Re-Entering the Job Market
t's been called streamlining, rightsizing, downsizing and dumbsizing. But
if the law mandating cuts of nearly 273,000 people from the federal workforce is
implemented as planned, you might be calling it unemployment.
While buyouts will help ease the pain of these job cuts, people who leave
federal service intending to look for jobs elsewhere may be in for a difficult
transition. If the experience of laid-off workers in the private sector is a guide, comparable jobs may be hard to find. And the buyout money may well run
out before a new position is found. Particularly discouraging for feds is the
fact that government downsizing is targeting the same kinds of middle- and
upper-level management jobs that private companies are also casting off.
Tens of thousands of federal jobs are to be cut in order to meet the
government's downsizing goals by 1999. What survival strategies should you
adopt if you find yourself without a job?
Keeping Your Spirits Up
First, you'll have to deal with your emotions. Robert Worley, who manages
counseling for Manchester Inc., an outplacement and career development company,
says most newly unemployed people run the gamut of emotions "from anger, shame,
fear, sadness and self-pity to relief." Dana Morgan, a career counselor who
leads outplacement seminars for private companies, says people experience a
grieving process similar to that felt upon the loss of a loved one. "A
displaced employee will first feel denial ('there must be some mistake!'); then
go through a bargaining process ('maybe I could just move to another division');
then experience anger ('how could they do this to me?'); and finally,
acceptance," Morgan says. Displaced workers may feel the loss of security, status, workplace friends and self-esteem.
Not only are these emotions normal, Worley says, but you have the right to
feel any or all of them. While it's essential to behave professionally, he
says, you should find a way to express your feelings. "Don't think your
emotions will go away if you simply ignore them," he says. "Talk to someone who
is supportive and will listen empathically."
An important factor in keeping your spirits up is building self-esteem.
Morgan recommends reviewing your lifetime accomplishments. She also suggests
getting involved in non-work related activities such as volunteer projects that
can both be enjoyable and provide a way to make connections.
By all means stay active! Sleeping late, watching television and raiding the
fridge will ultimately lower your sense of self worth. Experts advise keeping
the same routine you had while you were employed. Get up at the same time, have
lunch at the same time, and set aside specific times for researching new
positions, mailing resumes, correspondence, job interviews, exercise, etc.
Landing a new job is a full-time task in its own right. Plan on spending at
least 30 to 40 hours a week at it.
The Need to Network
Job hunting in mid- or late-career differs little from one's first job search
and may in fact be easier. "In both cases, job seekers should rely heavily on
networking strategies and touching base with contacts in all life situations --
including friends, neighbors, church, school and so on," says Morgan. "But
later in your career, you've already established a broader range of
relationships."
Networking is critical to re-entering the workforce. While newspapers list
hundreds of "Help Wanted" ads, the Department of Labor reports that only 14
percent of all positions are filled this way. By contrast, 63 percent of all
jobs are obtained through informal methods such as networking. This is not to
say that you should ignore the newspapers; if nothing else, they can indicate
which job skills are in demand. Nevertheless, organizations often use want-ads
only as a last resort. Most job openings are never advertised.
Aside from networking, other methods of tapping this "hidden" job market
include contacting employers directly -- by mail, phone or in person. Some
excellent books have been written that explain each method. Two that stand out
are Job Strategies for Professionals, edited by J. Michael Farr (JIST Works
Inc., 1994); and Howard E. Figler's The Complete Job Search Handbook (Henry Holt, 1988).
It is always worthwhile to make contacts at an organization, even if it does
not currently have an opening. Farr observes that while you should try to be
interviewed for specific vacancies, you should also arrange "interviews with
people who don't have a job opening now but hire, need or supervise people with
skills similar to yours." These contacts can pay off when vacancies do occur, or
your contact may refer you to other organizations that are hiring. In addition,
you should portray yourself during these "informational interviews" as a person
with services to sell rather than someone looking for a job. The former
attitude emphasizes the value that you would add to an organization, rather than
your own needs.
Though want-ads may omit many opportunities, Worley recommends consulting
local and national newspapers as well as publications like National Business
Employment Weekly, National Ad Search and city business journals. (About 20
cities have these; in Washington, it's The Washington Business Journal.)
Worley
also notes that public libraries offer job seekers various directories,
reference books and data bases that you can use to research prospective
employers and get information on job openings. Chambers of Commerce, college
alumni associations and the trade and professional associations connected with
the fields you want to pursue may also provide assistance. If you have previous military experience, Worley advises joining a retired officers or
noncommissioned officers group, which offers counseling for a nominal fee.
To increase your prospects in today's job market, try to improve yourself.
"Attend courses to further your education, improve interpersonal skills, learn
public speaking, improve your appearance," suggests Worley. "People who are
satisfied with their status quo will find themselves further out of the
mainstream than ever before."
Federal Pluses and Minuses
Fortunately, federal workers already have many of the skills employers are
seeking. Worley suggests emphasizing your abilities in "analytical skills,
complex problem solving, ability to adapt and manage change (gained through
working for numerous bosses), dependability, the ability to make presentations
to higher-ups, and the willingness to work long and hard to get a job done."
Adds Morgan, "Typical federal employees must develop excellent writing skills
while employed in the public sector. They must also work well as members of a
team." She also says that employers, when hiring mid- and upper-level managers,
typically look for candidates with good people skills. "Employers want someone who knows how to make groups function productively and who can
communicate effectively," she says. All of these abilities can help displaced
federal workers land jobs outside of government.
On the other hand, job-hunting federal workers may find that many private
employers have stereotypes of government workers -- for example, that feds are
risk averse, or are "nine-to-fivers." Morgan suggests that during an interview,
"job seekers can, through an assertive and enthusiastic attitude, impress upon
prospective employers that they don't fit the federal-worker stereotype."
Overall, job loss, while traumatic, can enhance your life if you approach it
positively. A man I know was out of work for a year after his
construction-management company downsized. He viewed his termination less as a
crisis than an opportunity. It was stressful, but searching for a new job kept
his skills fresh and enabled him to explore fields that he might not otherwise
have considered. Ultimately, he found a new position that gave him greater
freedom to apply his talents, and he has been more successful as a result. With
effort and patience, federal managers who find themselves on the job market
could be similarly rewarded.
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