A recession could be the best thing that could happen to your career. Yes, you read it right. And, it’s not for the usual reasons, ie starting a business, becoming a stay-at-home mom/dad, reevaluating goals, etc.
No, a recession can be a good thing for you because it’s the best time to shine, to make real progress. Here’s why.
Pro tips on handling job loss and layoffs: It’s your time to shine
During a recession, jobs are lost and layoffs occur. Those left behind are usually asked to take on more responsibilities. And, while many workers spend their time bitching and complaining about this, you can really take this as an opportunity to shine, in a number of ways.
Attitude: When the chips are down is when a person’s true character shines through. The attitude you bring to work every day can either increase your value in the eyes of your organization or decrease it. While all the hard intangibles like the right skill set, education, and experience are always important, it’s the soft intangibles like attitude, mindset, and logic that can propel you to the next level.
Who would you rather work with, someone who complains about the seriousness of the situation or someone who comes in with an upbeat and positive attitude? Since employees spend most of their waking hours in the office, the tone set there can have a major effect on other areas of their lives.
These are nuances that any professional giving professional advice can highlight for you.
Volunteer: Another way to make a good impression if your company has suffered layoffs is to voluntarily take on more work. As mentioned above, this is a difficult time for everyone from upper management to the mail room staff.
Your boss likely has a lot of additional pressures that most subordinates have no idea about. Stepping up and volunteering for additional work during this time can really make you stand out. Why? Because a lot of your co-workers will complain about all the extra work they’re doing for no extra pay.
Going to your boss and expressing your desire to “throw any way you can” during this difficult transition will not only make you look good, it will certainly be an outlet for some of your stress. They won’t have to worry about assigning someone a task, wondering how they’re going to take it, if they’ll do the best job, if they’ll have to constantly review it, etc.
While you will have additional work, this is a great opportunity to learn new tasks, making you the most valuable to your organization.
This is the kind of career advice that keeps many employed while others live in constant fear of losing their jobs.
Pro tips on what to do if you lose your job: Is a recession still the best thing for your career?
“But,” you may be thinking, “what if I get fired after all this?”
There are things we control in life and things we cannot control. If you get fired after being a soldier with a good attitude and taking on extra work, you can find comfort in two things:
(i) You were grace under pressure: When you bring your best self to a task/situation, take comfort in the fact that you put your best foot forward. You didn’t join the ranks of the complainers. You rolled up your sleeves and finished the job. There’s fun in knowing you leave that kind of impression.
(ii) Good reference: First, your boss will hate to let you go if you’ve done the above. And they will do everything they can to help you get the next position from him. Once they get the call from their next potential employer, you can bet the information on how you handled yourself during the tough times will be part of their recommendation.
And who knows, your current company might ask you to do some consulting work or rehire you in the future. The point is, if you have gone above and beyond the call of duty, you will be remembered because it is very rare for people to react this way when faced with job loss.
Although a recession is never expected, like everything in life, the economy is cyclical. Recessions are likely to happen a few times throughout your professional life. How you handle it makes all the difference.
If handled correctly, a recession could very well be the best thing that could happen to your career.
best professional advice
There is an old idiomatic expression that says: “The best time to look for a job is when you have it.” This is true for the obvious reasons: you are not that desperate, so you can take your time and choose the opportunity that best suits your needs.
Proactive Career Advice: Start Making Money Online Fast While Working Full Time
However, to never have to worry about losing your job again, start a side business. There are numerous free and easy ways to make money online fast that you can get started while working full time. This way, if you lose your job, you can focus your attention on your full-time side job, or at least receive some money while you search for your next full-time job.
When evaluating all the career advice you search the web for or hear from friends and family, keep in mind to start with something extra, as it helps inoculate you against the ups and downs of full-time employment.
