By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
“A lifetime is not a long time. We like to think of ourselves as immortal but life has a way of showing us how ridiculous we are to live life from that perspective.”
You may remember, I went to Florida a few weeks ago to see my brother. I knew he was not well and was shocked by how poorly he was doing.
Thursday, night, he died. As I write this, I’m in New Jersey. Today (Sunday), I’m among the speakers at his funeral and on to the cemetery in NJ for his burial and then head back home on Tuesday and back to work Wednesday.
As I think about what I’ll say, I want to remind you that the people we love live imperfect lives and the good memories, and put away any internal poisons we carry from imperfect loved ones.
Are You The Target for a Job Layoff?
If a disaster devastated your home, would you sit and complain about it or would you be making new plans?
Too often, the first thing people do when their firm is experiencing problems is to sit and mope, complain, do anything other than fit for their jobs or hit the exits. After all, complaining does nothing. Action does.
So if you learn your firm is experiencing financial problems severe enough to put layoffs in the cards or your job in jeopardy, here are a few things to do.
If you run a business unit or a company and the numbers disappoint, don’t just take it; make your case to the board, to the president, to anyone who should hear it. Don’t let the numbers stand unchallenged. Make sure people know that it is not unique to your firm and that you have a plan to change things.
If you’re the Average Joe or Josephine, be the “backbone of the organization.” Come in early and leave late. Care about what you do and document everything. Make sure people know how much effort you put in without seeming like a martyr.
If you’re fairly new to the firm when problems occur, become “the eager beaver” by becoming a sponge for knowledge. Ask lots of questions and get advice from everyone important. Get going!
If you’re an “old timer” become a work machine. let everyone see you as important so that they don’t believe that you and your high salary are disposable.
And while all of this is going on, prepare your resume and start connecting with people inside of your organization to see if you can transfer to a division where layoffs are unlikely or outside of your organization so that you can start interviewing before you are fired.
© 2008. 2011, 2024 all rights reserved.
Last week, I released several new pieces of content including:
How Should I Word a Networking Email So I Won’t Scare Them Away? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-m8V
Executive Job Search: The Invisible Market https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oiY
The “So What” Test for Every Resume Bullet Point https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oiU
Careers You Should Pay Attention to and Probably Aren’t https://wp.me/p4aIk1-bOF
Leading An Organization When You Have To Layoff People https://wp.me/p4aIk1-jup
The First Things to Do If You Are Laid Off https://youtu.be/zNM3aasFLJ8
How to Give Notice and Not Look Bad https://wp.me/p4aIk1-m9s
Walk in an Employer’s Shoes https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ohH
How Recruiters Steal Your Best People: They Email Them https://wp.me/p4aIk1-iWo
Developing Charisma https://wp.me/p4aIk1-1Uo
The “I’m Interested” Button on LinkedIn https://wp.me/p4aIk1-m9v
Tough Interview Questions: What Superpower Would You Like to Have? https://youtu.be/HTuptlTtb9s
Activating Your LinkedIn Network https://youtu.be/9XfluW4wLLU
The “I’m Interested” Button on LinkedIn https://wp.me/p4aIk1-m9v
No BS Career Advice: October 12, 2025 https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ojT
How To Use AI to Find Job Titles You’re Qualified For https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ojl
Stupid Interview Mistakes: Appearing Unmotivated https://wp.me/p4aIk1-2tr
Interviews: Acing a Panel Interview https://wp.me/p4aIk1-1yP
Interview Brainteasers: How Many Quarters Does It Take to Stack Them Floor to Ceiling https://youtu.be/8_uB0jDW8rc
Should the Work Sample I Give Be of a Single Event or My Overall Work? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-m7V
A Critical Blindspot in an Executive Job Search https://wp.me/p4aIk1-okd
One Important Key to Success https://wp.me/p4aIk1-gLY
The C Suite Trap: Great Job or Career Killer https://wp.me/p4aIk1-oeb
Mastering the Mental Game: Emotional Preparation for Job Interviews https://wp.me/p4aIk1-okp
Spot a Toxic C Suite Job Before It’s Too Late https://youtu.be/Eo2yXk7JDEg
How Recruiters Steal Your Best People: You Demand Perfection https://wp.me/p4aIk1-iZt
Complete Job Interview Preparation: Mental and Emotional Readiness https://wp.me/p4aIk1-okA
Hiring the Right People https://wp.me/p4aIk1-h6Q
Marketing Yourself Like a Headhunter https://wp.me/p4aIk1-64M
Selling Your Value: Modern Interview Strategy https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ojL
Are You Talking Yourself Out of Jobs? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-m5p
The Smart Job Search Method https://wp.me/p4aIk1-okD
How to Use AI as a Virtual Career Assistant https://wp.me/p4aIk1-okI
Why a Top-Notch Recruiter Can Be Your Secret Weapon https://wp.me/p4aIk1-64M
6 Signs It’s Time to Move On From Your Job https://wp.me/p4aIk1-okM
Schedule a free discovery call with me at www.TheBigGameHunter.us/schedule to discuss my coaching you. My calendar has gotten full. I work with more senior-level talent than with individual contributors.
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#BeGreat
Jeff Altman
