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The Layoff Tales: 'Foolish, unacceptable, unjustifiable reasons'
April 13, 2009
We asked Get Ahead readers to send their layoff tales and we are getting mails from employees belonging to different sectors of the Indian economy.
In the 28th part of this series young IT consultant Tarun Mehta* tells us how he was bumped off in spite of nine years' work experience.
Name: Tarun Mehta (*name changed on request)
Age: 32
Company/Sector: IT technology and consulting
Work experience: 9 years
Background:
I have 9 years of experience in IT and for the last 3 years I was working in an IT consulting organisation. I joined it in 2006 with lots of hopes and excitement, keeping in mind longterm stability. I performed beyond expectations and put in more than 100 percent effort and commitment.
How I lost my job:
With things as they stand in the present economy, one of our clients asked us to downsize a team working for them. Unfortunately, I was the second senior person on that team who had started working on the project more recently and so I got pulled off it.
That forced me to warm a bench for one week, waiting to be assigned another project. The inexperienced staffing team, in the meantime, nominated me for two new unmatched projects -- in other words, the skills required on those projects were different to my profile. And my nomination got cancelled (for God's sake, you can hardly blame me for this).
And that was it. With no work on my plate, I didn't have to wait long -- one unlucky day soon after, I was told that I could not continue with the organisation due to some foolish, unacceptable, unjustifiable reasons.
Job hunt:
I took this layoff in a very positive way. I read lots to enhance my skills, on virtue of which I got five offers within one and a half months of being fired and that too with a 30 percent raise. With the amount of leftover dues I received, financial pressure was reduced and I am now planning to buy a car with it.
Lessons learnt:
You will get a one month notice period, which will help you enhance your skills and prepare for new interviews. So you are gaining from both the financial and skill aspects, which are two most important assets for any person.
Don't get frustrated sitting at home. This can be difficult, but whenever you get frustrated, start reading up on new topics related to the skills you have.
Always keep a third eye on the situation within your organisation in terms of projects in the pipeline, the number of people on the bench, the duration of inactivity and act wisely, according to situation. Update your resume and push it into job portals. Start reading up from the first day that you are rendered inactive.
After a layoff, start attending interviews with small, not-so-reputed companies so that you will get to know the types and areas of questions asked. That way you can prepare better for branded companies and you can perform better with tough questions also.
Keep open to work from any location. This will help you receive more calls and you can attend the maximum number of interviews. Once you receive offers from different locations, you can decide where to go.
This is my personal experience I am sharing with you guys. Believe me, it will help you indirectly in being financially stronger and in enhancing your skills.
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh
Do you have a layoff tale to tell?
Have you lost your job? Do you know someone who has lost her/his job recently and is trying to come to terms with the situation?
If you, your friends or relatives have a layoff story to tell, to inform readers about the lessons that you have learnt, please write to us at getahead@rediff.co.in. Your name and identity will not be disclosed unless you want it to.
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