positive last memory about your dedication to him or her is worth gold. As a hiring manager, I can tell you from experience that even though companies say they will only give name, rank, and serial number to a prospective employer, if the candidate is held in high regard, I can always find some manager in the company that will tell me what a great person he is. If I make two or three calls to a company and can't get anyone to tell me anything about the candidate, then this is a red flag. Even in today's litigious society, someone will always discuss a great employee because they have nothing to lose. You want to be in this elite group whenever possible.