One of the worst experiences in a career is being told you are being let go. I've faced this twice, both times with large global consulting firms. The last instance, a few years ago, was particularly harsh. On the same day I was informed I was no longer needed, we also had to admit my mom into a care home due to her broken hip and Alzheimer's. It was devastating.
To say I was embarrassed, shocked and angry is an understatement. Despite receiving strong performance reviews and assurances of support from leadership, the company abruptly changed direction, leaving me adrift. This blow to my ego, pride, and confidence made me feel worthless and like a failure.
It is still emotional typing this today.
But I'm not alone. Many of my friends and mentors have faced similar situations. I also lived through countless never-ending rounds of layoffs, always fearing my turn would come—an especially troubling reality for an immigrant on a work visa, who at one point had only seven days to leave the country if let go.
Too many organizations make quick cuts, paying millions in severance only to see their brand reputation and employee engagement suffer. In the U.S. and Canada, typically 1 in 2 employees is engaged with their job. However, after either layoffs or mergers, this drops by about 20 points, often taking years to recover. Instead of one in every two employees being engaged, it's likely one in every four.
At this point, you might wonder why you should listen to me. That is a very good question.
As a Human Resources expert, I've consulted for numerous Fortune 500 companies, served as a partner at a global consulting firm, an Executive Director at a Big 4 firm, and sold my startup to another Big 4. I’ve advised HR leaders globally, spoken at international conferences, been interviewed in WSJ, Fortune, Forbes and many others, and authored books like "The Future of Work", "Employee Preference Optimization", and "The Art of War: Strategic Applications for HR". You can also look at my LinkedIn profile too.
Job cuts will always be part of the corporate world, often driven by the same ineffective leaders pushing for strict return-to-office mandates. These experiences gave me a new purpose. There is a silver lining, and the sun will come up tomorrow.
As an executive in big consulting firms, I enjoyed mentoring younger consultants, turning good consultants into great ones, helping with career development, and providing guidance on navigating the complex corporate landscape. This inspired me to develop a service for people facing turmoil in their career and in need of a change. My goal is to help them find a better, more engaging career at a different (better!) company.
In February, I conducted a study of 6,000 workers in the U.S., Canada, and Europe (you can download the entire report for free here). Here are some sobering facts:
· 32% of workers are actively looking for a new job.
· 37% describe their corporate culture as toxic.
· 32% feel their immediate manager is the biggest source of stress.
· 65% are not satisfied with development opportunities.
· 77% do not feel professional development is personalized.
· 42% believe their company effectively implements DE&I policies.
· 65% of job switchers have doubts about their decision.
These statistics paint a bleak picture of the current workplace environment, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction and stress. It's clear that many professionals are in desperate need of better support and guidance in their career journeys.
If you are feeling that way, you are not alone.
The Career Coach: Lifting You Up When You Need It Most
Job insecurity and career uncertainty are some of the most difficult challenges anyone can face. It's a terrible experience, filled with anxiety and self-doubt. But you don't have to go through it alone. I understand this firsthand, and that's why I've developed a service to help people when they need it most—a service designed to provide the support and guidance that is often missing in times of professional upheaval. A tool that delivers real results and helps people find their next position at a different better company.
Our service is an executive career coach for non-executives, personalized to your needs and career aspirations. Here's how it works:
1. Upload Your Resume or LinkedIn Profile: Provide any relevant documents showcasing your expertise (such as articles or presentations).
2. Answer Onboarding Questions: Share your goals, priorities, needs, desires, attitudes, and skills.
3. Access Our AI-Powered Career Coach: Available via chat, talking, or soon by email.
The career coach can help with the following:
Assessing Qualifications for Job Openings: Compare your skills with job requirements and suggest improvements.
Comparing Experiences: Identify the skills needed to move into any desired position and outline a roadmap to get you there.
Designing a Personalized Career Development Plan: Tailored to your specific needs, offering upskilling advice based on your skills and interests. This includes: Skills Assessment, Interest Analysis, Career Goals, Learning Opportunities, Mentorship, Experience Mapping, Progress Tracking, Networking, Feedback, and Resources.
Understanding Company Culture: Assess the corporate culture of potential employers to avoid missteps (you don’t be part of the two-thirds of switchers who regret that move to the new company).
Finding Company Culture Matches: Search for companies with a culture that aligns with your preferences.
Interview Preparation: Engage in real-time mock interviews with feedback.
DEI Review: Ensure your materials are free from unconscious biases.
Strengthening Job Search Materials: Receive personalized suggestions to improve your resume, CV, LinkedIn profile, or cover letter.
You can communicate as often as you like with your career coach and set alerts for regular check-ins. Upcoming features include real-time interview guidance (phone or voice only), salary benchmarking, and more.
In my experience, this kind of support is often lacking, and few managers help their employees grow professionally. People need to own their career development because nobody will be as interested in your career as you will be—well, maybe you and your career coach.
I measure the success of this tool by the number of users who transition to better jobs within three months (currently about 87%) and no longer need our support. My goal is to help you find a career that is engaging, within a supportive culture, and where you can be your authentic self.
Job insecurity and career uncertainty are some of the most difficult challenges anyone can face. It's a terrible experience, filled with anxiety and self-doubt. But you don't have to go through it alone. I developed this service to provide the support and guidance that is often missing during times of professional upheaval. Our goal is to help you find your next position at a better company, where you can thrive in a supportive culture.
We are steadily onboarding new clients every week, and our waitlist is filling up fast. If you want to secure your spot and not miss out, please reach out and join our waitlist today. For now, we are looking for participants for our next beta release. We're offering lifetime access for a one-time price of $249. After these slots are filled, the next 100 will be offered lifetime access for $499. Subsequently, it will become a subscription service for about $100 a month.
If you've recently experienced a job loss, please let me know, and I'll provide you with a 50% off code. Offer valid until September 15.
If you think this could help you or someone you know, please pass this along. For any questions or support, reach out to me on Twitter: @TimGlowa or [email protected].
Finally, if there is anyone in my LinkedIn network that I can introduce you to, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Good luck in your search.
