In a week, the ax fell in several companies and thousands of employees were left without work. Hewlett Packard, Kodak, Ford Motor Company of Canada, PNC Financial, and Kimberley Clark had to make critical business decisions and lay off large numbers of employees. The reasons ranged from “keeping tighter control over costs” to creating a “simpler and more agile” organization. Although the news is often shocking, layoffs do not happen by chance. Usually there are some subtle signs that change is coming.
How does one prepare for such an eventuality? Having a plan in place … creating a Plan B. Assign the responsibility of managing your own race, swimming and meeting your ship, not waiting until it makes landfall. This mindset will help lessen the impact of a layoff and allow you to weather the storm when it hits. Here are some tips to help you prepare:

1. Be on the lookout for telltale signs in your business. If you get a little nervous at work because things don’t seem right, do your own due diligence. Has the company been in the news lately? So that? Did you meet analysts’ expectations? Did you have an administrative reorganization? Are there dramatic fluctuations in the price of your shares? This does not suggest that you become paranoid, but it does not suggest that you become the ostrich with your head in the sand. The answers to these questions will be a good indicator of where your business is headed.

2. Take advantage of the learning opportunities offered by the company. These can be formal training where you attend classes outside of work or free in-house courses offered as lunch and apprenticeship programs. Don’t forget the Internet, which offers a variety of learning opportunities. Although your job may seem safe at this point, you should not stop learning. Henry Ford once said: “Anyone who stops learning is old, be it at 20 or 80 …”.

3. Keep an eye out for internal vacancies and assess yourself to see if your skills meet the requirements. Talk to someone within that department to gather additional information about the position, and then submit your application.

4. Find out if there are opportunities to follow another employee’s job or get cross-trained in a system. These initiatives will help you prepare for your next career move, whether inside or outside the company.

5. Make yourself indispensable (at least give it a try) by keeping up with industry developments. Organize informational interviews to learn more about a field that interests you or to keep up with trends in your industry. Watch, listen and read the news and see if you can use any of the knowledge you have gained to improve your current position.

6. Start a journal of your special achievements, comments made by your supervisor or co-workers, and awards and recognitions received. Review your performance evaluations. What did your supervisor say about you? Did you work on a special project? Were you a member of a team that developed a system that contributed to the profitability of the company? These notes will come in handy when you are ready to go over your resume.

7. Develop and nurture a network of contacts, even if you are not looking for a job yet. Many people have the misconception that networking is done only when one is looking for work. It is a continuous process; It takes time to grow, but it will be valuable when faced with layoffs or when changing careers.

8. Join a professional association and contribute. You’ll learn new skills, meet new people, and build credibility with your peers. Many organizations submit their job postings to some of these associations before they appear in the newspapers. Saying that you are a member of a professional association will be a great addition to your summary.

9. There may be someone you admire inside or outside your company. Ask if you can talk to them about their uncertainties or career plans. It is not a weakness to ask for help.

10. There are times when a layoff is just what you may need to propel you into action; change carrer; do something different. Redirect your energy to something productive and don’t feel sorry for yourself. Take a good look at where you are in your career. Are you satisfied? Have you reached a plateau in the company? It is time to change?

After all this, if you are still unsure about your future, enlist the help of a professional advisor who can guide you in the right direction. Whatever you do, make proactive decisions now; not reactive later.