Thriving During Two Layoffs
Let’s face it, getting laid off sucks.
One day, you have a great job you like and the next day you are out of work. I had the displeasure of getting laid off twice in the past year and I closed down two facilities. I watched my friends get laid off, packed up their desks, phones and computers, and then got the axe myself. Looking for a new job is something I have always hated, especially the financial uncertainty of being out of work. I was definitely bummed out about this, but there was one awesome thing that made it all worthwhile. I got two severance packages within a year and it was a lot of money. The severance packages weren’t the only bonuses either. I also got two retention contracts to stay on board and help with the shut-downs and a performance bonus after I completed the integration.
Embrace Change
Despite the headaches and uncertainty of getting laid off, it has been a blessing to me both times. When I got laid off last year, I was more than happy to leave. I felt like I was being strung along and I wasn’t happy with my new position or my new employer. The integration dragged on for over a year and I had to stay patient in order to get everything I had coming to me. I didn’t expect to get a better job, with higher pay within a month, but that is exactly what happened. This year, I was really disappointed when the company failed. I had just spent a year whipping the place into shape and I thought the product was great. I liked my job, my coworkers and the company culture. I was lamenting the loss of my new job last month and wondering if I would be as happy at my next job. I just had an interview with a great company and I’m optimistic now about what the future will bring.
Maximize Opportunity
When I wrote about my last layoff on my blog a year ago, I wrote about how I had maximized my opportunities. I’m far from an expert on getting laid off and I didn’t want to screw it up in a way that would cost me a lot of money. My former employer was very accomplished at buying companies and laying off the employees, so I was definitely at a disadvantage. There was structured pressure for me and my coworkers to find new jobs and leave those bonuses and severance packages behind. Thankfully, I ordered and read the How to Engineer Your Layoff eBook from Financial Samurai, and this helped me out tremendously, both times. I knew exactly what to do and how to do it. I didn’t fall for their downsizing tactics, and I received 100% of my severance package and bonuses.
Disclosure: I am an affiliate for the How to Engineer Your Layoff eBook and a long-time reader and fan of (Sam) Financial Samurai. This eBook has been invaluable to me in the past two years, and I recommend it highly.
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The Bottom Line
A job loss or layoff isn’t always a bad thing. Often, it can be a step up to a much better place or position. Stay focused, diligent and open-minded. You may be able to to parlay a job loss into an array of positive benefits.
