Can you see the Writing on the Wall?

Regardless of what you might think in Corporate America, you always need a plan “B”. 

The longer you’ve been around in the workforce, you start to see the trends that might not be so obvious to younger workers.  I also think that this record bull market has put some blinders on people, which is understandable since more junior employees might not have experienced a downturn in their career before.  But regardless of where you stand in your professional timeline, you always should have a plan “B”. 

I say this from my own experience, there is always the potential you can be blindsided by an unexpected layoff.  I had this happen to myself without warning, and if you are not prepared, the sudden turn of events can be devastating both financially and emotionally.  I’ll be writing another post detailing my experience and how a layoff can lead to an identity crisis. 

But for today, I wanted to relay a quick story about a situation in which the writing on the wall should have been apparent. 

It’s hard when times are great, to spot where the cracks are forming. 

A few months back I was talking to a young guy at my company – probably late twenties – about a career decision he was contemplating and tried to impart some wisdom in a subtle way that he didn’t take.  And as you’ve probably guessed, the result wasn’t in his favor. 

Here’s what happened: 

This kid (I just turned 38 yesterday so I can say that now about someone in their late twenties – haha) had been with the company for about 5-6 years.  He had started as an intern and bounced around a few different departments as a management trainee and had that tag of ‘up and coming talent.’   

Unfortunately, when a young employee knows this, I think they misleadingly interpret it that they are bullet proof.  Having yet to experience a significant downturn, they have no idea that regardless of your status, no one is ever truly safe.  So many different things can happen which can result in your card being called that you have absolutely no control over. 

Getting back to my story, I happened to bump into this young guy at the breakroom and we started catching up.  I’ll preface that we do not have a close relationship, we’re more amicable acquaintances but we do chat from time to time, so this is all informal with no mentor advice. 

He starts telling me about this new opportunity that he was contemplating about switching from the HR department to CI (continuous improvement). 

For background, our USA company president had recently made it clear that he was skeptical of the value our CI teams were generating.  He would leave the decision of whether to keep the department up to the local regional presidents.  Our regional president was still a fan of the function, so he kept it.  But it you had two cents about you, you probably knew this was an area that would be first on the chopping block if things changed. 

And if you happen to be in the CI profession, I’m not saying anything against it.  I think AGILE, black belts and all that stuff works if you have the right structure and culture.  For my company, it was clearly apparent that CI would not work.  We do not have the right management structure and decision-making flexibility to utilize its advantages – just being clear on this. 

As we’re talking the kid tells me all about the benefits of moving into this new role in CI and I try to tell him in a roundabout way, if I were him, I’d be looking at what areas top management was focused on and try to find an opening in a department that was growing.  I didn’t flat out discourage him at all not to take the position, but tried to nudge him in the direction of looking at the bigger picture of what would the senior decision makers be investing in down the road. 

Then a month later, I get the announcement that he accepted a position in CI.  I thought, hey, not the route that I would take, but good for him.  I hope it all works out and my intuition was wrong, we keep CI for a long time ahead and he flourishes. 

But, one month after that, we have a new USA president appointed and this head honcho makes the mandate that we would “restructure” (I say this with finger air quotes) our operations and the CI department would be cut. 

So, as you already know, our young, talented future leader found out the hard way how corporate America really works. 

If you think you’re bullet proof, it’s time for you to check that ego and take a real good look in the mirror. 

Can you chalk this kid’s situation up to bad timing, wrong place at the wrong time?  Maybe.  But I think this one was more of a lack of foresight on his part.  Maybe he knew the risk he was taking, maybe not.  Regardless, now he’s unemployed and will lose all of the company benefits he has accrued. 

Now, he’s a smart, talented guy so he’ll be fine in the long run, and personally, I think this experience is an invaluable learning opportunity to have so early in one’s career.  Treated with the right motivation, he’ll bounce back even better prepared for future corporate challenges down the road. 

Yet, nevertheless, it pays to pay attention and keep a pulse on what is happening around you.  Things can change very quickly in corporate America so I’d always advise to have a backup plan ready and enough fuck-you money saved to weather out a long-term unemployment scenario. 

So, with all of this talk of a recession looming sooner rather than later, how’s your company doing?  How have you prepared for the unexpected? 

Can you see the writing on the wall? 

-Q-FI