My Campus Chronicles
Our college blog dedicated to helping students prepare for life outside of college.
March 2009 archive
Q: Dear Seymour, I was recently asked to take a pay cut with reduced hours, which I gladly accepted because others in my department were laid off completely. However, my boss still expects me to stay after hours and work more than my part time schedule is allowed. What can I do? Should I keep working as they want me to?
- Submitted by Anonymous
A: Dear Anonymous,
Many companies are asking staff to take a pay cut and reduce their hours in order to cut costs and keep from having to lay off employees. However, if you have been asked to take a cut in pay and hours, while others are still working full time, you should not be expected or asked, to work more hours for less pay.
So that there is no misunderstanding, work with your manager or managers to design a schedule that is agreed upon by everyone. Focus on details, for example, make it clear that if you are asked to work a couple hours longer than scheduled, you will work a couple hours less the following day to make up for it.
It will take a few weeks for everyone to get used to the new schedule, including yourself, so you may want to ease in to it at first, or create a schedule where you are in the office everyday, but cutting back on hours at the beginning or end of the day.
If you feel that you are being taken advantage of, approach your manager and remind that you had to take a pay cut in order to stay on. You may have also found part time work to help make up for income lost, so let them know that you are still a team player, but need to supplement your income.
When all else fails, you may need to seek the advice of your HR representative. This would be a last resort, but if you have tried working with it out with your manager and they are still expecting you to work a full time schedule with less pay, you may need to let human resources know.
Seymour
The recession has been tough on many workers, but new studies show that men were hit the hardest by layoffs and downsizing.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women may soon, for the first time ever, be the majority in the workforce, which means there will be a role reversal not only in the workplace, but at home too.
Not only will women be expected to take on more responsibility at the office, but their role as wife and mother may change as well. One article points out how the family dynamic may forever be changed due in part to this recession.
For years, women in the workforce have worked to achieve more status and made strides in breaking the glass ceiling, leading to a demand for more work/life balance. Now that their male counterparts have been hit hardest by unemployment, they might also be faced with taking on roles that are traditionally thought of as female.
Some experts believe that this role reversal has a silver lining. There have been other times in history when women have taken on being the dominant members of the workforce. But unlike those times, this trend might be one that continues.
What do some of our readers think? Has anyone experienced this trend first hand? Let us know your thoughts.
There are many reasons people might have missing spaces in their resume's work history. Some people have been laid off and have found it difficult to find new employment in a tough economy. Others may have taken time off for family reasons or have been recovering from an injury. Whatever your reason for missing work, there are several ways to still market yourself positively to a potential employer.
Here are some tips on how to fill in the gaps.
- Consider other activities you did or experiences you had while you weren't working. Just because something wasn't necessarily paid doesn't mean it doesn't count. If you volunteered, were involved in the community, completed special projects, or continued your education, put those activities in an Experience section. Describe them as if they were work experience and be specific about the positive skills you used or sharpened.
- Don't forget that a lot of marketing is in presentation. If you eliminate months from your resume and list years instead, gaps may not be as apparent. Make sure all aspects of your resume are clear and perfectly edited, which will distinguish you from many applicants immediately.
- A great objective can be an important first step to get your foot in the door. Create a prominent objective statement that outlines your abilities and skills, showcases your top experiences and qualifications, and glosses over exact timelines. Most hiring managers are short on time, and an objective could get more attention than exact dates.
- If you were previously involved in a specific industry, consider taking a course or two that will show you're keeping up with current changes and trends. This will show initiative and sincere interest in your career.
- If your reasons for missing work were personal--you raised a family, went back to school, or recovered from an injury--don't feel that you need to apologize. Life happens, and most potential employers understand. Don't let a negative or apologetic attitude take center stage over your positive attributes and tarnish what you have to offer.
The most important thing to remember when marketing yourself is to be positive and have a confident attitude. Don't let yourself get discouraged by gaps--use them to your advantage and show employers all the great skills and qualities you have to offer.
During these uncertain economic times, many workers may find themselves looking at job opportunities that do not fit their expertise...exactly. What many workers do not realize is that although they may not have an exact skills set to fit a job description to a "T", they may have enough to give them the leverage to be hired.
I came across this great article that outlines how employees should market their transferable skills during an interview. It offers advice about how to position your skills to interviewers and show your qualifications for the job.
What's important to remember is to prepare for your interview. You should always prepare ahead of time for any interview, but when you are entering into a situation where you may need to "sell" your skills a little more than usual, preparation is the key.
