Ten Tips for Surviving a Layoff - Lorelei Logsdon

Lorelei Logsdon is a 40 yr-old wife, mother, and freelance writer currently living in North Carolina. I am here to pursue my love of writing and to network with other writers (see http://www.ljlogsdon.com/)

Losing your job can be one of the most stressful life-events a person can go through. The fear of not being able to find another comparable job in order to provide for your family, the fear of losing your home, your vehicles, and the lifestyle you've become accustomed to, all contribute to this high level of stress.

Cyclical layoffs are a normal part of life within both the mortgage industry and entertainment industry, and since that's where most of my positions have been over the past 14 years, I've been laid off five times. I consider myself to be an authority on the subject simply from personal experience, and with the current state of the economy, it's very possible that you could come face-to-face with a layoff situation as well.

The first thing to understand is that being laid off is not a personal reflection on you. Layoffs are a reflection of the economy - whether globally, nationally, or just within your own industry. Layoffs are one instance where it helps to think of yourself as just a number, since nothing you did or could do would have any effect on the situation. Layoffs have absolutely nothing to do with you personally.

It's normal to feel a bit of panic once the reality of being laid off sets in, and to feel like life is spinning out of control. The trick is to use that negative energy in a positive way to help motivate you, instead of sitting back and just feeling sorry for yourself. It's at this crucial crossroad where you must take control of the situation and be proactive instead of reactive, because if you let fear and depression control you, you won't get very far. Put a positive spin on a negative situation by looking at the layoff as an opportunity to reassess your career goals and maybe realign yourself to your true interests. Surviving a layoff is all about being positive and proactive, instead of playing the part of a victim.

These 15 tips will help you not only to survive a layoff, but to come out on the other side even better for having gone through it.

Apply for unemployment benefits immediately, even if you think you won't be unemployed for very long. Do it while everything is fresh in your mind so that once things settle down you can use your time to focus on your career plan instead of on busywork.

Reassess your monthly budget and make cuts wherever you can, especially frivolous spending such as eating out, unnecessary driving, magazines, cable extras, snack foods, etc.

Don't overreact and end up making rash decisions you'll regret later. Don't rush into a new job, or immediately put your house on the market, or make any large decisions without giving ample rational thought to it first. Remember to think, not react.

Take a career development course to learn how to write an effective cover letter, craft an effective résumé, practice your interviewing skills, learn your strengths and weaknesses, take personality tests, and develop a career plan. If the company that laid you off offers this benefit as part of your severance package, make sure to take advantage of it. (A great example of this service can be found at http://www.right.com)

If your industry was hit particularly hard, think of other industries you can target for your job-search where your skills can be used. Skills in managing people and/or technologies, motivating, speaking, writing, record-keeping, and computer skills are examples of skills that can be used across many various industries. (For more on transferable skills, check out http://careerplanning.about.com/od/careerchoicechan/a/transferable.htm)

Focus on networking instead of cold-calling or blindly mailing out your résumé. At least 70% of all jobs are acquired through some form of networking and referrals. Talk to people at church, your neighbors, other parents picking their kids up at school, those you meet at the grocery store or at your kid's little league game, or other patients waiting in the doctor's office. Every person you meet is a potential contact who could lead you to your next job. Keep notes with names, dates and basic information so you know who's calling if they contact you. Join local interest groups as another way to network in your area.

Prepare your own business cards on basic business-card stock from the office supply store. Provide your contact information and desired job title (i.e. "Project Manager," "C# Developer," "Web Designer," "Mortgage Consultant") and have an ample supply at-the-ready (in your car, in your wallet or purse, etc.) because you never know when you may need one.

Keep your sense of humor so that you don't allow yourself to get too far down. Trying to see the lighter side of a bad situation can help to alleviate the stress. Read the comics section of the newspaper, watch a silly cartoon with your kids, or borrow a funny book from a friend. Try to find something to laugh about every day.

Don't be too proud to ask for help from your family, friends, church, neighbors, etc. Most people are happy to help. If you need someone to watch the kids while you make some calls, or if you need a ride to an interview, or if you just need someone to talk to - don't hesitate to ask for what you need.

Pamper yourself for stress-reduction. Take a warm bubble bath, read a trashy novel, get a massage, take up walking with a neighbor, or borrow a movie you've always wanted to see from a friend. Give yourself permission to have down-time and to relax.

By following these tips you will eventually come to realize that being laid off is not the end of the world and you will come out all the stronger for having survived it. So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back on the ground, running!

Three Tips to Benefit from the Wall Street Collapse - Joe Turner

As a recruiter, Joe Turner has spent the past 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their careers. Author of Job Search Secrets Unlocked and Paycheck 911, Joe has interviewed on radio talk shows and offers free insider job search secrets at: www.jobchangesecrets.com .

The current economic meltdown is just the tip of a much larger iceberg that will have far reaching economic implications for all of us here in the U.S. Tens of thousands of layoffs in and beyond the financial industry will only be the start of more sober times as companies across the country will be forced to rethink their future hiring plans.

One fact seems certain. All of these circumstances will combine to have huge ramifications for job seekers. The failing economy and a constantly rising unemployment rate will require individuals to take a fresh approach to their job search.

Referencing the most recent economic crisis, Neil McNulty, Principal Recruiter, McNulty Management Group states, "The game has changed, but the rules remain the same: now, more than ever, job seekers need to change their mindset from looking for ‘openings’ to looking for ‘opportunities’... and opportunities are borne out of crisis and chaos, and exist even in the worst economy."

This means that you, as a job seeker, must look beyond job postings and move into marketing yourself to the managers of the companies and organizations who are experiencing problems that you can solve.

1) Change Your Mindset
Move away from being a passive job seeker to an active problem-solver. Don’t just rely on the internet to find job openings. Scour the marketplace to find the hidden jobs that aren’t advertised. Most jobs are not posted or advertised. The best jobs are often found through networking, word-of-mouth and informational interviews.

