Sudden job loss can be difficult and stressful-to both the person let go and his or her family as well. In Upsizing in a Downsizing World, author Jeannette Chau describes her personal journey from job loss to employment, providing useful job search advice she learned along the way. Upsizing in a Downsizing World follows the entire process, from the moment of downsizing to landing a job again. Chau describes her experiences and discusses the important lessons she learned, including; telling family; handling the job loss emotionally; dealing with finances; putting out a resume; utilizing networking; creating a personal brand; employing social media; learning the art of interviewing; changing careers; going back to school; maintaining perseverance. Chau provides a thoughtful look at the many tools, choices, and opportunities available to one after experiencing job loss, and she gives encouragement and empathy to those who face the same situation.

UPSIZING IN A DOWNSIZING WORLD

Lessons learned and tips to get you back on your feet after job lossBy Jeannette Chau

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Jeannette Chau
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4620-6424-3

Contents

Preface.............................................................ix1. Downsized........................................................12. Telling the Family...............................................73. The Early Stages.................................................104. Career Transition Firms..........................................145. Financials.......................................................176. Employment Lawyers—Do You Have a Case?.....................237. The Toolbox......................................................268. Putting Out the Resume...........................................289. Networking.......................................................3110. Creating a Personal Brand.......................................3411. Social Media....................................................3712. Interviewing....................................................4113. Newspaper Ads...................................................4614. Take Heart......................................................4815. Recruiters......................................................5016. Job Boards......................................................5317. Networking Groups...............................................5518. Entrepreneurship................................................5719. Consulting......................................................6020. Franchising.....................................................6221. Changing Careers................................................6622. Going Back to School............................................7123. Economy Nosedives...............................................7424. Stress..........................................................7725. The Downsizings Continue........................................8226. Age.............................................................8427. It's Just Business..............................................8728. Soldiering On...................................................9029. Another D Word..................................................9530. The Hurt Never Goes Away........................................9831. Perseverance....................................................10032. I've Landed.....................................................10233. A Commentary on Downsizing Today................................105Tool 1: The Resume..................................................117Tool 2: The Cover Letter............................................119Tool 3: Your References List........................................121Tool 4: The Business Card...........................................123Tool 5: The 90-Second Intro.........................................125Tool 6: Your Marketing Profile......................................127Tool 7: Follow-Ups..................................................129Tool 8: Tracking Forms..............................................130Tool 9: Job Sources.................................................132Note from the Author................................................135Endnotes............................................................137

Chapter One

DOWNSIZED

Downsized. Restructured. Re-engineered. Laid off. What words these are. These words are designed to make it seem less nasty, that it was just business. These words really mean you have been let go from the company, and you don't have a job anymore.

It happened to me. I didn't think it would. Oh, I knew the possibilities were there. I had survived numerous downsizings at my company before, both large, companywide significant ones and smaller, departmental ones. Always, it was someone else. I was valuable, or so I thought, so if they had to let someone go, it wouldn't be me.

I knew there were people—some who I personally knew—who were good people but happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and got caught up in the downsizings.

I remember a time when two perfectly fine employees transferred into the group next to mine. When the order came from up top that all groups were to trim by 10 percent, they were the first ones picked. Last in, first out. Gone.

Then there were the smaller downsizings. Not a large, company directed one, but departmental ones that needed to trim just by one or two employees in a few areas. Tim, a wonderful gentleman with approximately thirty years of service, who had dedicated his entire career and life to the company, who was known for his depth of knowledge, who had worked long, hard hours when required and was well respected by his employees ... he was let go. Someone who had been working for him told me that they just came in one day, said thank-you very much for your years of dedicated service, and walked him out the door. Gone.

Being immediately escorted out once you are informed you are being let go is common practice in many large companies. It is to prevent employees from taking proprietary information or items as they leave—and to minimize disruption in the office.

Tim was apparently angered by it after all the years he had put in. He was bitter that—despite all his hard work for the company and his accomplishments—they had dismissed him so abruptly. He felt that he was due better treatment. He felt that he was denied a happy, farewell retirement.

I felt it too. I was a lot further away from retirement—still several years before my fifty-fifth birthday. Being told that they no longer require your services is bitter. I was allowed some time to pack my personal belongings, hand over my laptop, Blackberry, keys, employee ID, security pass cards, and then I was escorted from the building—out of the building and the company that I had been with for twenty years. I had worked for the company for my entire career. I had applied during my final year at university and had been so happy to land the job. I had turned down an offer at another company just to be there. I had built my career around that company—and it had defined me. I walked out of the world that I had known for most of my adult life. What was next? I did not know. It was a void, an unknown.

Why am I writing this? For many years, I have written in a personal journal every few days to reflect on things, to help focus on my goals, to motivate myself, or to sort out my thoughts. Benjamin Franklin reflected on thirteen virtues every night to determine ways to improve himself.

This is a journal of my feelings and experiences—and a guide for the many of those out there who are going through, or will go through, what I have. It helped me to jot down my feelings and gives me a feeling of satisfaction that I might help someone else who suddenly loses his or her job but has not had the same support that I have had. Many people feel lost and cut adrift when forced to experience downsizing.

I was lucky. I worked for a large corporation that had a policy of providing the services of an external career transitions company for a period of time. Many companies employed this firm for varying lengths of time for their recently terminated personnel. The firm would have a consultant present who would come into the office immediately after the boss delivered the news, comfort the employee, give him or her a business card with their company's...