Rosie profile picture
Rosie profile picture

Rosie

Sales Director

Catalyst
Opinionated
Valued Contributor
+4

How to Layoff-proof your career

Naturally, top performance might seem like a safeguard, yet layoffs are now seen hitting even high achievers.


How can one mitigate this risk? Continuously taking interviews?


Regarding side gigs, many companies restrict secondary employment, limiting additional income streams.


I have been pondering how to make a protocol of safety that one can follow.


What do you guys and girls think in terms of solutions?


🚀 Career Goals
🤗 Self-care
🎯 Career Development
15

27 comments

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poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
13
☕️
You cannot mitigate the risk of a layoff, but you can always have opportunities in the eaves. Network with folks you want to work with and create relationships that make it simple to get an offer. That’s how I landed my current gig—former vendor that I kept in touch with.

If someone who’s been at Google for 16 years can get laid off, anyone can.
jefe
Arsonist
10
🍁
This is it.

Layoffs are out of your control. But you can control the above.
unclespacejam
Politicker
5
ur dad’s brother
Two important strategies come to mind:
1) ensuring you have some kind of emergency savings (3-6 months of basic expenses)
2) backchanneling and blackmailing your way out of getting fired/ laid off
jefe
Arsonist
5
🍁
Number 2 was unexpected
unclespacejam
Politicker
4
ur dad’s brother
😘😘😘
oldcloser
Arsonist
4
💀
Respected nonetheless
SteveD
Member
0
Sales Director
I've found layoffs best way to increase my salary and career over the last 18 years.
8
Founding BDR
Step 1: Find dirt on the CEO
Step 2: Never get laid off
bonez
Politicker
5
Account Executive
I've found that threatening their families and listing off their home address in the layoff meeting does wonders to both keep you employeed and see what an FBI holding cell looks like.
3
Founding BDR
It really is a 2 birds 1 stone type sitch
CuriousFox
WR Officer
4
🦊
Step 3: PROFIT!
Justatitle
Big Shot
4
Account Executive
run your own business on the side and build it while you work. not easy but doable.
oldcloser
Arsonist
1
💀
Brothel almost at break even.
BigShrimpin
Catalyst
3
Account executive
Unfortunately the only real safeguard against layoffs is having a personal relationship with the person who calls that shot.
Depending on your org that might be someone you talk to daily/weekly or someone you've never met and never will but when the time comes and they get their marching orders you should hope its a much harder decision for them to fire you over someone else.
rocketfuelsteel
Opinionated
1
SDR
This
TallR
2
Account Executivee
I've been through several layoffs with several companies over the past 15 years. The people who aren't laid off, who obviously should have been, have 1 thing in common:They have a "sales mentor" that they've been working with for a while. Some companies have a formal program, others less formal. These mentors are usually on the VP level and I'm assuming they "step in" when they see that their person is on the list.
Pachacuti
Politicker
2
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
No one is lay off proof. Even top performers.

You have to look out for yourself. Always have a foot out the door and be looking for your next gig.
SteveD
Member
0
Sales Director
If cost savings is the main reason for layoffs then top sales person = $$$ could be on top of the list. I only found out last month (went to slack them and they were canned) our sales person of the year last year was let go. I see he went directly to our competitor so good for him - stick it in the company eye
Rosie
Catalyst
0
Sales Director
What does the company think about him going to competitor?
SgtAE
WR Officer
1
AE
I mean ultimately self-employment, run your own business or have enough savings and investments where you can retire even if you are made redundant.
But apart from that, you have to keep socialising in the career space. I know a ton of people that hate linkedin and never use it, but once they we're on the chopping block they got back on and chucked that little green banner on with a heartfelt post. Not a good look, always be on the lookout in the market and keep an active presence.
Personally I like to say the best time to look for a new job is after a killer quarter, you're less likely to take offers and you have great stats to back it up, but if you do take one it's not out of need.
pirate
Big Shot
1
🦜☠️ Account Executive
Scott Adams (creator of Dilbert comic) coined a term of a talent stack.You might not be the world best at something... that is rare. But you might be extremely good across 2-5 things. I would say learning a language always helps. Or participating in a club (sports, toastmasters, art society). So focus on building your own super stong talent stack
Tightquotacrush
Executive
1
Manager
Haha I speak 4 languages, ran the Latam team signing clients in Portuguese and Spanish, grew that business by 900% by the end of my second quarter, and I STILL haven't found a new role in a year and a half. languages are a nice to have, they don't get you any more than a "wow, impressive!" these days
JustGonnaSendIt
Politicker
1
Burn Towns, Get Money
Agree with @poweredbycaffeine but would like to add some additional advice.

I would think of it as making your life highly layoff-resilient.

In addition to what's been mentioned, also ensure you financially prepare yourself for the transition period.

Make sure to have manageable expenses and an emergency fund that buffers you for 3-6 months of searching minimum.

This way, you can make clearheaded decisions about the next gig and not just run to the first one to make an offer.

It also gives you that... well good luck to them if they fire me. I'll be fine... attitude. Which I view as a critical factor for a long career in sales.
Rosie
Catalyst
1
Sales Director
Yes - could’t agree more on this!
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
Don’t see how companies can legally restrict your right to work. Side gigs are your business at the end of the day.
Rosie
Catalyst
0
Sales Director
In Europe it’s common in employment contracts to prohibit work outside of your 9-5
LeadMachine
Opinionated
0
Sr. BDR
Dont work!

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