I lived through the uncertainty a major career disruption can have on someone when I worked for a company that decided to relocate their headquarters years ago. I also have countless relatives, friends and acquaintances who have experienced some type of career disruption involuntarily during their careers. Any type of disruption in life can cause some frustration or concern, but one that involves your livelihood and can impact you and your family significantly. So when faced with this situation, how can connecting help you bounce back?
1. Insight or a heads up on the major change coming
If you have established solid connections with colleagues in different areas of the company, you have a greater chance of getting some insight early on about a change coming your way. In the case of major changes in a company like a relocation, company closing or massive layoffs , information can be made available to you much earlier since the impact of these changes are so massive that any insight is a topic of discussion. The earlier you know about potential changes, the better prepared you can be in the case that you might need or want to make a change.
2. A support system
In the case of a massive or unexpected change, a support system will be necessary to assist in processing things emotionally and physically getting back on track with a new job. Changes like these are extremely difficult and scary and having a great support system to motivate and keep you in a positive mindset is essential. If you haven’t moved around much or switched jobs or companies in awhile, this new phase will require some physical support like help with a resume, interview or assistance in finding a recruiter.
3. Referrals
One of the most valuable benefits of making connections is the ability to receive referrals from those you have worked with. If you have left great impressions on former coworkers or business partners, this can benefit you in getting recommendations or referrals. We live in a world where referrals hold major weight in making hiring decisions as the risk of a bad hire is too high for managers.
In my experience, I personally witnessed connected employee networks comfort and assist each other throughout this major transition. What was so apparent during this difficult time was that those individuals who had taken the time to connect with others before this transition occurred, had the most support. An important takeaway is that connecting is not an activity done solely during times of need. The need to learn or assist someone is essential at every point in your career. If done with the right intentions, you’ll find yourself surrounded with meaningful connections every step of the way.
If you have a question or are interested in learning more, connect with me.
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