2) Stop Thinking of Yourself as Just an Assortment of Job Skills.
See yourself as a product to package and market, and then create your own marketing campaign to find your desired job. This includes having a state-of-the-art resume, and sharpening your interviewing skills.

3) Sell ROI
View yourself in terms of Return on Investment for an employer. See yourself as a mini-profit and loss center. Be prepared to demonstrate ways you have helped to positively impact the bottom line of your past or current employer. This means demonstrating ways you've helped make money or save money for an employer or clients. As employees, we all touch money. Some of us may be closer to it than others. Regardless, we must find ways to prove this in short "sound bites" when given the opportunity.
Remember, it’s not about you, but about the employer. All communication with a prospective employer must answer the question, “What’s in it for me?”

The road ahead will be littered with casualties, no mistake about that. We could sit by and whine about the circumstances. We could wait for the government to initiate a "bailout" package that might somehow rescue the unemployed. Or, we could take charge of our own lives and power ourselves forward regardless of the hysteria of others. Joseph P. Kennedy said many years ago, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. That statement is just as true today as it was then. We all share this rocky, tough economy in common, whether employed or not. We can respond as victims of the economy or we can get tough and get going.

Five Ways to Make Starting a New Career Less Scary - Leslie Godwin

Leslie Godwin, MFCC, is a Career & Life-Transition Coach specializing in helping people put their families, values, and principles first when making career and life choices. Leslie is the author of, "From Burned Out to Fired Up: A Woman's Guide to Rekindling the Passion and Meaning in Work and Life" published by Health Communications. For more information, go to www.LeslieGodwin.com.

If you believe most of the current magazines that profile successful entrepreneurs or others with high-profile careers, then you probably think that the best way to change careers is to close your eyes, max out your credit cards, and leap off the cliff. While that makes for a great story, the truth is quite different, and less risky. Most people that have changed careers successfully have done one or more of the following.

Here are five ways to make starting your new career less scary and more rewarding:

1. Planning And Clarity Make The Unknown Known...And Less Scary
What type of career change will meet your needs? Slow down and explore as many options as possible. Marci Taub, co-author of Work Smart: 250 Smart Moves Your Boss Already Knows, notes that it is important to "clarify whether you need a full career change, a career shift, or an industry or sector change before you leap."

The more specific your plans, the less scary they are. Find out as much as you can about your prospective career. This could include: the number of working hours typical of that career, any specialized training you'll need, and if there's a lot of burnout in that field. Another reason to plan ahead: the higher the risk of your new venture, the more planning you need to do to increase your chances for success.

2. Talk To Others Who Have Changed Careers Lately
If you are working in a secure job for a large company, you are probably surrounded by others working in secure jobs for a large company. These are not the people who can give you advice about changing careers. Even worse is hanging around with disgruntled types because they support your ideas about leaving. Their unhappiness can be contagious. The fact that they are miserable but not willing to do anything about it but complain confirms that they have nothing to teach you.

On the other hand, if you talk to people who have just made the change to a career that is meaningful and satisfying to them, they have a wealth of information that will be useful and motivating. Find out what their concerns were, and how they've handled them. What would they do differently? What do they recommend for your situation? Talk to enough people that you get an overview of what it takes to make it in a new career.

3. Talk To Others Who Have Long-Since Changed Careers
Temper the enthusiasm and optimism of those who have just made the change, with the wisdom and depth of experience of those who see the big picture. When you talk to people who made a significant career change quite a while ago, you learn what works over the long-run, and what to do when the excitement wears off. Do they still like what they do? What challenges took them by surprise, and how did they respond? How much of their success was due to their own efforts as opposed to being in the right place at the right time? Keep asking different people until you notice patterns of how the process unfolds for most people.

4. Soul-Searching Prevents Making The Same Mistakes In New Career
Don't just use your intellect; use your intuition. To soul-search means to contemplate your situation based on what your SOUL cares about. That might include:

-your quality of life
-the meaning behind what you do
-spending time on what you care about
-understanding that your life has a deeper purpose than just making a living
-Depending on your personality, you may need to do more or less soul-searching.

If you tend to act impulsively, and seem to continually end up in similar problematic situations, you need to do MORE. Therapy or career coaching can help you better understand why you want to make a change, and can help you ensure that you aren¹t just running from one bad situation to one that¹s even worse.

But if you tend to agonize over every decision, large or small, and would much prefer to think through every detail until the opportunity is no longer available, you may need to do LESS contemplating and more doing.

True insight and curiosity about what makes you tick doesn't lead to endless procrastination. In fact, the better you know yourself, the less likely it is that you'll allow yourself to be tripped up with insecurities or needing to prove yourself to others.

5. Put Your Career In A Larger Context
If you define yourself by your job title, salary level, or other aspect of your career, making a change will feel like changing your identity. However, if you see your place in the universe defined by more than your job, you'll have a sense of simply taking a new step down your unique path.

How can you make your career change less scary? There are lots of ways. These are just a few. I hope they get you started on your ongoing journey. Let that journey include understanding yourself better all the time and making career choices that enhance ALL aspects of your life.

How to Handle the Job Offer You Can't Afford - Joann S. Lublin

Joann S. Lublin writes for the CAREER STRATEGIES section of the online version of the Wall Street Journal wsj.com.

Earlier this year, Mark Cummuta walked away from a chance to become the No. 2 executive of a Chicago technology consultancy -- for less than $100,000. As the sole breadwinner and father of triplets, Mr. Cummuta couldn't afford a nearly 20% cut in pay, compared with what he was earning as an independent management consultant.

He's still looking for a permanent position. "Every now and then, I hit myself and say, 'I should have taken that offer,'" concedes the consultant, who has helped several firms navigate difficult times since 2003.

Unfortunately, Mr. Cummuta is hardly unique. More battered businesses are giving new hires less money than they made in their last job. "I am seeing that a lot more," says April M. Williams, a career coach in Algonquin, Ill. Puny amounts flabbergast some of her clients.

"As the downturn deepens, an increasing number of job seekers will find themselves getting lower-paying offers," says Mark Royal, a senior consultant at Hay Group. "We are on the cusp of a trend."

