Bianca Thompson, Author at The Voice of Job Seekers

3 Job Seekers Surging to Re-emerging From Job Layoffs

Editor’s note: This is continued from Bianca’s article from last week. This should be quite inspiring for anyone, especially those who are struggling with finding hope.

I have three friends I want to share with you that were each terminated. Each job seeker had amazing responses to his or her termination. I’m sure they each had moments of sadness, but their overall response was amazing and full of fight.

The Warrior
Friend #1 had worked for a major communications company for over a decade in the IT profession. Her company outsourced her position to a new company to cut costs. She then had to train the new employees who eventually took her position once her new company terminated her position.

Basically, she made too much money, and her position was outsourced for cheaper labor. It happens all the time. After the shock, she came out fighting like a warrior from the movie “300”. She explored her passions for helping others and became a certified life coach. Her passion has led her to positions that are totally different from the IT field. These positions enabled growth as a professional life coach and do what she loves. How cool is that?

FREEDOM!

Friend #2 worked in the banking industry for over a decade. Please note that tenure means nothing. Both Friend #1 and Friend #2 had over a decade of experience and were still terminated. Well my dear Friend #2 decided to take time off to rest and focus on health and family. As it turned out, his health was in crisis status, and he didn’t even know it. The stress of his job was literally killing him, and he wasn’t aware.

Sometimes we push ourselves despite signals from our body because we don’t have time due to work. Being terminated saved his life. He has had time to focus on necessary health issues without worrying about his job. He also used his new freedom to visit family that he hadn’t seen in years. He used these short road trips to visit family to help occupy his time while focusing on his health. His termination saved his life.

Pursuit of Happiness

Friend #3 worked for a global corporation that has over 400,000 employees worldwide. She gave them eight years of her time. Friend #3 also owns her own business as a Plan B. Now that she has been terminated her Plan B is now her Plan A. She was described as the happiest person ever known to have been laid off. Eventually, she plans to return to a corporate position but only as a temporary employee. Her focus is to continue building her business and to spend quality time for a few months with her family. She now has the freedom from the stress of her job to build her dream.

What are the take-aways provided in my sharing? You ain’t exempt from being terminated! Start exploring what you want to do should you get chopped. Have something to occupy your time other than focusing on bills and finding a new job.

What will you do if you were laid off? Please share in the comment section.

Keep it simple and make it sassy!

About Bianca "Sassy HR Girl" Thompson

Bianca Michelle Thompson, Chicago native, has worked in the corporate arena within the Chicago Loop for over twenty-five years. The last thirteen years have been within the Human Resources profession. Her experiences within the Human Resources field and her personal life inspired her passion for training and coaching. Bianca has done extensive self-development, team-building and coaching coursework within the corporate and non-profit arenas and with Phoenix Arises Seminars.

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by Bianca Thompson

When HR Fires You From Your Job While Crying

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No one wants to actually think his or her value is such that their company can function without them.

Be it you screwed up, or restructuring, business conditions, outsourced, or whatever fancy term Human Resources has decided to use for termination due to no fault of your own.

The bottom line is you are without a position and a paycheck.

I was all cried out…

I must admit that this is the absolute worst part of Human Resources’ duties. I personally used to cry before and after during our layoffs. I even created the most heinous HR offense of crying during the exit interview with someone being terminated. Can you imagine being terminated by HR and they’re crying during the entire meeting?

I think this was one of my worst moments as an HR professional. What happened? Why did I fall apart? It’s simple. I took my company’s actions personal for whatever reasons. It caused an overflow of feelings and emotions that I could not control and hence it lead to me crying during the employee’s exit interview.

I got help…and a plan

I am grateful to have had an amazing life coach that helped me with my view of layoffs. After I explained to him my crying offense, he made one statement that changed my view of how I approach layoffs. He told me that my energy of how I conduct the exit interview plays a huge role in how the terminated employee will go out into the world for their next adventure.

If my energy is sad and angry, I push that nonsense off onto the unwilling employee. Well, Sassy HR Girl had to basically check herself and come up with a new plan for these unwanted and undesirable meetings. What’s my point in sharing this with you? We all need to have a plan for that unwanted and undesirable meeting.

