How You Got Fingered for a Layoff - And, No HR Wasn't the Decider and Now What to Do about That

There you are, finding out that you have been selected for the Reduction-in-Force. Your mind might be racing: How did you get "chosen" to be laid off? After all ...

Well, keep your speculation from blaming the folks in Human Resources. The Wall Street Journal, which outlines that selection process, hammers that HR is rarely in the loop for determining those who will be cut.  The decider is usually the head of the business unit, in conjunction with those on top. 

That decision will be made on some or all of these factors:

Skills. Which ones are needed now and which ones will play a part in achieving the business goals for the next three years. 

Salaries. Of course a high one, no matter if it's for a high producer, puts a bullseye on the back of the worker. A new recruit with less experience can be brought in for much less. 

Performance. That doesn't only pertain to what's in the performance review. It is also about the capacity to adapt to changes. 

Strategy to duck being accused of bias. There is attention paid to avoiding being accused of discrmination.

Set numeric goal. A percentage could have been established about how many in a certain line of business or function have to go. About seven percent in finance might have to be cut while hiring is going on in engineering. 

However, what I gently pass on to those laid off whom I coach is this: It's not what happened. It's how you handle. 

Job Number-one post-RIF is to keep your confidence up. I point out to those who can't land another job the Catch-22 phenomenon. Because they got RIFed their confidence could sink and those hiring pick that up and veer away. They want someone who has the self-belief to take risks, bounce back quickly from setbacks and initiate. 

So how to maintain or circle back to confidence? One solution is to grab work, any kind and throw yourself into it. The praise and probable quick promotion will send the message that you still got it. 

One woman I coached, RIFed from middle management, took contract work as a security guard. She turned down a promotion to supervisor in loss prevention to focus on a startup. When that didn't take off she regrouped and went after landing a job back in her field. She got several offers.

In the end of the 1980s, when RIFed at a major food corporation, I zipped right into putting together a communications boutique, that is, my own business. No, I didn't indulge myself with a vacation or traveling. Therefore, my confidence never fell off a cliff. From the get-go I was involved in having to think and behave smart. There was no room to regret the past. Over time I became a serial entrepreneur and here I am today with two successful enterprises. 

Data or the gut for your careers and communications? Both of course. Complimentary consultation with intuitive coach, content-creator, and Tarot reader Jane Genova (text 202-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com).