But excess eagerness to toil for fewer bucks sends the wrong signal. Such applicants often "are really desperate," says Niki Leondakis, chief operating officer at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, a boutique chain in San Francisco.

Rather than immediately reject or accept a lowball deal, you should mount a careful counterattack, experts recommend. You could improve your chances of winning a satisfactory compromise, with tradeoffs ranging from a faster pay review to extra perquisites.

Arm yourself with data about the going rate for your position by trolling Web sites such as salary.com, indeed.com/salary, salaryexpert.com and glassdoor.com. You'll see whether a concern "has poor information about the external market" and rewards staffers below prevailing levels, says Robin Pinkley, a professor at Southern Methodist University's business school and author of books about pay negotiations.

As part of your homework, you must grasp a potential employer's problems so you can promote yourself as a problem solver worth more than the proposed skimpy pay. "To negotiate in tough times, you have to be able to create a vision," says Jim Camp, an author and president of Camp Group, a negotiation-consulting firm in Dublin, Ohio.

A big New York law firm recently agreed to hire an Ohio lawyer for $140 an hour, $40 an hour less than he was earning. The firm blamed tough times. But the attorney knew he could provide important client referrals, recalls Mr. Camp, who coached him. "What number would I be paid if I brought a million-dollar client?" the candidate asked firm officials.

"If you're a rainmaker, the numbers change," they replied, according to Mr. Camp. After further interviews, the firm raised his starting pay to $240 an hour. He began last summer.

A West Coast executive took this tactic a step further. Keen to enter senior management several years ago, she hoped to accept a vice presidency at a midsize manufacturer -- and keep making over $300,000 a year. But the concern offered less than $200,000, the same cash compensation it gave other VPs.

The woman prepared a Power Point presentation for the chief executive, highlighting accomplishments he didn't know about and describing ways she might bolster customer satisfaction. She says she also sold him on a quarterly bonus plan for herself, linked to measurable milestones needed for the manufacturer's long-term growth.

The CEO enlarged her package by nearly $25,000. And she racked up bonuses fast enough that she was paid nearly $300,000 within a year. "It was a win-win for the company," she notes.

Some job hunters weighing lower offers bargain for alternative rewards, such as flexible hours, extra vacation, special training or a gym membership. Not everyone can long survive on a shrunken paycheck, however.

PeaceKeeper Cause-Metrics, a small cosmetics distributor, offered Stephanie S. Hayano a $50,000 salary to be its chief operating officer starting last January. She previously earned $300,000 a year running Natural Health Trends Corp. The puny pay wouldn't have even covered mortgages for her three residences. "Unless I was prepared to totally change my lifestyle, $50,000 was not in the cards," Ms. Hayano says.

She assumed the COO title at the New York firm, but gets compensated as a part-time consultant and retains other consulting gigs.

It's a good idea to assess the long-term career impact of toiling for less. Younger individuals, for instance, might get a valuable opportunity to build their résumés.

That proved true for Sanjay Gupta. In 1994, the 26-year-old senior marketing analyst accepted 10% lower pay when he transferred to a database marketing job at his employer, FedEx Corp. He and his wife were forced to dine out less often. However, Mr. Gupta says that he gained experience "with every facet of marketing," a critical skill for becoming a chief marketing officer of a big business some day. He achieved that title last March, when GMAC Financial Services named him CMO.

The Stress of Unemployment: Managing the Emotional Roller Coaster - Nancy Collamer

Nancy Collamer M.S. is a career counselor and founder of Jobsandmoms.com, a website for professional-level women who are looking for flexible jobs, work-at-home opportunities and innovative work/life resources.
She is the Author of the book, "The Layoff Survival Guide."

It's not so much that we're afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it's that place in between that we fear . . . It's like being between trapezes. It's Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There's nothing to hold on to.-- Marilyn Ferguson

This book is a “how-to” guide focused on practical steps to take to better manage the transition from pink-slip to paycheck. Consequently until now, I’ve focused on the more tangible aspects of managing your unemployment. But at this juncture, I would be remiss, if I were to go any further without discussing the emotional impact of being unemployed.

Much has been written on this topic and some of it is quite good. But I can tell you from having been through this myself; you don’t need a book to tell you being unemployed is lousy. Even under the best of circumstances; when you’ve got ample savings, decent job prospects, and a healthy severance package, there’s no denying the unemployment blues. I’ve read those articles telling you to look at this time as “a gift”, an “opportunity to explore untapped horizons” and a “welcome retreat from the rat race.” While all of that may be true; when you’ve got a family to feed, a mortgage to pay and no good job prospects in sight, it can be mighty hard to look at this as a “golden” opportunity to feed your soul.

Losing your job is a life-changing event, a major transition characterized by many of the same stages that occur when there is a death in the family. If you speak to people who have been through this, they will tell you there are some predictable stages of mourning during job loss, similar to the grieving process:

Shock and denial: Even if the news of your job loss was expected, you may have experienced a feeling of shock or confusion when you heard the words coming out of your boss’s mouth. Don’t expect the shock to subside immediately - once you’ve processed the news on a conscious level, the shock waves may continue to reverberate for a while.

Anger: You may get angry with yourself, your employer and even your family. It’s not unusual for people to react with feelings of anger; voicing their frustration with comments like, “I can’t believe they could do this to me” or “How could I be so stupid to allow myself to be in this situation?”

Bargaining: Don’t be surprised if you find yourself thinking, “Maybe if I offer to take a pay cut or propose working part-time or… they’ll consider taking me back.” Over time this wishful thinking form of bargaining will be replaced by a more realistic action-based plan.

Depression: Particularly if your job search takes longer than expected, depression may set in. Depression clouds your thinking, saps your energy and undermines the job search. While some periods of feeling depressed are normal, consistent depression may need to be treated by a professional.

Acceptance: With time, acceptance of the situation as it is, as opposed to what you would like it to be, will begin to take hold. The "acceptance" stage is the best place to be when starting a job search, but you might not have the luxury of waiting until this point to begin your search.

