Job Searching – Allowing for the Inevitable Crisis

I wish it weren’t so, but we live in a world where precious little is guaranteed to us, anymore. Once upon a time, you could join a company and stay with it your entire career. No more.

Job changes are no doubt stressful, and they show up in a number of ways on the Holmes and Rahe stress scale.

Whether you’re let go from a position, or you experience a change in responsibilities… or you end up relocating or changing your living structure to adapt, work-related changes are nothing to take lightly.

Here’s the scale, which I’ve emphasized with job-related picks:

Life event	Life change units
Death of a spouse	100
Divorce	73
Marital separation	65
Imprisonment	63
Death of a close family member	63
Personal injury or illness	53
Marriage	50
Dismissal from work	47
Marital reconciliation	45
Retirement	45
Change in health of family member	44
Pregnancy	40
Sexual difficulties	39
Gain a new family member	39
Business readjustment	39
Change in financial state	38
Death of a close friend	37
Change to different line of work	36
Change in frequency of arguments	35
Major mortgage	32
Foreclosure of mortgage or loan	30
Change in responsibilities at work	29
Child leaving home	29
Trouble with in-laws	29
Outstanding personal achievement	28
Spouse starts or stops work	26
Beginning or end school	26
Change in living conditions	25
Revision of personal habits	24
Trouble with boss	23
Change in working hours or conditions	20
Change in residence	20
Change in schools	20
Change in recreation	19
Change in church activities	19
Change in social activities	18
Minor mortgage or loan	17
Change in sleeping habits	16
Change in number of family reunions	15
Change in eating habits	15
Vacation	13
Major Holiday	12
Minor violation of law	11

Score of 300+: At risk of illness.
Score of 150-299: Risk of illness is moderate (reduced by 30% from the above risk).
Score <150: Only have a slight risk of illness.

Without getting into all the scoring, just at a quick glance, you can see how life changes related to work can impact you — and add up, to where you’re at risk of illness… and some say a shortened life.

Without being melodramatic, yes, I think we can all agree that changing jobs is nerve-wracking.

Especially when you’re not expecting it to happen.

I recall a time, about 15 years ago, when I got a call from a recruiter who was reaching out with job training opportunities. That was strange. I was well-established in my line of work, and I couldn’t see any reason to train for something different.

“I’m so sorry about your situation,” the recruiter said.

“What situation?” I asked.

“Oh, the RIF (reduction in force) that’s coming. I’m sorry you’re on the list.”

“RIF?!” I exclaimed. “What list?!” My heart started to pound, and bullets of sweat started streaming down my torso.

The recruiter was silent.

“This is the first I’m hearing about it,” I said, trying to keep my cool. “Are you saying I’m going to get laid off?”

“Well…” she continued tentatively. “Actually…”

In the ensuing minutes of conversation, I learned some incredibly valuable lessons — how the RIF system works (at least in Massachusetts), as well as how much recruiters actually  new about the ebb and flow of the employment market. As it turns out, unbeknownst to me — and totally out of the blue, without any prior indication — I actually was on a preliminary reduction-in-force list. And the Department of Labor knew it. And they told recruiters, because there were training dollars available for people who were caught up in downsizing.

As it turns out, the list was purely preliminary and was apparently accidentally leaked. And my name wasn’t on the final list. So, I was spared. Which was good. (Being let go is never ever a good thing to have on your record.) And another good thing — it was a wake-up call I sorely needed. I was a little too comfortable in my position. I was a little too complacent in my work. I needed to revisit my resume — and sooner, rather than later.

And I needed to be ready, no matter what. Because about 15 years ago, just after 9-11, the economy took a major hit — and I never in all my years prior to that would have guessed that my career path would be impacted by a terrorist attack, of all things.

But it happens. You know it. I know it. We all know it. And yet, we’re woefully unprepared for the inevitable crisis or two when they suddenly emerge. We think we’re in a good place, we think our contributions are valued — and maybe they are. But on a larger meta-scale, things change. The economy shifts. Consumer sentiment tanks. Or our industry of choice is upstaged by something newer, shinier, more efficient, more attractive.

Just like me, sitting on the call with that recruiter, we can get blind-sided. And it’s no fun. It’s pretty terrible, actually. But it happens. And while we can’t control every single factor and variable in our career, there are some things we can do to improve our chances — and one of those things is connecting with the right recruiters.

Who can provide insider’s insights into what’s happening in the job market, and what your options are.