Hire Ground

Thanks for all the comments. bert, beenthere and Ex-engineer all brought up good points that lead into the next couple of subjects I thought I’d opine about.

But first, one thing I should have noted in my first posting is the issue of geographical areas. I’m in Silicon Valley which has a growing economy and hiring is moving at a pretty good clip. I know that there are areas of the country job where hunting for a high tech job is a lot tougher today.

I’d be real interested in hearing from people in those places about the challenges they are facing and what they are doing to overcome them.

Back to the point at hand.

The majority of layoffs in this day and age come with some sort of package. It may include some set number of weeks of salary or maybe even weeks of salary tied to length of service at the company.

Tip 2. If you feel that you are being short changed, try and negotiate a better deal. Many companies expect a negotiation. You may not be successful, but you will have tried.

Packages also often include some sort of “transitional training” or “transitional assistance”. Sounds like something St. Peter gives you when you arrive at the pearly gates.

I tried for more money to no avail. If I had been smarter, I would have tried to get an increase of the “transition assistance”. I received 30 days at a company called DBM. I wish I had negotiated to receive it until employed again.

More about this type of service in my next post.

Tip 3. If you find yourself across the table from your HR rep, don’t sign anything that day.

Basically the company is interested in two things. Protection of their intellectual property (remember how you signed that away on your first day of work). Also, they are looking for a clean break with the soon-to-be ex-employee. By that, I mean that they want you to go away and never litter their doorstep with a lawsuit. By signing, you are giving all that up. The property rights are long gone. But have you been unfairly shafted, errr....singled out for early departure? Sign right there and all chances of arguing the point are gone.

However, (there is always a however) just because you feel like you have been unfairly picked on doesn’t mean that you actually have.

But if you haven’t signed the agreement a couple of things happen. You have time to go ask an expert if you have a leg to stand on and they hold that last check until you sign.

The common rule of thumb (I’m told) is “is the package they offered you the same or reasonably similar to the package offered to all the other people they have laid off in the past? Is the answer is yes, it is unlikely you have a leg to stand on. but you should check if you have any questions.

Tip 4. Don’t say anything. Nothing. Other than yes and no.

Being laid off is difficult to swallow. Don’t say anything in the heat of the moment that will torpedo your chances of negotiating a better package. Wait 24 hours. You will have cooled off. It will be easier to be professional when you call back to tell them that what they are offering you is grossly inadequate and you feel that you should get the stars, the moon and Ft. Knox for all the blood, sweat and tears you shed on their behalf.

Note: To all those recruiters hanging breathlessly off my every word, the oversight on my part mentioned earlier about forgetting to talk about the geographical areas is not an early sign of me losing my faculties. The dogs were barking at a squirrel in the back yard just as I was getting to that part in my first post. Not that I’m easily distracted mind you, I’m totally focused but.....oh hell......never mind.

Tip 5. Never whine.