| The sobering developments at Lehman Brothers, | | | | 4. Be responsive to recruiters. Rather than feeling like |
| Merrill Lynch, Washington Mutual, Wachovia, AIG, and | | | | "fresh prey" acknowledge the situation as a possible |
| UBS have served as a catalyst for many to examine | | | | win-win for both you and the recruiter. Even if you |
| their current work situations and future career | | | | are not the right fit for their open opportunity, you |
| management strategies. Here's some food for | | | | may be able to help them fill their pipeline for other |
| thought as we navigate through these difficult times. | | | | positions. By building the relationship now, you are |
| 1. Make sure you have electronic copies of your | | | | more likely to be considered for relevant openings in |
| previous performance reviews, letters of | | | | the future. |
| recommendation, and non-proprietary samples of | | | | 5. Get your finances in order. Examine your fixed and |
| your work. These documents will prove invaluable | | | | variable expenses and if necessary, make decisions |
| when you update your resume and other personal | | | | regarding your assets. Consider hiring a financial |
| marketing collateral. The input from your supervisors | | | | advisor to help you make the right decisions. |
| and clients can help you build an | | | | 6. Schedule appointments with healthcare providers. |
| accomplishment-focused resume with a clear value | | | | Take care of basic check ups now while you can still |
| proposition. | | | | count on your benefits coverage. |
| 2. Audit your online identity. Do a Google search on | | | | 7. Maintain open communications with your family. It's |
| yourself by putting your full name in quotes and | | | | important to be transparent about what is going on in |
| review the results. Would it be easy for a hiring | | | | your industry or company, even with young children. |
| manager or recruiter to find you online and what | | | | Explain your situation in an age-appropriate, |
| type of information is reported about you? If you | | | | non-threatening way...both teenagers and small |
| don't exist on Google, or are hard to find online, | | | | children are able to make small sacrifices when they |
| consider creating online identity profiles on tools such | | | | understand a situation. |
| as LinkedIn, ZoomInfo, and Ziggs. | | | | 8. Buddy up with someone who truly understands |
| 3. Organize and reconnect with your contacts. Start | | | | your situation. Whether it is a colleague, friend, |
| examining your rolodex and consider using electronic | | | | mentor, spouse, support group, or career |
| contact management systems such as Jibber Jobber | | | | professional, try to create a dialogue with someone |
| to begin developing an efficient, systematized | | | | who can share your concerns, offer advice, and act |
| strategy for reconnecting with contacts. | | | | as an advocate for your career goals. |