Layoffs: Maybe the best career move ever
6 situations when a layoff is the best career move
Remember those late night ads on TV? "Are you stuck in a dead-end job? Going nowhere?" Is that how you feel when you go to work every day? If it is, then getting laid off might be a good thing for you. When is a layoff the best career move? Here are 6 situations when it is possibly your best career move ever.
#1 - When you are bored with your job
If you have been at the same job for a few years things can easily get boring. If you do the same tasks all the time, you quickly know how to do them, and long ago had the fun of trying to maximize your efficiency in completing those tasks. There are many reasons you could still be in the same job (really good at it, busy outside of work, boss wants you there), but after a few years it gets harder and harder to make a chance short of doing something drastic. In this situation, a layoff will get you out of that rut and on to something new. Just the change of routine will make you happy and motivated!
#2 - When you have low self-confidence
This may sound strange, but it's true. People who don't have confidence in themselves don't think they are worth anything, or that they would ever be able to do a different job. So years later it's the same thing. But while a layoff may look like a huge blow to your self-confidence, think about the job search that comes afterwards. Simply writing your resume forces you to look for things you have accomplished in those years at work. Everyone is surprised at some of the things they had forgotten. This is why it's often a good idea to have someone else help you with your resume - you often forget some of the best things about yourself. Then looking at job postings can make you realize that you have way more skills than you ever thought would be useful. So by the time it comes to the interviews, you are overflowing with confidence, and its all thanks to that layoff.
#3 - When you hit the ceiling
Some companies have very limited room for you to move upwards. Sometimes it's as bad as waiting for someone to die before a position opens up. Honestly you can put up with this for a while, but if you are executive material and you are working a job way below that you can only take it for so long. A layoff here will free you up to go look for the job you know you are qualified to do. You can likely get your supervisor or coworkers to agree that you are qualified but there were no positions for you at the old company. Other companies well understand what this is like, and don't hold it against you. Onward and upward!
#4 - When the alternative is demotion
If a company is cutting back and your job is going away, they might try to offer you a lower job that pays less. While on the surface this can appear good, often it traps you in that job that is below your abilities. This will cause resentment to build in you, and you won't enjoy your job. A layoff instead of that demotion will free you up to pursue the job you are qualified for, and a pay scale you can enjoy.
#5 - When the alternative is part time work
Often companies try to keep people from loosing their jobs by cutting back on hours. First the 5 day week goes to a 4 day week. Then it shrinks to 3 days a week. Then maybe even 4 half days. This amounts to a slow death. While you are working there, it's really hard to look for other work. Sure it's paying a few bills, but if you were laid off you would be free to go after a full time job with full pay. Often if you stay with that part time job for any length of time, you get so far behind on your bills that it's hard to see a way out. Don't let it come to that - if there is no layoff in your future, and there is no hard deadline for a return to fulltime work, you should leave.
#6 - When you want to make use of new education
Often people take additional training and schooling while working. Sometimes it's to do your job better, and sometimes it's just something you want to learn about. In both cases, it can result in you wanting to move on to a different job where they will appreciate your new skills, and maybe those skills will earn you better pay. If a layoff comes your way, this frees you up to chase your dreams and put that training or schooling to good use before you forget it all.
Layoffs aren't always bad
These 6 situations show you that there are times in your career when it can be a good thing to be laid off, even if it looks gloomy and grey at first. Take that silver lining out of that cloud and to the bank! With the right attitude you will be in a better job that you enjoy before you can say "economic down-what?"