No two people work through grief in the same way or at the same pace. As you cycle through the grief process and get deeper into the job search, expect to have good days and bad days. You may have moments of total panic interspersed with moments of quiet acceptance, feelings of helplessness and thoughts of “Is this ever going to end?,” followed by days when it looks like everything is going to fall right into place.

Unemployment is a bumpy, unpredictable emotional roller-coaster ride. And, while you can’t change the unpredictable nature of the ride, there are steps you can take to better manage your reaction to the peaks and valleys you’ll inevitably experience.
Ways to Manage Fear and Depression

Don’t compare yourself to others: The impact of job loss varies from person to person. It’s likely that a single 25 year-old who lives at home and is thinking about going back to graduate school will react to his/her job loss with a different intensity than a 40 year-old single mother who is laid off from the only job she has ever held. But, it’s also true that two people in similar situations may have two totally different reactions to their common loss. Each individual is unique and reacts with a wide range of emotions and behaviors; there is no one right way to handle this transition.

Become part of a support group: As wonderful as family and friends can be, many people find that joining a support group of peers is the most valuable support of all. Interacting with a group of people, who are in your situation and can fully understand what you’re going through, can be an invaluable aid in helping you maintain perspective and a sense of humor during your search.
Be honest about your emotions: Admitting your anger, fear, and frustrations to your support group is the first step toward managing your emotions instead of letting them control you.

Name and Claim the Enemy: Rather than walking around with a vague but continual sense of anxiety, try to figure out what specific things worry you most. By facing what you actually fear (i.e., financial instability, concerns that you’ll never find a comparable position) you can see how realistic your fears are and begin to work on a plan for addressing those issues.

Recognize that Luck Plays a Role in this Process: While it’s hard not to wonder why your friend landed a job quickly while you’re still looking, the answer is that every person’s search proceeds at a unique pace. Luck, timing, market opportunities and a hundred other factors conspire together in mysterious ways. Remember the saying,

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Avoid Negative People: A group of pessimistic nay-sayers will do nothing but reinforce your worst fears. Align yourself with friends and colleagues who think more of you than you think of yourself – their suggestions will inspire, empower, and encourage you to move on in the face of rejection. Sometimes though, even the best-intentioned people don’t know what to say and as a result usually end up saying the wrong thing. Try to remember their intentions are honorable, even if their actions are less than helpful.

Take Care of Yourself: Mom was right; it’s important to take care of yourself. Get enough sleep, exercise and eat well. Don’t allow yourself to mope around the house in pajamas all day – project an image that reinforces a positive outlook.

Focus on the Positive: While you can’t change events, you can change how you react to them. Instead of focusing on the negatives on your life, take note of the positive side of unemployment. Whether it’s the opportunity to spend more time with your children, having a chance to explore new career directions or simply being able to sleep past 6 a.m., there is undoubtedly something positive to recognize during this difficult transition.

Keep Busy: There is nothing more depressing than staring at an empty calendar. Schedule your job search activities (i.e., 10 a.m.– 11 a.m.: make cold calls, 2 p.m.-4 p.m.: work on revising resume, etc.) as you would normal business appointments. If you have blocks of unused time, look in the newspaper for listings of business related meetings, trade shows or seminars that you might be able to attend. Go to the library. Force yourself to get out of the house.
Volunteer: By helping others, you’ll help yourself feel more valued. Even if it’s only a few hours each month, the psychological boost of helping those less fortunate can be significant.

Seek professional help: If your sadness feels very profound and does not seem to improve, consider getting professional help. The cost of ignoring depression can be far greater than the cost of getting treatment. Consult your local mental health clinics, social services agencies or professional counselors for help for yourself and family members who are affected by your unemployment. Some assistance may be covered by your health insurance or, if you do not have insurance, counseling is often available on a "sliding scale" fee, based on income.

The Biggest Severance Package Mistakes - Kirk Nemer, J.D., SPHR

It does not matter whether your company calls it a “mass layoff”, “reductions-in-force”, “position elimination”, “downsizing”, “outsourcing”, “restructuring”, or some other euphemism for having your employment terminated with only two hours notice. You are informed that ‘today will be your last day of work and pack up your personal belongings in your office’. Yes, this is a stressful time and a sad chapter of your life, but having your employment terminated by your company could be the best for you and your career. The good news is that you are not alone as millions of people leave jobs for other ones every year.

The bad news is that millions of Americans who are offered a severance package, a retirement package, or a buyout offer from companies leave dollars, benefits, and many other incentives on the table as they walk out a company's doors. Most people don't realize they can negotiate for extended pay, more benefits and other terms of their employment departure. Employees also are too quick to sign the release agreements and leave their companies, focusing primarily on the severance pay and overlooking key areas of their packages.

Severance Pay Mistake #1

"There is no law which requires a severance pay". True, but then why do all companies pay a severance?

There is no law which states that severance pay must be provided, but all companies provide severance pay because the alternative is far more costly. Keep reading…

Severance Pay Mistake #2

"I'm an at-will employee so I cannot get severance pay".

At-will employment simply means that you are employed for an unstated duration, not a fixed period of time. It means you can leave at any time, and, your employer can terminate your employment at anytime, but a termination must be for legal reasons and a layoff must be performed legally! Being in an at-will employment state, or having an at-will employment contract, does not mean you cannot obtain severance-pay and a great severance package because you have leverage...

Severance Pay Mistake #3

"I have no leverage to get severance pay and I don't want to 'burn bridges' with my company".

Whether you were fired for poor performance, laid off, outsourced, or you have resigned, your employing company is fearful of negative publicity, complaints from former employees to board members, the possibility of being sued and the disruptive time and expense of litigation, and anyone speaking ill of the company. Companies want you to go away quietly and stop any possible controversy. All companies expect to negotiate severance packages in exchange for a Separation and Release Agreement, so you will be leaving not only on 'good terms', but also on your own terms!

Severance Pay Mistake #4

"My company is bankrupt or is being acquired, so no severance pay".

