Layoffs are a strategic economic reality these days. In addition to other types of training I am involved in presenting “career transition” training for groups of employees and managers who have been laid off. It is my responsibility to help them get past the trauma of displacement and to guide them to their next career path.

 

The demographic variance of organizations, functions and types of employees being laid off is generously wide. No industry has been left untouched by the recession. Some of the biggest corporations in the world all but disappeared overnight.

1991-1994 was also a period of recession that created layoffs across many industries. However, primary to layoffs in the early 90’s recession were the manufacturing and technology industries. In the unofficial recession of 2001 and when the dotcom bubble burst there was more chaos and we should have learned then that there is no safe career path.

While being laid off effects morale and refocuses the loyalty and motivation of employees I’ve noticed a change in the way folks are responding to layoffs today.

As in all change, the meaning we make of change, especially change that is out of our control, is the greatest predictor of how we will perceive the events of our lives.

Whether we see the event as a victim or a conqueror or somewhere between is reflected in the amount of stress and disability folks demonstrate in response to being laid off. I will help you shake off the recession mindstate and get you excited about your career again.