Clarity Capital research indicates 1 in 3 Americans have layoff anxiety.
The fear that our job is going to disappear.
Nearly 50% of us have less than 3 months of money on hand to get buy.
And confidence in finding a job quickly is on the decline.
With the current instability, it’s time for employees to take control of the situation.
Instead of worrying about what might happen, we need to start taking actions that prepare for the unknown.
Here are five actions that can get us started.
5 Actions to Curb Layoff Anxiety
- Start Saving: Put away money to prepare for the unexpected. Build 6-12 months of expenses to have a cushion in place if you need to find a new role. Figure out your “financial floor”. The more financially secure you feel, the less the layoff anxiety can creep in.
- Network: Begin to re-prioritize your network. Who are those loose connections at other companies and in different industries that might be able to help with job leads should you need support in the future. Reach out to connect now and keep the connections strong.
- Discover Your Difference: Do the work to understand your unique difference while you are working. Knowing what you are good at and what others rely on you for will give you an advantage in knowing how to sell yourself as you look for a new role.
- Build Your Foundation: Start collecting case studies of work you have done and accomplishments you have achieved. These will be the building blocks of updated resumes and interview preparation.
- Consider Options: Start thinking about what you would want to do if you were laid off. Allow yourself to dream and set a vision for the life you would want to lead. Then, if a layoff happens, instead of panicking about what to do, aim for the vision you’ve set.
Your Turn
Do you feel layoff anxiety?
Are you taking any steps to prepare for the unexpected?
How might the tips in this post get you started on a journey to prepare?