All Articles Tagged "layoff"
Nine Unspoken Signs Your Job May Be In Jeopardy
Have you ever had a gut feeling something was about to happen at your job… that involved you? Hopefully it’s bad indigestion or just you being paranoid. But you should still pay attention to your gut. If Ann Curry’s dramatic departure from the Today show taught us anything, it’s to always be on our guard and pay attention to the writing on the wall.
According to reports, the former morning show anchor may have known her days were numbered prior to her involuntary exit. An abrupt shake-up like that should make everyone take a hard look at their own position. Maybe you can’t help the inevitable, but you sure can begin crafting a plan B if things go south.
Here are nine unspoken signs your time at work might come to an end.
Pulitzer-Winning Journalist Robin Givhan Ousted from “Newsweek”/Daily Beast
via @RobinGivhan
We didn’t want this to be true, so we kind of hesitated in reporting it, but Robin Givhan, a Pulitzer-prize-winning fashion journalist for Newsweek/The Daily Beast, has been laid off. Givhan confirmed the cut with Journal-isms (via The Grio) over the weekend writing, “Sad to say that yes, it is true. Quite the ‘Merry Christmas.’ . . . I’m in New York as we speak doing book research and happily following up on any new career opportunities.”
Givhan won her Pulitzer in 2007 while working with The Washington Post. She left after reported disagreements with the Style editor in 2010. She was with the paper for 15 years. She joined Newsweek at the tail-end of the magazine’s 80-year run. It will be moving to an all-digital format next year. Givhan is one of a series of layoffs as the magazine expects to lose $22 million.
The media industry, particularly print outlets, have been in turmoil for the past few years as audiences increasingly turn to the real-time coverage of social networks like Twitter and online outlets like The Daily Beast. Even for venerated outlets like The New York Times, making money through the traditional advertising business model has been difficult, with layoffs happening throughout the industry.
Givhan spoke with our friends on StyleBlazer this summer for an episode of “How I Made It.” Check it out here.
Sizing Your Emergency Fund: How Big Do You Need it to Be?
http://www.123rf.com
Having an emergency fund is an essential part of smart financial planning since it ensures you have the cash you need when an (inevitable) emergency happens. Your emergency fund helps you avoid putting things like unexpected car repairs on a credit card, and also ensures you can make your payments and rent/mortgage each month if you are laid off or become unable to work for a period of time.
Everyone should have an emergency fund, but it can be hard to determine exactly how much cash you need to set aside.
Spend Your Unemployment Making It Easier to Find Work
The biggest thing you can do while unemployed is start furthering your education. Enrolling in a higher degree program that may make you more valuable in your field is a great way to spend your days. You can add pursuing an undergraduate or master’s degree to your resume and raise your profile during interviews. Even if you’re not going after a higher degree, consider taking computer or program classes at nearby colleges to add to your expertise. For example, if you’re an office administrator, a six week class to get a certification in the latest Microsoft Office Suite will make you more attractive than someone who spent the time watching daytime TV. Getting better acquainted to new programs, tools and ideas integral to your field is key.
Another way to use unemployment to your advantage is to consider volunteering. While working for free may not seem like a good idea when you’re not pulling in a paycheck, it has its advantages. It shows potential employers that you’re not content to collect unemployment and that you’re eager to put your skills to work, one way or another. It also is a great resume filler because instead of having a work history gap, you can put your volunteer position on there and show that you still received experience and knowledge of your craft, even if you weren’t getting paid for it. Finally, if you manage to volunteer with an organization whose name holds some weight in your industry, you may impress your potential employers with the brand. Volunteering with the ASPCA when you want to work in the veterinarian science field or pet grooming looks like added relevant experience instead of an employment gap, as well as freelance writing (with an emphasis on free) for writers, volunteering to work with children when you have experience in education, and volunteering at hospitals and clinics for those in the medical field.
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If ______You're About to Be Laid Off
(Kiplinger) — Many major U.S. employers and cautious smaller firms are still cutting payrolls to help improve earnings and free up cash for new investment opportunities. Don’t get caught off-guard. If you’re unsure about your job security, persistent (and polite) inquiries to your manager about the company’s status will often turn up intelligence that big changes are in the works. If those changes include layoffs, don’t hesitate to start negotiating a deal. Severance pay, the maintenance of health benefits and even a continuation of employment on a 1099 consulting basis are all good topics for employees who are forcibly on their way out.
Digg Lays Off 10% of Staff
(TheWrap.com) — Social Networking site Digg shed 10 percent of its staff on Thursday.The lay offs come on the heels of plans to overhaul the site’s design and the departure of CEO Jay Adelson. Adelson was replaced by company founder Kevin Rose in April. It was Rose who announced the cuts today on Digg’s site.