What to ask for when it’s time to get the chop whether fired, laid off, or whatever the term is coined at the time. Companies vary in what they will provide. Do your research and use the below as a guide and NOT the law.

• Decide on whether you want to resign, or get fired. This may seem like an odd issue, but there are circumstances when you may wish to resign instead of being fired. If you are fired, you may be eligible for unemployment compensation, benefits, and severance pay. However, you may choose to resign rather than have the stigma of “getting fired” on your record. (You will need to disclose that you were fired if you are asked that specific question on a job application. If you resign, you can answer “no” to the question.) In some instances, you may even be asked to resign rather than be fired. Make sure you carefully consider the pros and cons of each response before making your decision. For example, you may not be able to collect unemployment benefits if you resign.

• Inquire about severance and outplacement assistance. Now is the time to negotiate, but don’t be pressured to sign anything if you’re not ready. Some employers won’t release your final paycheck until you sign a release, but that doesn’t mean you need to sign anything right away. Find out what’s available to you. Don’t be afraid to ask for severance.

• Ask how reference checks will be handled. What will a prospective employer be told if they contact the company? Will your supervisor provide you with a letter of recommendation? Can he or she take calls for reference checks, or are those handled through the HR department? What information will be released to the prospective employer? (Some companies will only verify dates of employment, job title, and final salary and will not answer questions related to why you are no longer working for the company.)

• Find out about your benefits. You may be entitled to accrued vacation, overtime, and/or sick pay. Ask about these benefits, and how they will be paid out.

• The company should provide you with information about continuing your health insurance coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) law. If the company has more than 20 employees, your employer is required by law to offer health insurance coverage through COBRA to terminated employees for up to 18 months. However, you will need to pay for this coverage yourself. This gives employees and their families the option to continue group health benefits provided by your health plan for a limited period of time. (Keep in mind, however, that the cost of COBRA coverage may be higher than insurance you obtain for yourself; however, if you have a health condition, you may want to opt for COBRA coverage initially to keep your coverage in force. You can always cancel your COBRA coverage once you have new insurance in place.)

• Information on transferring your retirement account with the company, if you have one. If you are enrolled in a 401(k), profit sharing, or other type of defined contribution retirement plan, you may be eligible for a lump sum distribution of your retirement money when you leave the company. You need to be careful about how you handle this distribution so that you don’t incur tax penalties. Retirement plan distributions have very specific requirements, so you may wish to consult a financial advisor before doing anything.

• Find out how — and when — you will receive your final paycheck from the company. (Again, you may be required to sign some paperwork before the final check is released.)

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No one’s exempt, not even the successful

Absolutely no one is exempt from a layoff or termination for cause. Last month George Zimmer, the founder of Men’s Wearhouse, was terminated. If the founder of a company is not exempt, why in the world would any of us think we are exempt from our company’s hatchet?

Not only was Mr. Zimmer the founder, his very distinct voice and slogan has been branded into our minds. When you hear that voice and slogan, you immediately think of the Men’s Wearhouse. It was absolutely brilliant marketing. Please note that management wanted to move in a different direction despite past successes.

This new direction did not include Mr. Zimmer. I have witnessed devastation on the faces of employees that believed they were exempt from termination either due to their past successes or perceived talent. My point is simple. You and I are not exempt.

We can get the big chop by our company whenever the company chooses. Don’t spiral into depression and panic as this should not be a shock given today’s economy. Consider this a simple tap on the shoulder as a reminder to have some type of plan in place should you be called to an exit interview for termination.

Discussion questions:

What did you do when you were laid off?

What did you do when you anticipated layoffs?

What help did you seek when you were laid off?

Please, let’s talk about it below in the comments section.

Wednesday, July 17: 3 Stories of Jobseekers Surging to Re-emerging From Job Layoffs

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by Bianca Thompson

Desperate Job Seekers are NEVER Attractive

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Guess what? There are record amounts of qualified people looking for a job. I am sure that this is probably not breaking news to you or something that you care to hear again. My goal is not to insult your intelligence or cause you emotional stress. I do want to smack you with the reality of what is fact.