Most severance packages are provided when companies have no money, file bankruptcy, or simply cut costs through layoffs. In fact, severance packages provided during these unfortunate events are usually more generous.

Severance Pay Mistake #5

"My severance package is not negotiable and must be signed right away".

Human Resources and your boss will push you to take the check they've already cut and sign a release agreement right away. Don't do it as no employment situation is 'take it or leave it'. Tell them you need to think this situation over. They will not, and cannot, withdraw the severance offer-even if you ask for more! In fact, there are federal laws which require them to give you three weeks or up to 60 days to consider the agreement-more than enough time to negotiate a better severance package.

Severance Pay Mistake #6

"I can negotiate a severance package by myself".

People who do this always underestimate their own value, what their company has in the past provided to others, and, what their company will provide for them in a severance package. In addition, they leave out compensation, benefits and legal protections which can be negotiated and should be included in all severance packages.

Severance Pay Mistake #7

"I can review and understand the legal language within the Separation and Release of Claims Agreement my company wants me to sign in exchange for my severance package."

All Separation and Release Agreements state that you should consult with an attorney and have the attorney review the release of rights prior to signing it. This is for your protection, as you may not understand or even see the hidden restrictive covenants within the separation/release agreement and within your original employment agreement. An experienced Employment Attorney with a Human Resources background is best qualified to review a separation/release agreement, not your family or business contracts attorney.

Severance Pay Mistake #8

"I will hire an attorney to represent me".

Severance pay packages are created and implemented by your friendly Human Resources Department. But, if you hire an attorney to represent you to negotiate a severance deal, your friendly HR Department MUST, and will, turn you and your attorney over to its corporate Legal Department and its attorneys. You will have a tough time negotiating a severance as corporate attorneys always take a tough stance against opposing attorneys. Your matter will be legally escalated into a battle of attorneys. And, it's another story if you launch a lawsuit. The best severance deals come from HR departments.

To avoid these mistakes, you need both legal AND human resources experts on your side to assist you in getting the best severance package!
Get what you're worth,
Get what you've earned,
Get what you're legally entitled to receive,
Get Career Protection-Your advantage in employment negotiations.

About Career Protection®
A leading national provider of employment negotiations advice, the human resource and legal experts at Career Protection® have protected the careers of professionals throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Career Protection has negotiated hundreds of employment agreements and severance pay packages. Career Protection’s HR and employment law experts have previously served as Vice Presidents of Human Resources, Directors of Human Resources, Corporate Counsel/Attorneys, or Recruiters for many Fortune 500 and Global Corporations. Click on the following for a FREE CONSULTATION: http://www.careerprotection.com/freelegaladvice.html

Four Steps to Getting Started in a New Career - Tag and Catherine Goulet

Tag and Catherine Goulet are founders of FabJob.com, a publisher of career guides offering step-by-step advice for breaking into a variety of dream careers. Visit http://www.fabjob.com/ to find the guide to your dream career.

1. Learn about the career
Before you start looking for a job, learn as much as you can about the career, including the nature of the work, the skills needed and employment opportunities. Some ways to learn about a new career include: informational interviews with people working in the industry, attending meetings of professional associations, taking courses, finding information online and reading books about the career.

2. Develop the skills you need
Some skills, such as being well-organized and a good communicator, are helpful in many careers. Other skills are specific to the career. For example, an interior decorator needs a good eye for design while a business consultant needs to be able to identify and recommend solutions to business problems. You can develop skills through formal education. Perhaps the best way to develop your skills is by getting hands-on experience. (See step three.)

3. Get hands-on experience
Don't worry about the classic job-hunter's dilemma: To get a job you need experience, but to get experience you need a job. There are ways to get experience before you get the job. In fact, having experience will help you move into the position you want much more quickly at a higher pay rate.
Ways to get experience before you start applying for your dream job include: volunteering your services (to a department in your company, family and friends or a nonprofit organization); securing an internship; working a part-time, entry-level position; or starting your own part-time business.

4. Get hired for the job you want
If you want paid employment, this will involve preparing job-hunting materials (e.g. résumé, cover letter and portfolio), finding job openings and applying for jobs, going on interviews and negotiating salary when you're offered a job.

If you want your own business, you'll need to handle a number of details like choosing a business name, deciding whether to incorporate, obtaining inventory, finding a location, setting your prices, marketing your business and working with customers.

As you can see, there are many steps to getting started in a new career. The good news is that there are also many excellent resources available to help you get started.

Negotiating Your Way To A Great Deal - Richard Parker

Richard Parker is the author of How To Buy A Good Business At A Great Price. This best-selling program contains over 500 pages covering every stage of the business-buying process. Visit www.diomo.com.

When it comes to buying a business for sale, the most exciting and anxious moments can be experienced when the time arrives for you to enter into negotiations and make an offer. This part of the process completely handcuffs some individuals. There’s really no need for this to happen. Just like every other aspect to the buying process, your preparation will determine your level of success.

Keep in mind that this should be an enjoyable and educational part of buying a business. There is much to be learned during this phase. You must also realize that negotiations will evolve, and so if you approach it with an open-minded strategy instead of a “take it or leave it” philosophy, you will ultimately perform much better and produce a stronger deal.

Likewise, you should also know this is the stage when many deals come apart and never recover. Most of the time this happens because of the inability of one or both parties to truly understand what it takes to get the other side to see their point. Or, a failure to address the other party’s needs in a way that protects your specific interests at the same time.

Negotiating involves many independent personality issues. When dealing with a seller you must bear in mind that this is a very emotional time for them. They are looking to sell a business that has benefited from their hard work and sweat. It can be quite a personal adjustment for many and they do become irrational. They often feel as though they are losing a part of themselves. Be sensitive to their emotions but never at the expense of fabricating a good deal for you.

Your personality traits will come to light as well. Do your best to understand yourself. If for example, you’re not a patient individual, then you must train yourself to avoid giving in on a certain point simply because you’re tired of discussing it. You’re better off to move on to something else and come back to it with the seller.

