Execs Who Get Boot Often See It Coming
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Many executives who are victims of downsizing aren’t really surprised to find themselves in a sudden career transition, according to recent survey of more than 1,200 managers who lost their jobs.
Lee Hecht Harrison, a global outplacement consulting firm with an office in Irvine, reports that 78% of the respondents--about 200 from California--anticipated their company’s downsizing and more than half actually expected to be among those laid off.
The survey, in its first year, also showed that 35% of the respondents lost their jobs previously in corporate cutbacks, and 65% had survived a downsizing at their most recent job or a previous job.
A significant number of managers surveyed weren’t waiting to be terminated before planning their next move. In the two years before receiving pink slips, 57% had updated their resumes, half pursued some form of career or skill development, 46% actively maintained their networks and 44% explored other employment options.
“People are in a constant state of looking these days,” said Cathy Kennedy, the firm’s vice president of marketing. “As a result, our advice is to maintain your skills and keep your network up to date and informed.”
Greg Hernandez covers workplace issues for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-5989 or at [email protected].
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