NEW YORK (AdAge) -- The recession is reverberating even in the freewheeling halls of the Googleplex. Proving that even the search giant isn't immune from the vagaries of the economy, Google is cutting its 10,000-strong contract staff, nixing some new products that won't pay back in the near term and aggressively trying to squeeze more out of existing....
read more | digg story You may want to read this article, the first sentences of which are shown above, which article I added in my "Digg" account, to gain a better context of what I'm saying in this article on my take on how to keep your job during this difficult economic period.
Or side-titled: Taking Steps So That Your Job Won't Get Axed or Farmed Out During These Interesting Times!
So even Google has taken steps to "retrench" at least 10,000 contractual jobs it used to have in its payroll, and they're looking like they're taking advantage of the economic downturn as some pundits may be looking at it, so as to off-load the costs of keeping these contractual jobs, given the environment we're all in currently. This development shows a scary description, that if "retrenchment" is happening among the biggest companies, what else could be expected from those in the roll of other much smaller firms. Actually, these jobs, from the way I look at it, are not part of the payroll, as they're more like jobs that are among "contingency" measures for really temporary or per-project endeavors in Google, just like in most other companies.
And last night, I was talking with a friend who teaches in a business school, and they've had a general meeting where everyone showed up and were sounded off, though indirectly, that some jobs will have to go away soon even before they get to hear of the news...in fact, jobs that have been removed have made top level officers doing chores usually clumped to these "non-essential jobs," including folding and preparing reading materials for class use, distributing these materials to classes, among others. Well, this takes my imaginative eyes to what I believe is part of the efforts of these officers to keep their jobs during these interesting economics times we're having. You can take a tip from what these officers are doing now.
Just how to make yourself among the list of those whose jobs would not be axed can be challenging, given conditions you've heard about. But allow me to share some ideas I've distilled, being one who used to be an HR practitioner for 20 years, and with some small businesses myself, I see that I have an insider's viewpoint shared as "some tips" or guidelines to follow to make your job at least safe in the meantime from being "retrenched," as you go about designing your personal strategy to beat the system:
1) get yourself engaged in politics more actively in the office. there's really no running away from this game than just making sure you take steps so that events will happen to your favor and no one else. To delude yourself that that this game is not happening, which very essence is grounded on "power and how it is shared," is totally playing immature to say the least. You might as well get into it, and enjoy it. Your attitude counts in this game called "politics" found at work.
First, don't just get to talk and to get know those who are influential in your company...you have to get an understanding on how your company's structured, no matter how small your job is. You have to really be able to get hold of the office policies and regulations that are found in some printed form or another (depending on the size of the company), get to read all the contents and understand everything. Be well verse with these things, so you won't get surprised with certain developments. Seek help from HR or someone who's doing HR or Admin from your company, for a start. You'd be able to better gain a fresh perspective on why certain things are done that way, and not your way, if you start doing this right away.
Define and understand who are the very people who make things happen in your work site. This will also include your direct customers, who are usually the first set of outside stakeholders that will make your company's business ongoing, even in bad times.
2) Decide for yourself if your boss is actually should be the first one to go, before yourself or anyone in your group.Most news we hear is that ordinary job holders tend to end up getting the ax first before those who perform the job of the "boss." Come to think of it, it's usually the boss who has to "go" first before the staff, as he / she can always manage to get other jobs, or get themselves self employed than most ordinary people.
The staff, (or you, if your job falls in this category) has to make sure to be doing "management" of the boss, before anything else. Would you believe that even Peter Drucker himself, who's a pioneering, well known business intellectual, have written about "managing" your own boss? Nothing substantial happens unless being mandated by the boss. It's tough being a boss, and it's an ungrateful job or undertaking. You, as surely you may have a boss, has to make sure you make all other decision makers on top of your direct boss become aware of how he / she is doing as a boss. You need to be in touch with these other managers or leaders. You need to be friendly, or even play games with them, as it is in your interest to do so, so that in case your job in on fire, you can bring your boss as well with you, sooner or later.
Studies have always shown that it's always the boss who contributes the major reasons why people leave their jobs. Given this finding, it makes sense to contribute yourself in clarifying to other decision makers that you have had a "really good boss" or a "really stupid boss," and state clearly your reasons why, if you have to do so. For example, you can do this by sending emails directly to the bosses of your boss, even just for small talk for start, and then proceed to give more clearer feedback coming from you, even if you're not being asked. At least, you have planted the seeds, and all these will have payoffs in time.
3) take development projects to further hone yourself as the person you want to be. Keep away from deluding yourself that it makes sense to be keeping the same job for the rest of your life, as this is basically unfair to yourself. Gone are the days when people keep their regular full jobs until they retire. No amount of grumbling will ever get back those jobs that have been outsourced to far away lands.
You can do these growth and development projects by spending at least one hour a day. You can do this by actually taking time to read productively, e.g. read a language learning book one hour a day if you're interested in languages. You can take lessons on areas, topics that really interest you. You can borrow money just for these purposes, actually, as you are investing in yourself.
Be clear about want you want to do, in addition to doing your regular work or assignments, including those you don't get paid for, e.g. parental work. You can always spare an hour or two for yourself everyday. Use the time to pray, meditate, reflect, play a sport, go to a park by yourself, or study a subject just for the sake of learning, or other activities designed to accumulate effects for your own development as a great person. You owe it to yourself, more than anyone else, even your loved ones. You gotta have to do this, as the results will reflect on the quality of time you spend on everyone in your life.
4) remember always that all jobs are dispensable This adage, which I recall having been reminded again and again even during my MBA studies, applies as well to top ranking jobs, no matter how high level the position is currently. The trick against this is learning how to always be effective and productive. This trick connects with the other tips written earlier. Always get an understanding of how your job relates with the main business or purpose of the company, no matter what kind the company is, including those in government, and in non profit.
You will also have to consider hiring yourself, in due time, where the only one who can fire you is yourself. This will mean taking charge with the job that you've got. This will also mean, more collaborative work with people who can help you, with people who have been there before you. Spend time identifying, reaching out, establishing workable relationships with people who have done very well in areas that interest you. Don't bother dealing with people who have not gained credentials or even some track record on what they tell you (it's a waste of time!). This will mean more self-reliance, which is a pathway that allows you more respect from your colleagues, as well as mainly from yourself.
Remember that to offset the chances of you having your job axed, you will need to have a different frame of mind.
5) face change as your friend, rather than your foe At the least, you can effectively make change work to your favor, rather than the otherwise. Expect changes to happen, as it always does. We're not talking here of having changes, just for the sake of having a change. It's the idea that change might as well affect you positively, than just getting surprised one day that changed indeed happen. Face the change, whatever it is that you have identified, with more courage and strength. As Charles Darwin said: "It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."
