How to keep your job And what to do if it’s too late…

Background Who am I? Why are we talking about this?

State of things…

How secure is your job? Take a look around: ▫Had any layoffs in your company? ▫Who was laid off? ▫“What” was laid off? ▫Look outside your company… ▫What is your workload compared to last year? Ask…

So what do you do? Don’t let it be your fault ▫Come in early – or at least be on time. ▫Finish. Every day. However long it takes. ▫Do great work. ▫If you smoke, quit. ▫Don’t complain. ▫Go beyond the job description. ▫Make your job a top priority in your life.

So what do you do? Don’t let it be someone else’s fault ▫Support the team. ▫Avoid politics and sabotage. ▫Kill gossip. ▫Keep your eye on poor performers. ▫Take initiative when others won’t. ▫Always be prepared.

So what do you do? Stay positive ▫Accept more work graciously. ▫Keep a smile on your face when you talk to people. ▫Offer to help with the non-billable tasks. ▫Maintain relationships. Don’t give up ▫Nothing is a foregone conclusion. ▫Make sure you are giving 100%.

What don’t you do? Don’t over do it ▫You can’t give more than 100%. ▫Be sure take time for you. Don’t ignore the situation Don’t speculate on ‘what-ifs’ Don’t rely on anyone else to protect you Don’t pester your boss Don’t make yourself crazy!

What’s “Plan B”? Your escape plan! ▫Update your resume. ▫Start your job search now. ▫Don’t be afraid to apply for something. ▫Don’t be afraid to interview. Having a “Plan B” gives you control Work harder on “Plan B” than “Plan A” ▫It will make you feel much better

The nuts and bolts of Plan B Assess yourself ▫What do you do? ▫What can you do? ▫What do you like to do? ▫What have you accomplished? Collect data ▫Create a project list. ▫Taken any classes? ▫Who would you use as a reference?

The nuts and bolts of Plan B The Resume ▫Research what makes a good resume these days. ▫Neatness counts. ▫ is fine, but follow up with linen. ▫Show some style, but not too much. ▫MS Word templates are nice, but not unique. ▫Don’t be afraid to sell yourself…  But avoid the lie… ▫Check it over and over and over.

The nuts and bolts of Plan B Where to find the jobs ▫The paper, Monster, CareerBuilder… ▫Look for “niche” sites like iHireEngineers, AECJobBank, civilengineeringjobs. ▫College job boards – not always just for alumni. ▫Industry associations like AIA, ASHRAE, IEEE. ▫Network, network, network. ▫Recruiters are not the enemy…  But do not rely on them… ▫Look for jobs in other industries.

The nuts and bolts of Plan B Submitting an application ▫Always research the company before applying. ▫Always research the job before applying. ▫Get a name! ▫Include a cover letter that suits the position. ▫Don’t be afraid to apply for jobs that don’t quite fit.

The nuts and bolts of Plan B Interviewing ▫Dress the part. ▫Don’t be afraid to scope it out. ▫Practice, practice, practice. ▫Know your job history. ▫Bring quality copies of your resume and cover. ▫Think before you speak! ▫Have references ready. ▫Know who you are interviewing with. Ask for them. ▫Arrive a little early – there may be paperwork…

What happens next? Hopefully nothing! OR maybe a change for the better… If you do find yourself back on the market, remember that finding a new job is your new job

Resources “Knock ‘em Dead” series of books: Job Search, Resumes, Cover letters The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Perfect Resume