You are here: silicon.com > Management > Skills & Careers

Skills & Careers

10 things to do if you're given the chop

Don't panic…

Tags: job, tech, skills

By Rafe Needleman

Published: 23 October 2008 13:04 GMT

In the current economic climate and amid the constant stream of reports of redundancies and cutbacks, although it may seem gloomy, there's no harm in preparing for the worse.

Tech employees are a little different from the rest of the workforce so here's a list of specific things people in the tech industry might want to consider if they're let go.

1. Get involved in an open-source project
It's where the most interesting and influential products are being developed, and more importantly, many open-source projects are filled with people who are also connected to companies that pay their engineers. Plus, obviously, working on a development project will keep you sharp and expand your skill set.

2. Go to start-up fairs
Wherever people are pitching new businesses, be there. They're all hiring. If not now, then soon.

3. Get project work
You may not have a daily gig but you still have your skills, and there are people who need them. Head over to a project marketplace like oDesk and pick up some work.

4. Update your profiles
Go to your pages on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter etc, and let people know you are available for new projects. While you're at it, proactively send out notes to your trusted associates that you are looking for work.

5. Learn some new skills
Obvious stuff such as learning Rails if you're used to Java. But also other things such as cooking, rock climbing, riding a motorcycle - something that you didn't have the time to do while you were an employed full time.

6. Answer some questions
Scan Friendfeed and Twitter. Search for people asking questions in your areas of expertise, spend time in message boards on things you know stuff about. You'll see what's going on in the industry, you might be able to help people out (always worthwhile), and you might also land a tip for a job.

7. Buy some new tools
Yes, you're going to have to do the obvious task of taking a financial inventory and cutting back on your expenses but you will also need current tools to pick up projects. You'll be more positive about working on those projects if you're doing it on a shiny new system configured just the way you like.

8. Take pictures
Put your digital camera to use by selling stock-art pictures of household objects to Fotolia, ShutterStock, iStockphoto, StockXpert, etc.

9. Volunteer
It can build new skills and could give you material for a portfolio if you find the right projects.

10. Start your own company
If you have some savings and can afford to work for peanuts, it's a great time to start a company. Without the annoying distraction of a booming economy, you can focus on building a product to solve a problem you know people will have again when the economy loosens up. There is still funding even, for early stage companies.

Original article: 14 things to do if you are laid off from a tech job from CNET News.com

  1. Zones
  2. Management
  3. Networks
  4. Software
  5. IT Services
  6. Hardware
  1. Verticals
  2. Public Sector
  3. Financial Services
  4. Retail & Leisure

Naked CIO Naked CIO: Social networks are useless for finding a job 'Quantity over quality' approach poisoning professional networks

Peter Cochrane Peter Cochrane's Blog: Uneconomics We must move away from short-termism to prevent next economic crisis


  • Jobs
Senior Sales Executive - Business Continuity- 80K OTE

European Sales Director, key responsibilities will be: Taking complete responsibility for developing the business stream for the service known as ...

Customer Support Analyst - Lincoln - Would suit an IT Graduate!

Other responsibilities: - Assist customers with questions and queries regarding my clients online solutions - Assist with the support of internal IT ...

IT New Business / Business Development Manager - commission only

Warwickshire area - home and office based Commission - excellent + expenses You will have a good understanding of technical solutions and come from a ...

Agenda Setters 2009
Welcome to the ninth annual Agenda Setters poll – silicon.com's list of the top 50 most influential individuals in the technology and IT industries, from techies and CIOs to entrepreneurs and business leaders. Find out more in our latest special report.





Quick Sitemap Links: