The more time I spend in this horrible economy the angrier and more frustrated I’ve become. Given I’m a recruiter by trade; I’ve had the painful task of spending countless hours speaking with immensely talented professionals who, after years of loyal service and commitment to their employer, are now out on the street desperately seeking a new job. Years ago, when someone was laid off, there wasn’t the wide spread panic there is today. You’d simply get your resume out there, go through your network, and start looking for a new job. For most, they would land a new position within a few weeks to a couple of months. Today, the employment horizon is horribly bleak and, sadly, for most, it’s taking more than a year to find a new suitable role.Walk into any Starbucks or coffee hang out during the work week and you’ll find former CFO’s, VP’s, Analysts, and the like, dressed in their knock around clothes with their laptops fired up as they search desperately for some form of employment. Highly talented people wanting badly to work but, despite their best efforts are unable to find employment. For many it’s demoralizing to have the ability and desire to work but not have the job to go to. For others it’s been an opportunity to move into another career path or take some much needed time off. For most, it’s hell. As the weeks wear on and the bills pile up so does the despair.
From the moment we start school we’re trained to work hard to get good grades so we can go to a good college or university and eventually land a good job. This economy has been the complete antithesis of everything we’ve been taught.
This got me to thinking, if such high ranking personnel aren’t exempt from pink slips then clearly who is? No one! That’s who. Not even the former planet, Pluto. Let’s face it, if Pluto lost its role in the Universe, who’s to say we mortal humans aren’t subject to the same?
Pluto first took its role as the ninth planet of the solar system, technically when the universe began, but officially in 1930. The outermost planet, as it’s otherwise referred to, was discovered by renowned scientist, Clyde Tombaugh. For over 75 years Pluto fulfilled a prestigious role as part of the solar system. Despite being a prominent member of the Kuiper belt, having an impressive composition of rock and ice and an eccentric, highly inclined orbit, Pluto’s performance was taken under intense scrutiny and deliberation. After much debate, Pluto was essentially called in and laid off from one of the most esteemed roles of the solar system. Not that Pluto underperformed or ever called in sick. The solar system was downsizing and Pluto’s services as a full-fledged planet were no longer needed. Pluto was given a new title of “dwarf-planet” and would no longer be considered part of the “Big Nine”. I’m sure he was given a severance package of a few billion stars and continued orbiting privileges, but where do you go once you’ve been let go from one of the coolest jobs in the universe, literally?
Hearing the words, “We’re making some serious budget cuts and unfortunately, Loyal Employee, we’re going to have to let you go”, instills immediate shock, degradation and all out concern over how you’re going to pay your bills. The second those words roll off your bosses lips, you’re instantaneously locked out of email, company databases, the restrooms, and parking garage. You’re then left with the humiliating task of cleaning out your desk in front of your fellow employees, who oddly enough are still gainfully employed despite their lack of productivity, and having to take that walk of shame with security as you exit the building to the daunting and disconcerting world of unemployment. Like Pluto, we’re left orbiting about aimlessly trying to figure out where we’re going to land next.
Does this economy rot from its putrefied core? Absolutely! Will we survive and press on? Absolutely! Does being unemployed mean you’re void of talent and any less of a human being? Absolutely not! Will you eventually land another job? You can count on it, but don’t let Pluto know. After all, he was named after the Roman God of the underworld and could get a little jealous and incensed.
For more information on how to survive being laid off, visit http://www.jobs.state.ak.us/taa/survive.htm
Copyright 2009
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