Layoffs! Layoffs! Layoffs!

It still amazes me how many people are losing their jobs.  It’s just the way it is, isn’t it?

I bet 99% of the people getting let go have no idea what they are going to do next… or what they are in for (how hard the job search is).

Check out this article today about 480 AirTran layoffs… HR professionals call this an RIF (reduction in force).

Check out what Liz Handlin, a JibberJobber career expert partner, is offering the 7,000 laid off American Airlines employees.

I wish some decision-makers from AirTran or American Airlines would pay for JibberJobber accounts for their people 😉

Here’s one of the scary things, for current job seekers: the market is being saturated with amazing talent.  This war for talent can get bloody, and with more professionals getting dumped into the “active job seeker” mode, it’s going to have an impact on those already in the job search.

Lucky for you and me, we aren’t affected…. right?

Yeah, right!

4 thoughts on “Layoffs! Layoffs! Layoffs!”

  1. Jason –

    A couple quick points:

    *Unfortunately, you’re right about how most of the laid off AirTran employees may not know what they’re going to do next. Many job seekers waste precious time trying to figure out where they want to go in their careers. That’s why it’s so important for everyone – employed and unemployed alike – should plan the next two or three steps of their careers.

    *Despite your tongue-in-cheek plug, you make a very good point – they really SHOULD provide JibberJobber accounts to the RIF’s as part of their severance packages. Perhaps you could provide a few on-site seminars on the best way to use JibberJobber as a way of sweetening the deal.

    *Rule of thumb: If you see suits you don’t know walking around with managers you recognize, those suits are consultants. They’re hired guns whose only purpose is to help the company save money. If you see consultants walking around, it’s just a matter of time until the pink slips fly.

    – Mike

  2. Thanks so much for the shout-out Jason. I will add another post to offer the same deal to Air trans employees…I just hadn’t heard about their layoffs yet. The sooner you get your resume updated and start using tools like Jibber Jobber to manage your job search the sooner you will land your next job.

    There are so many great resources out there to help job seekers find jobs (and many of them are listed on Jibber Jobber!) and I just hope that everyone who needs help during these trying times gets it.

    Liz

  3. Ahh, RIF now that doesn’t sting so bad does it? 😉

    Modern corporate culture amazes me with their euthenisms for lay offs.

    Down sizing = the original layoff euthenism
    Right sizing = adding insult to injury, as in right for whom!
    FMP – Force Management Program = yet another TLA for layoff
    Furlough = temporary layoff, oh isn’t it nice that they are giving me some unpaid time off

    and I’m sure there are more!

    No matter what it is called. Dig the well before you’re thirsty!

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