Find Their "Pain", Soothe It and YOU Win!

Everybody has their "hot buttons" in a deal. These are the points that, in the mind of the buyer or seller, will make or break the deal. Once you identify them and can find a way to ease their concerns, you’ll win. It works all the time. As an example, if the seller wants to be certain that they walk away from the deal with a specific amount of money in their pocket after broker commissions, paying debt, etc., then the down payment amount of the deal is clearly their “hot button”. There are two ways to determine this: put in an offer and see where and how they counter, or ask them pointedly: “What’s more important to you, the down payment amount or the purchase price?”

The former method is usually more effective only because you can read into a variety of issues once you see the structure of a counter-offer. However, asking them directly is a very accurate way to measure this as well.

Getting back to our example, if it’s the down payment then it’s your turn to leverage the deal. Get as close as you can to their figure but, in exchange, get reduced interest rates on the balance of sale, extend the first payment to 60, 90 or 180 days after closing, negotiate the first year without interest, include the ability to payoff the note at anytime without penalty or to make periodic lump-sum payments towards the principal. There are tons that you can do once you know their pain.

An associate of mine who is an excellent negotiator always says that you should make, and get, concessions. In other words, whenever you agree to something, get something in return. It always works.

Preparation is The Key To Successful Negotiating

The average purchase agreement has over fifty individual clauses to be negotiated. There is far more involved than simply agreeing upon the price, down payment and terms. You will have to deal with the specific assets to be included, non-compete clauses, lease assignments, inspection period, adjustments, employee issues, liabilities, and on and on it goes.

Think about the specific point to be negotiated, what your position is and what your rebuttal will be to the seller’s comments. Play the “what if” game prior to sitting down to the table.

Play "what if"

Layout the various points, giving consideration to what the short-term and long-term impact will be of your decision. As an example, if you negotiate finance terms with the seller with one lump-sum payment down the road (i.e. a "balloon payment") you must also consider that the business MUST be able to make that payment at that time. What if there’s a cash crunch? What if you’d like to use the funds for something else at that time? What if…. you want to balance that with a straight-line finance program so that you’ll know what your obligations are every month and you can budget accordingly. Every situation is different, but again, consider the impact for today and down the road.

Structuring The Offer – and Remember, It’s YOUR Offer!

The offer will, in most cases, begin the ball rolling on a potential acquisition. At times, this is the most effective way to gain insight into the guts of the business. You may also be dismayed to learn that you may in fact have to make an offer without all of the data that you would like to have. As an example, you may only gain access to the true financials after an accepted offer has been put forth.

This is fine; no need to panic. You may be asking: “How can I formulate an offer without all of the information?” A good question in theory, but this is not always reality. Consider the fact that sellers may be exposed to a plethora of buyers and, not knowing which ones are serious, they may choose to hold back certain information.

The offer you present is YOUR offer. You should be comfortable tabling any terms that YOU are comfortable with. Whatever the seller is “asking” is simply a guideline. Remember, it’s an “asking price” not a purchase price. On the other hand, don’t be ridiculous. Table something that forms the basis of a future meaningful conversation. Your offer is, to a certain extent, a tool to prod the seller into playing his or her hand. To get them to demonstrate their pain; the areas that are fundamental to the deal - from their perspective.

There’s nothing wrong if they are insulted. They may or may not be, and you can always refine your offer as the case may be. Additionally, a buyer’s value of the business will certainly differ from a seller. That’s where negotiation comes into play. There are no hard rules for what the terms of your offer should be. Each situation is different. While it’s not advisable to make unlimited offers expecting one to catch on, you MUST make offers. Don’t over-engineer each potential acquisition. Once a business is of interest, you’ve done your homework, and you determine that you would, under the right conditions, like to buy the business, then get your offer in.

There are standard offer-to-purchase agreements available to use. Every business broker will have one and so too will most attorneys. The one thing that you want to be certain of is to retain the ability to rescind your offer at your “sole and absolute discretion” if you determine that the business is not what it was represented to be. However, you cannot have an unlimited time frame to do so after acceptance of the offer.

Generally, once an offer is accepted, you will have a certain number of days to perform the financial due diligence (often referred to as the “Inspection Period”). Allow yourself enough time to conduct this. The idea is that you must be able to retract the offer for any reason whatsoever right up to the last day of this due diligence period.

There are some offer contracts that stipulate that you cannot retract your offer and get a refund of your deposit if the financials are within 5% of what has been presented. This is a ridiculous clause. Never agree to it. You must be able to get any monies returned, for any reason, through the due diligence phase. Conversely, if you sign off after the due diligence and then decide thereafter you do not wish to go through with the purchase, the seller is, in all fairness, entitled to your deposit.


Lawyers and Accountants and Others - Everyone has an Opinion

Let’s understand one thing: lawyers cannot negotiate your deal for you. They can certainly help to ensure your protection from potential liabilities but when it comes to negotiating the actual business deal, they are definitely NOT the ones to act on your behalf. I am certain that any attorney reading this column will disagree. That’s OK. However, I have yet to meet more than a handful of attorneys who demonstrated any proficiency whatsoever in the actual art of negotiating the deal points of a small business acquisition. Most have never even bought a business themselves so even though they may have been involved in deals, it’s not the same perspective. You’ll want to hear their point, but their input should be reserved for the areas in which they are experts: the legal aspects of the deal.

As for accountants, they too have their role: the input from a financial point of view and tax consequences. Leverage their expertise as well, but do not let them influence the actual business deal.

The Last Word

Great negotiators are not born; they evolve. Your effectiveness will increase over time. Be creative. Be reasonable. Keep the end result of putting a good deal together in your mind. Don’t lose patience. Don’t be confrontational. If there is tough news to deliver, let your broker do it. After all, you will need the seller to provide you with training.

Learn from each experience. Understand that there will be set backs; work though each. You cannot win every point. It’s a give-and-take. Prioritize. Prepare. Win/win is not realistic. The objective is clear: you win, the seller is reasonably happy!

