One on One with John Simons of "Black Enterprise" Magazine
Friday, February 06, 2009
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SUSIE GHARIB: As we reported earlier, more than three million Americans lost their jobs in the past year. What does all this mean for workers who still have a job? Tonight, as we continue our month-long look at "Reviving the Economy, Jobs," our guest has some advice and warnings. Joining us now John Simons, senior personal finance editor at "Black Enterprise" magazine. Hi John.
JOHN SIMONS, SR. PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR, BLACK ENTERPRISE MAGAZINE: Hello.
GHARIB: We know it's terrible to be out of work. But for people who still have jobs in this economic environment, it's also pretty tough, working more, getting paid less. Isn't that the case?
SIMONS: That's right. The vast majority of us will, when all this has passed, the vast majority of us will have kept our jobs, will have stayed in our current positions. So, basically what we have to do is sort of remember that and try not to sort of focus on the bad news, kind of plow ahead and do our jobs and there are a number of things that workers can do at work to try to make themselves recession proof. The first thing --
GHARIB: What kinds of things?
SIMONS: The first thing is to not assume that it can't happen to you. You should, you should sort of work out in your mind and perhaps even on paper an escape plan. Polish up your resume. Try to figure out what you would do if it happened to you. If you were to get a tap on the shoulder and get laid off. Some of the other things --
GHARIB: Go ahead.
SIMONS: One of the other things that you can do is, is sort of start networking among your friends and colleagues and even among people at competing companies. Don't treat them as the enemy. They could be the source of a job connection down the road.
GHARIB: You told us some of the things to do when you already have a job. What are some of the things that you shouldn't do, that you should watch out for when you're holding down a job in this kind of climate where everyone around you is losing their job?
SIMONS: Well, you shouldn't stick your head in the sand. That's probably the first piece of advice. Try to find out what is going on, what is coming down the pike in your company. Try to understand how your company views you and the value - try to be realistic about the value that the company places in you. And like I said sort of work out an escape plan, never assume that it can't happen to you because as we've seen, the job cuts lately have been very broad, very deep in many sectors and in many layers of corporations. Sort of --
GHARIB: You're absolutely right about that. Let me just jump in because we have a little time left.
SIMONS: OK.
GHARIB: All week long we have had guests come on the program to give their tips and strategies of what to do if they're out of work. What is your best piece of advice for somebody who has lost their job and how should they get started? What is the most important thing they should do?
SIMONS: I'm a big proponent these days of these social networking websites, facebook, linkedin. No matter how old you are, please don't think that you're too old to engage in social networking. You can put on, you can get onto facebook, keep it professional. Put your resume up there. Contact former workers and friends and very informally let them know that you're looking if you are out of work. I actually got my current job as a result of putting out on facebook the idea that hey, I'm looking. Does anyone know what is going on? It's a lot better than making the uncomfortable phone call to your former boss or people that you worked with in the past and saying hey, do you know of anything that's going on out there?
GHARIB: You speak from experience and I'm glad it worked out for you. Thank you so much, John for coming on our program.
SIMONS: Thank you very much.
GHARIB: My guest tonight, John Simons, senior personal finance editor at "Black Enterprise" magazine.
