If you are laid off, what's your plan? I see people telling everybody to be prepared but how exactly do you prepare for losing your job in the middle of a pandemic? I mean, my resume is updated, my LinkedIn is up to date, and that's about it. What other steps are there to take?
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Some good advise regarding an "Emergency Fund." Be active on LInkedIn, network with old contacts now. Check in with people. see how things are going. Look at the jobs posted just to start to understand the market.
Spend a % of time weekly on networking and job search.
Apply for jobs now.
I started 10 months before I was laid off and one called back 2 weeks after I was. With severance, you can get a double paycheck.
Get a career/interview coach - Don’t do this alone. #Best advice in this thread - hands down.
I cleaned up my resume. Raised my emergency fund to a clean one year and cut expenses to push it further.
Then I started sending out resumes to see if I got hits. It took me a few round to get the right buzz words and text to attract call backs. Now I am shopping. Who knows maybe I will get an offer that I can’t refuse.
One thing is for sure.. no better resume item than “currently employed full time”
Open yourself up to opportunities outside of your Honeywell experience. If you are in Aero, look at other industries. Especially since Aerospace in general has been highly impacted by Covid19. Heck, work at a non-profit if it can support your family. Many posters on previous threads have mentioned it
On welfare.
Absolutely take the severance! For most folks it will not impede other companies hiring you
Plan to get out in front of the layoffs. Polish the resume. Interview for as many positions as you can. If nothing else, it will sharpen your interview skills. Do some looking each day. The right new opportunity may come out of nowhere. And never give up! You were looking for a job when you found this one. The same thing will happen again.
Good post, good stuff
Prepare financially, this will remove most of the anxiety while you look for a new job. Pay off bills, make hone repairs and save 6 months salary without getting into the 401k. Do not count on severance. If you get severance for 10 weeks it is not worth all the strings attached and could impede your job search.
Allow yourself some time to decompress after your separation date. You've been stuck in a pressure cooker and chances are you have a lot of unfinished personal business and chores that piled up while you were working. First take a guilt-free week or so to let your thoughts go free. Then chip away at your personal business as you organize as others have suggested for your next gig.
@tdp+17lixFT3
"Mentally prepare for leaving"
Resounding advice there! I'm still grappling with separation anxiety from having been at HON for over 10 years. I think, if I had been RIF'd my thoughts and feelings would be more on the negative side of things. But I just upped and quit without preparing for anything. In all fairness, I would probably feel this way about any Company I had dedicated myself too. Just BE PREPARED MENTALLY like @tdp stated
Definitely add to your network of contacts that you have met since starting at Honeywell. Only add the good people you know and trust. And mentally prepare for leaving
- Rebrand your position with a title. HON are years of service to current
- Turn your notifications on that you are open to recruiters contacting you
- Make a thought out post on the site that others will like. Not cheer leading others but a topic that you are passionate about but demonstrates an articulation that provokes thought
- If contacted be a recruiter simply position that you don't want to get caught flat footed in a quarterly earnings RIF and you are looking for a new challenge. Never criticize your current or former employer.
- Research your industry, skills in demand, and find a new boss at those companies. Make a soft introduction that you are expanding your network to similair professionals.
- Expect rejection!
- You must have former RIF colleagues at HON - Say "hi" and ask how are they doing?
- Consider your options as a Consultant or Gig Contractor.
- Grab as much cash and liver as frugal as you can
- Recruiter response......"I see you worked for Honeywell." That is code for "No thanks we are interested in that type of contributor."
Networking. Keep applying. Keep interviewing.