This article is © Copyright 2001-2008 by Richard Parker and may not be reproduced in any format whatsoever without prior written consent of the author.

The recommendations of reading, reference materials or links mentioned, are for general informational purposes only. The materials are intended as a public service and are not a substitute for obtaining professional advice from a qualified firm, person or corporation. Consult the appropriate professional advisor for complete and up-to-the-minute information. These materials do not constitute the rendering of any legal or professional services.

Give THANKS Today

You have many things to be THANKFUL for...family, friends and your health. Today, more than any other day, is a reason to celebrate that.
Life is a MARATHON. Patience is still a virtue. You embrace the victories and learn from the losses.
Today, I give thanks for my family and friends and my third grade soccer team.
I have coached recreational soccer for over 10 years. While I have seen my share of gifted players and terrific teams, my favorite team is the one I am coaching right now. They are an incredible bunch of third graders in West Nyack, NY. Our record this year was 0-6-1.
Why are they my favorite team? Because each and every game they NEVER GAVE UP. Always in it until the end.
The other team had their one or two star players who always scored the goals. While the balance of THEIR teammates where on a winning team, those other kids weren't doing anything to contribute. They just liked being on a winning team. Who wouldn't. Pretty shallow, right?
My kids, however, all contributed. They worked as a team, tried different positions and came ready to play and always played to win. When the game was over, win or lose, they went to the side of the field, had their snack, and made plans for playdates later in the day. Come on, they had their priorities.
In life they are going to be successful. They learned that you are not always going to win. Nobody wins every game. But they did learn never to give up. While there are more important things in life than playing soccer, the life lessons they are learning now will help define how they approach what hits them later on in life.
And when the game was over, they wanted to hang out with each other off the field. In the car going home, nobody talks about the game. They are too busy planning drop-offs and pick-ups for playdates.
And the message is? While it is normal to feel bad at the start of a RIF, let it go. Be a part of a team that never gives up. Stay positive around your friends and family, be grateful for them, let them know how much YOU care.
More importantly, NEVER EVER, EVER, EVER, GIVE UP! Not on your family, your friends or yourself. You will get another job, get your career back on track, you will prevail.
Right now, enjoy your playdate and get some turkey!
HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!

STOP...Give Thanks Tomorrow...and Look Forward to the Future - Mark J. Walker

The point of Thanksgiving is to remember the things we have to be grateful for. It's our special time to give thanks... not just for the obvious, like food, but for the thousands of fortunate moments, the multitude of blessings that we receive each year.

That's not always as easy as it sounds. We tend to remember the bad things much more easily than the good. That's where this article comes in. using the tips below, you can make thankfulness an everyday habit. It's a skill that will benefit you throughout the year.

Think of all the good things that happened because something bad happened first. For example, "If that slow driver hadn't pulled in front of me, I would have gotten a speeding ticket." "If I hadn't tripped on the playground, I would never have met such a nice person." "If I hadn't experienced unemployment, I would never have acquired the skills that got me a more fulfilling job."

Don't focus on what you don't have. Focus on what you do have. For example: "I'm so fortunate to have a warm place to sleep in the winter." "I'm so fortunate to live in a safe neighborhood where I can take walks." "I'm so fortunate to be able to see the beauty around me."

Think about people you've known that have made you thankful for their existence. They can be family, friends or simply people that you've read about or seen on television. Imagine how many other people there are who might be equally as wonderful. You just haven't met them yet.

Think about people who have made life hard for you. Now think about the things you accomplished because of them. Did you finish something because they said that you couldn't? Did you get better at something because they made fun of you when you did it badly? Did their cruel actions make you vow never to treat others that way? Even the negative forces in your life can be hidden blessings, worthy of your gratitude.

Think about the places that make you smile: A favorite hangout, a wooded trail, an exciting city, a great spot from which to view the sky, a hill that you once rolled down. Give thanks for all these things.

Now pass it on. True gratitude involves action. Lend a hand. Pitch in. Make a gift. Give your time. Listen. Give back as often as you can. Even a friendly greeting can make all the difference in the world.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Love your family and friends, continue to keep them close.

From a Corporate Job to a Nonprofit - Toddi Gutner

Toddi Gutner writes for the Career section in The Wall Street Journal, www.wsj.com.

As the country continues to shed jobs, laid-off employees may be rethinking their careers. For some, that may mean shifting from just doing well financially to also doing good. Turning your veteran business skills and experience to the world of nonprofit organizations can be rewarding. But there are also challenges. When making a transition to nonprofit management, consider the following:

Expect a pay cut. Depending on the size, location and mission of the nonprofit, salaries will typically be less than those of corporate jobs for many midlevel and entry-level jobs, says Thomas Pollak, program director of the nonprofit National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute. At executive and management levels, salaries are often closer to those in the for-profit world. Additional benefits like restricted stock, options and lofty bonuses will be a thing of the past.

Be realistic. There are often considerable financial constraints at a nonprofit that aren't as prevalent in corporate America. Go into the position with realistic expectations of what you can and cannot achieve. Nonprofits need the business skills -- like managing profit and losses -- that executives learn in corporate America. But these organizations rely on often-erratic revenue streams from donations, foundations and grants to fund budgets. Remember, "It will be just as hard to achieve your goals, maybe harder, as in corporate life," says John Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger Gray & Christmas, an outplacement-services firm in Chicago.

Do a SWOT. When Joyce Barnathan took over as the president of the International Center for Journalists, a nonprofit that aims to raise journalism standards world-wide, she was coming off a 25-year career in media as a top business magazine editor and writer. Like most new leaders in the for-profit world, Ms. Barnathan did a SWOT analysis assessing the organization's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. "I had to think about the strengths of the organization and build on them without breaking what isn't broken," says Ms. Barnathan.

Build your team. In corporate America, new leaders often quickly sweep aside current management. Nonprofit managers need to take a more-measured approach with the team they inherit, because nonprofit employees are typically bound together by a common commitment to a cause. Thus, there can be an unspoken understanding that job security is part of the employment package, says Mr. Challenger. Changes may need to be made, but it could take a year to build the team you want.

