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 18th part of this series, Vimal Agarwal returned to India for better prospects and joined a KPO and was placed in one of the top departments of the firm.. However, in less than a year he was asked to put in his papers after being put on the bench for two months.
Name: Vimal Agarwal (name changed)
Age: 28
Company/Sector:Equity Research
Educational qualification: B Com/ Professionally qualified
Work experience: 3 years, 8 months
Background:
I was well settled and working with a Big Four Accounting firm in India when I moved abroad in 2006. It was in early 2008 that I decided to return to India as it was booming with the Sensex reaching unprecedented heights.
Having good exposure and experience, finding a job wasn't difficult and it happened in form of a KPO an Equity research company in Bangalore. I was offered a good start up because of
experience and immediately placed in one of the top departments of the firm.
Soon there were talks of me travelling to client site and elsewhere.
How I lost my job:
In September 2008, the HR manager called me one day and just asked me to put in my papers. Just like that, without any warning!
I had anticipated it. I mean it was very obvious with the kind of stuff happening in the US and expectedly most of our clients are from there.
Moreover I was in the bench for two months as there was not much work coming from clients. In fact the company was loosing a few clients.
Liabilities:
Luckily I have no liabilities as such. However, who doesn't plan? I have been thinking about my dream house for quite some time, and I could sense it soon. But now everything has changed because a few people were not able to manage their country well!
I do have a personal loan which I am finding difficult to repay. Even my credit card outstanding amount is increasing because I am unable to clear it all at once.
Family support:
The HR manager very neatly called me and said that I should not tell my parents and stress them. But what all MBA schools don't teach is that your family is the one that comes to your rescue in times of trouble, no matter what. Not that I am against him or his views, he was just asking me to be brave, but dude instead you could have given me a change in another department with some training!
Lessons learnt:
Save. More than anything if you can save it will always give you a sense of stability, because being sacked can be a huge blow to your self-confidence which can affect your chances of getting another job soon. No company would like to give a job to a person who has no confidence in himself.
Don't give it your all. You may have joined a new company and be very excited to give it your best and prove yourself, however, like James Bond says, never open all your cards at once.
Learn, learn, learn. If you have spent your job days not only learning your work but being aware of the world you are leaving it will
really help when you are left in the lurch and you have to climb another tree.
Maintain good relationships.
Don't waste time. Start looking for another job immediately.
Do what YOU think is right, not what others tell you.
Keep your family informed. At the same time give them the assurance that things are not that bad and that you will come out of it. Make sure
they repose their trust in you.
Give your family and friends adequate time and respect if you haven't been doing that.
Try to gain extra skill sets during the layoff time. This will help you in your interviews for a new job.
Learn from your previous mistakes and try not to repeat them.
Don't be disheartened, GOD IS GREAT.
Illustration: Dominic Xavier
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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