Layoff Lessons: 'They don't scare me anymore'

Two professionals -- from aviation and jewellery industry -- share their stories and lessons they learned from the pink slips they got.

'With bag and baggage and a family -- my spouse and two school-going children (who had just commenced their academic year) and a new born baby, I was asked to board the first available flight, with my work permit, visa, etc all being cancelled overnight.'

'But then I always followed this strong instinct, that WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON and today I am in a senior position with another leading airline.'

'Yes, layoffs don't scare me anymore. I am still prepared for the infamous word and will always be prepared for it,' says Aejaz Ahmed Peermohammed.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

At the outset let all of us start looking at moving forward with high levels of optimism. As we quite often keep reiterating in all those fashion and lifestyle adverts: WE ONLY LIVE ONCE. SO LIVE IT IN STYLE. This self-styled adage needs to be applied in the current scenario as well. I guess I am drifting away a bit from the subject.

Layoffs is the most unwanted word; none of us want to hear it, but apparently it is repeated quite often these days, and painfully could well become the norm for India's youth. As an individual, I have experienced the feeling of being singled out for a layoff, for reasons best known (to the management). Nevertheless on the brighter side of it, my layoff helped me realise and understand the true value of accepting and accomodating changes.

I was laid-off after having worked for almost over a decade with one of the leading airlines in the Middle-East and my appointment for an inter-departmental senior profile (which I was selected for) was very tactfully pushed under the carpet.

With bag and baggage and a family -- my spouse and two school-going children (who had just commenced their academic year) and a new born baby, I was asked to board the first available flight, with my work permit, visa, etc all being cancelled overnight.

It has been 8 years since the incident, but I haven't got a clue as to what was the actual reason. But now I was faced with this uncertainty: of returning back to my hometown, without a clue as to what my next move would be.

First things first: I needed to get my kids' admission done. Hence I got down to the task and by the grace of Almighty, they were enrolled in a good school. When I look back at 2007, I wonder how I could manage that period with just Rs 3 lakh in hand. After a break of six months I was back in action.

As mentioned earlier, a lot had to be done in order to get myself back on track, but what actually helped me see through (those difficult times) was my strong ability to accept changes. This could only be possible when you are prepared for dramatic changes in your lives, good or bad.

Life did take a sudden turn and changed overnight... our lifestyles changed... from driving imported cars, I saw myself travelling in buses and autos and at times sharing a ride and so on. But then I always followed this strong instinct, that WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON and today I am in a senior position with another leading airline. Yes, I am still prepared for the infamous word and will always be prepared for it.

My suggestion to those who are living with this uncertainty is as follows :

1. While you are at your present job, always have a stand-by plan from a financial perspective. In case of a healthy pay package, do not over indulge, especially in terms of availing unwanted loans, credit cards, and what not. These always hang above our heads as Damocles' Sword during an unexpected crisis, and what's more bothering is when you get hounded (for recovery) by the very bankers who were kissing you a couple of days back to avail their products. So be sensible and be smart.

2. Always keep your spouses / parents / close friends posted about the forthcoming development that are likely to affect your career plans. You never know, something better would always crop up from someone, somewhere.

3. Avoid hastiness and nervousness when an inevitable LAYOFF stares at you in the face. Our youngsters do get carried away and take that immediate jump only to find out that they dropped from a cliff and got stuck on a tree branch on their way down. Do always take a little time-out to get that well-deserved break and then start all over with a positive frame of mind.

Remember guys, life is not all that serious as one lives it today. If you are confident of your skills and know you have an edge, then nothing can stop you.

Good luck to all, be safe and may God be with you always.

***

'The tip which I followed while I went for the interview (after the layoff) was that I didn't even for a second think that I was jobless. As this thought could have affected my self-confidence and could have demoralised me,' says Jeetender.

Few days ago I read an article about layoffs by TCS and SCB. It was very painful. The similar thing happened to me in March 2014. I opened my mail onlt to see a mail from my Head HR asking me not to report to office from the next day. The company could not afford me as they wanted to reduce their cost of operations. This is what I got after working for five long years with this organisation.

As I was the only earner in my family, you can well imagine the situation which I was into. While I didn't inform my mother about it, she understood that something was wrong. She didn't ask me anything too. She just gave me a sweet smile and kept her hand on my head and said 'don't worry. Everything will be fine'.

Her smiling face and those words act as real source of inspiration for me. I became so confident that I felt nothing had happened. The very next day I got a call that my CV was selected for the first round of interview at Mumbai; I was (pleasantly) surprised. Later I came to know that they have got my cv from a job portal site.

I went to Mumbai, cleared the three rounds of interviews and today I am in Dubai for the past eight months.

So guys don't lose hope, stay focussed, be confident, grab whichever opportunity you are getting. Because whatever happens in our life it is by the will of god, and there is something good hidden for us by the Almighty God which we realise in hindsight.

The tip which I followed while I went for the interview (after the layoff) was that I didn't even for a second think that I was jobless. As this thought could have affected my self-confidence and could have demoralised me.

So guys keep yourself away from the thought that you have been fired; you are unemployed now; just hit the spot without this feeling but with confidence.

As it is rightly said "the darkest night is often the bridge to the brightest tomorrow. Celebrate the endings, for they precede new beginnings"

How to cope with layoffs

Achche Din or not, people are being laid off. Layoffs can happen anytime. To anybody.

If you have been laid off and coped with it well, we would like to know the lessons you learnt and what it takes to emerge successful.

Please mail your responses to getahead@rediff.co.in (Subject line: Layoffs) to help those who have been laid off or could face layoffs in the weeks to come.

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