Surviving an Employers Market

Every living thing has a life cycle. From organisms to manmade systems, anything present will endure highs and lows, and end just as certain as it once began. This quandary of time and space is generally accepted, but opposed in moments of crisis and financial hardship. The thought of surviving an employers market is one we’d rather not entertain.

Though recessions have the tendency to be disastrous, the fact remains that in every crisis, opportunity can be found also. Stalled economies give consumers the upper-hand (also known as a Buyer’s Market), but don’t think the merchant is at a total disadvantage! Recessions also give Employer’s an upper-hand, greatly accommodating the burden of having to authorize discounts and short sales.

Simply put, for every product or service sold below fair market value are thousands of overworked, under-compensated employees looking for their next break. Yes, employers are aware of this and often use it to their advantage! The idea is to increase the pressure, making life so miserable that people become complacent. Hardly anyone can focus on personal development when stress and uncertainty fight so aggressively against it.

Surviving an employers market means having the professional aptitude to weather recessions – this one, and those to come!

There’s no doubt this recession has lingered, but the economy is showing signs of improvement with new job creation and the melting of hiring freezes. Whether or not this continues, the following tips will guide you in surviving an employers market – the present one, and those to come:

1) Prepare for war in a time of peace.

In life, no one can afford to get comfortable. While it’s important to enjoy the fruits of your labor, you should also prepare for the challenges ahead when your situation seems most favorable or secure. Now is the time to network and build professional relationships! Save money, but also consider joining a union, fraternity, or professional society. You should also take advantage of continuing education and workshops to remain competitive in your career.

2) It’s just business. It’s just life.

It would be well to realize that some things in life are immutable. There may come a time when all you’ve accumulated, including your professional contacts, cease to exist. When the pressure in your life increases, and those whom you consider associates stop returning your emails and phone calls, don’t take it personal. It’s just business, which in a broader sense, is life itself. Hopefully you will have mapped a solid plan that affords more than one way of maneuvering.

3) Accepting those things you cannot change.

As for those immutable things in life, no amount of human effort can alter them. Learn to change those things you are capable of changing, while accepting the things you have no control over. If you find yourself earning less than you’re accustomed to (and working three times as hard), try not to let it negatively affect you. Compensate for it by learning and planning what you’ll do differently when your breakthrough arrives.

Line graphs are a lot like the ups and downs we experience in life.

4) Surviving an employers market also means never compromising who you are.

It’s easy to become cynical when life continues on a downward spiral. Many employers desire this above anything else. Why? So you will stop caring and remain their indentured servant for all your working days! You literally have to reach deep inside and find the strength to carry on. Never compromise your goals or integrity. Remain the very best person and employee you can be, giving each task 150% of your effort.

5) Recognize the light at the end of the tunnel.

All things, including hardship, eventually come to an end. The goal of most employers is to not only limit your opportunities for professional development, but to obstruct your view of outside opportunities as well. And that’s the catch: Realizing the light at the end of the tunnel; when you’ve made it through the storm and opportunity presents itself once again. No matter how tough your situation gets, never take your eyes off the prize. Learn how to recognize opportunities, and let nothing or no one take that knowledge away from you.

This is your Monday Unleaded for the week of June 9, 2013. Have a productive week!

That’s Life – Frank Sinatra aka The Chairman of the Board