Outside of overbearing facts about your qualified and competing job seekers, I want to take a look at the different styles of job seekers. Where do you fit? What’s your style? Is it working for you? Why is this important? Your initial reaction to these questions may cause reflection or perhaps a bit of sarcasm. Either way it’s all good because it has initiated some type of thought.

I won’t over complicate this topic. I want to keep it easy breezy. I have three styles for us to explore: The Walking Dead, The Crack Addict and The Intentional Job Seeker. Let us not lie. We all want to believe we are the intentional job seeker because it sounds so much nicer than the other two.

The fact is that many are not intentional and definitely fall into one of the other two styles. Keep your Abe Lincoln hat of honesty on tight as we look at these styles.

The Walking Dead

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The mantra for this group of job seekers is “I want a job. I want a job.” Make sure you say it slowly and without emotion or life to get the true essence of this job seeker. Usually there are many recent graduates stuck in this Walking Dead style. The recent graduates usually fall into this category because they have been so focused on preparing for graduation that they gave no forethought to the aftermath. Sure, they may have gone to the college career center for help along with the hundreds of other graduates that did the same thing. I totally get it.

They procrastinated and now desperately need a job before that six-month grace period is over and it’s time to pay their student loans. To make matters even more intense, they have no desire to move back home with mom and dad. Truth be told mom and dad have gotten well-adjusted to being empty nesters and prefer they not return home as well.

The walking dead typically will depend on the common and more popular job portals to find a position. They also rely heavily on what they hear via another student or friend. Just imagine thousands of students in their fresh new suits with their bland resumes extended while repeating “I want a job. I want a job.” Put on your Abe Lincoln hat of honesty. Does this describe your job search? Do you simply blend in with the masses?

The Crack Addict

This job seeker is usually one that has a substantial amount of experience. Whatever the reason for their unemployment, they have become the Crack Addict. They apply to any and everything simply because they NEED a job. This style usually comes into fruition because this job seeker probably has a family, a mortgage and plenty of creditors that have become daily stalkers.

These job seekers typically have a very high stress level and the emotional state of being is quite unpredictable. They constantly talk about their NEED for a job to anyone and everyone that will listen. Their mantra is “I NEED a job! I NEED a job!” They actually can be quite scary and intense. Unlike the Walking Dead, you can’t just run away from them because they are fast and relentless.

This type of relentless activity is distasteful to most employers. Employers totally understand the need for a job. It’s the nagging characteristic that turns employers away and urges them to seek other candidates. Have you morphed into the Crack Addict? Remember Honest Abe and keep it real with yourself.

I am not here to judge. I just want to present facts and initiate self-awareness in respect to your job seeker style. Awareness is good. Once we are aware, we can make conscious decisions. Preferably our conscious decisions will shift us to our final group, The Intentional Job Seeker.

Intentional Job Seeker

This job seeker can be a recent graduate or someone with years of experience. This job seeker sets themselves apart and in front of the masses by having a plan. Your plan is yours.

You should create it and definitely get insight or help from someone that can provide quality feedback. Aunt Mary may be sweet as pie and your favorite aunt for personal advice but she is probably not the best resource for help with a career plan. The Intentional Job Seeker will be sure to have professional guidance for their career plan.

I understand you may not have finances to pay for a service. Can you barter service for service? It may be said that this job seeker daydreams too much. They will spend some quality time exploring their dream position. They also know the minimum requirements on the scale in respect to positions that they’re willing to take. This job seeker will also target specific companies.

They know the values that are important to them and the company in which they want to work. No one wants to work for a crappy company so it is wise to do some homework. This job seeker is usually a master at networking.

They will attend professional events, mingle and find creative ways to get in front of the “right” audience. These outward things are all very critical and needed. What is most impressive about the intentional job seeker is their mindset. They are not desperate despite how badly they may want or need a job. They acknowledge that they have something to offer their potential employer and are confident in expressing their value. Find ways to align your values with the company’s values. Is it a good match?

I could probably continue with more but I think this is a good easy, breezy start. Again, my goal is never to over complicate anything but a good smack with the facts always helps. Acknowledge your current job seeker style. If it’s working for you, GREAT! Keep doing what you are doing. If it’s not working, seriously consider shifting to something that serves you better.

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