Prepare to fund raise. One of the key roles of almost every nonprofit manager is to raise money and spread the word about the organization. As a fundraiser, you'll need to attend board committee meetings and cultivate and attend fundraising events. Consider attending nonprofit training courses at the Foundation Center to beef up these skills. For many nonprofit newbies, finding ways to diversify and attract new funding sources is key. "You have to find sophisticated, smart ways to interest a broad array of funders that wouldn't normally back you," says Ms. Barnathan.

Is It Crazy to Buy A Business Now? - Richard Parker

Richard Parker is the author of How To Buy A Good Business At A Great Price. This best-selling program contains over 500 pages covering every stage of the business-buying process. Visit www.diomo.com.

It would be easy to convince yourself that right now is not the time to buy a business. I don’t blame you one bit for thinking it may be best to wait.
Or, perhaps you are thinking that you should just go about this cautiously and, if the right opportunity comes up, you will consider it. Caution is always a good approach, but nobody has ever been successful sitting on the sidelines.
So what should you do?
If you approach the market correctly, right now is an opportune time to buy a business. But, there are certain fundamental steps you must take in today's economy to be sure you acquire a business that can withstand the current climate, and grow in the future. The lesson here is simple: today, more than ever, you must be exceptionally diligent in your investigation.
The Business Buying Market Has Completely Changed
The entire market for business sales has changed. Business buyers must negotiate entirely different deal terms today in order to be protected.
Up until recently, the seller always had the advantage. There were lots of able buyers, third-party financing was readily available, and so they could be rigid in their terms, and almost "cocky" in their approach. Those days are gone, gone, gone.
Here's what is happening in the market right now...
Banks have completely stopped lending money to finance small business purchases.
People have lost their confidence in the economy; and while there are still plenty of “lookers”, real business buyers are few and far between.
Sellers are concerned because the number of qualified buyers is a fraction of what the market used to be.
Business brokers are panicked because they can’t sell anything right now.
What a mess!
What an opportunity!
Why It May Be The Ideal Time to Buy a Business
Most business owners are concerned about the future, and if they already had plans to sell in the next few years, they are suddenly incredibly motivated.
Since businesses that are officially on the market are not selling and there are a lot fewer qualified buyers, anyone who is in the position to pull the trigger on a deal is king right now.
The business broker industry is down between 25 to 40%. I work in this field, so I know all the statistics that no broker will tell you – and believe me, it is a disaster! You had better believe that the brokers are forcing their clients to lower their asking price and their expectations because if they don’t sell businesses, they don’t eat.
No matter how firmly any seller or broker may represent their deal terms to be, rest assured they are caving like flies when an offer comes in.
While there are some outstanding opportunities available, there are a lot of garbage businesses listed for sale that will likely go out of business in the next year. Knowing specifically what to look for is critical in order to separate the good from the bad. You cannot limit your search strictly to what you find online – that is NOT where the deals are today.
Five Crucial Issues To Keep In Mind When Looking At and Evaluating Businesses in The Current Market
The challenge you face is how to get through all of the garbage listings and find a rock-solid business that you can sustain and grow, and not wind up with a loser.
Issue # 1 - The seller must be the bank. Traditional lenders are simply not making loans for small business purchases. With the credit crunch, banks are no longer as willing to lend money for small business purchases. It may not sound so, but this is great news for buyers. It means that seller financing, one of the keys to buying a good business at a great price, is now a must. In fact, 91% of our clients have negotiated seller financing into their deals in the past year.
Issue # 2 - The seller must guarantee the future of the business. A performance-based guarantee attached to the purchase price is a must and something that we will help you negotiate. Nearly every single one of our clients is doing so today.
Issue # 3 - You need to look at a different set of financials than normal. Instead of year-end numbers, you have to get access to the monthly financials for the past three years. You need to measure and compare the current monthly periods to prior ones so you can easily identify any decline in the business, determine when it began, and what the recent trends have been.
Issue # 4 - The current economy won’t last forever. It never does. While a business may be experiencing a small decline now, as long as the key fundamentals are in place, the trend will eventually be reversed. Being able to identify these underlying fundamentals is paramount.
Issue # 5 - Valuations must reflect the current trends - not the "glory days". If the business is not growing, you can easily rationalize taking the lower profit numbers and make them the entire basis for your valuation. That way, even if the company has had three tremendous years recently, you can calculate the valuation entirely upon the fact that they’ve experienced a slowdown recently. Nobody can dispute that argument.
Your Next Steps
I am not suggesting that you go out and buy the next business you see. But if you have the right information available, and the right advice to help you, you can negotiate an incredible deal.
Despite the economy right now, while everyone else is sitting around talking about all the doom and gloom, you can be on your way to owning a good business.

This article is © Copyright 2001-2008 by Richard Parker and may not be reproduced in any format whatsoever without prior written consent of the author.
The recommendations of reading, reference materials or links mentioned, are for general informational purposes only. The materials are intended as a public service and are not a substitute for obtaining professional advice from a qualified firm, person or corporation. Consult the appropriate professional advisor for complete and up-to-the-minute information. These materials do not constitute the rendering of any legal or professional services.

Do You Want to Remain in Your Current Industry?

If you want to stay in your current industry, get out your resume and get to work. You need to polish it up. It may make sense to pay someone to do it for you. But you will need to do SOME updating yourself. There are plenty of services and plenty of books that you can get for Resume writing, I will post some of the better ones soon.
Now you have to network. Talk to everyone and anyone, let them know that you are looking for a job and ask them if you can use them as a reference. Find out if their are any conferences in the area that are targeting your current industry. Sign up and go.
BE POSITIVE. Don't complain about your former company and don't belittle any of your colleagues that remained. No body wants to hire someone a negative person, much less someone who is going to be bitter and complain about their last employer.
Positive, up-beat employess are considered confident and actionable. Consider your experience a valuable lesson on how to you would react to a crisis (losing your job).