This is also an opportunity to gain additional experience that you may not have. So emphasize your desire to learn while pointing out the fact that you have the skills necessary to contribute to the company.
Keep in mind that you may also have skills that are unique to the position, or even unique to the company. So during your preparation, make a mental note of your unique skills, such as foreign language or experience organizing affinity groups.
So don't shy away from job opportunities just because you may not have all of the skills outlined in the job description. You may just have the perfect skills to compliment the responsibilities of the position.
"Victims of a layoff rightfully experience a range of emotions, often retreating from the world of work only to ultimately re-emerge back into reality. Regardless of where you are in the Layoff Cycle, remember that you will survive, you will move on, you will find something new."
Q: Dear Seymour, What's the Best Way to Move on After a Layoff?
- Submitted by Don Jackson, Commerce, GA
A: Dear Don,
While a layoff may seem like a completely negative event, blessings can often come in unpredictable disguises. There are lots of ways to handle a layoff so it won't seem like the end of your world.
Leave gracefully.
If your time to leave the office comes, make sure you do so graciously. You don't want to be remembered for making a scene or doing something worthy of office gossip that will survive long after the current economic downturn. Write a polite email to coworkers wishing them well, make sure they have your personal contact information, and ask them to stay in touch.
Don't drop off the map.
Keep in touch with your former coworkers. Send them updates on how you are doing, and ask how they are doing. Remaining on friendly terms with people is a great way to maintain relationships, but it is also a great way to foster valuable networking relationships. A friend of a friend could be your next best job lead. Send out regular e-mails, mail holiday cards, and remember birthdays. Just staying in touch could land you your next job.
Reevaluate.
It's possible that being let go could be what you've actually been hoping for whether you have realized it or not. Have you dreamed of starting another career or business venture, but just never had the time? Want to go back to school? Now is your chance. Embrace the opportunity to not just move on, but to begin something new.
Use your time well.
After a layoff, people tend to have a lot of time on their hands. Use this time not to feel sorry about yourself, but to be productive. Don't just spend your days just cruising job postings online--hunt for jobs out in the real world with real people. Join a professional association and attend meetings. Volunteer for a local charitable organization. Attend alumni events from your school. These tasks could contribute to your job search in a big way because they all involve networking, which is the best way to find a job.
Take a break.
Don't let yourself get obsessed with job hunting. Take a break every so often and do something fun or something that renews you. Go for a walk, get some exercise, cook something new, or visit with friends. Celebrate the great things in your life instead of dwelling on what's over. Move forward with your head held high.
Most of all, remember that a layoff isn't the end of the world. You will survive, you will move on, you will find something new. Everything is going to work out if you keep a clear head, a positive attitude, and an optimistic spirit.
Seymour
Collecting unemployment benefits is on the rise due to the job market and economic downturn. If you are one of the many people recently laid off or if you believe that you are in danger of being laid off, be sure to learn as much as you can about unemployment insurance prior to applying.
As one article states, be prepared to do research for the state that you live in. Most workers assume that unemployment insurance is federally mandated. Although the Federal government sets some of the unemployment policies, the states impose most of the rules and run most of the programs.
Based on friends and relatives' experiences, don't assume that you qualify for the same benefits as others. Be sure you thoroughly read and understand the rules and regulations to ensure that you qualify.
Unemployment insurance is a huge help for those who have lost their jobs, but make sure you also understand the tax implications so there are no surprises on April 15th.
For the most accurate and up to date information about the unemployment insurance rules and possible changes, check out your state's workforce and labor department web sites.
Friendships in the workplace are valuable. They provide you with the socialization that is sometimes necessary to break up the day and make the work environment more pleasurable. Workplace friendships can be life long, or they can be fleeting. Check out this article I found about workplace friendships for more insight into the subject.
Friendships can be very important, but be aware of the positives and the pitfalls.
Pros of workplace friendships:
- Offers confidants for advice or to "vent" when you need it
- Provides each other with an ally you can rely on when you are out of the office
- A friend in need is a friend in deed - in case of emergencies, you have someone who can cover for you
Pitfalls of workplace friendships:
- Competition with raises and promotions could cause hard feelings
- Don't let friendships become a distraction by neglecting work tasks at hand
- Be discreet about sharing personal information in the workplace - save those conversations for weekend excursions
Becoming friends with co-workers and colleagues can be rewarding and during these more challenging times at work, friends at the office can be a welcome relief. Just be careful that your relationship doesn't cloud your judgment as to what your main priority is at work.
