Being in Control -- Layoff version

We all need to work, to earn a living, to find our life's purpose. Transitions are tough; there's no doubt. Whether you're transitioning from military service, from college or academia, or from your family leave, looking for work can be rough and tumble. When you've been laid off, the challenge is amplified. You may feel pangs of regret or have your confidence shaken.

After a lay-off happens, even if you were not impacted, you can feel out of control. The people who were laid off may have been mentors of yours, or people you admired. If they could get laid off, you think, what does it matter what I do?

Over the decades of my experience, I have spent years both hiring and mentoring, and looking for jobs across three continents. The following four approaches are always under our control. These themes are true for those who are highly employable, across time, location, and industry. These can make a difference and they are in your control.

Be the Expert

First, be the expert in your field of expertise.

Pick a field, an area of specialization. Rather than being a Swiss Army Knife, be the best fork, the sharpest pair of scissors. Trying to be all things to all people will make you a mile wide and a foot deep. Jack of all trades, master of none is an easy role to fill and the competition for these roles is fierce.

In sports, being a utility player can be helpful. Utility players can fill many positions. They know how to play short-stop, first-base and the outfield. And there can be value to that. Superstars, people who are not easily replaced, are those who are the absolute best at their craft.

Master a trade. You can still be wide, and know about other things. You should be the expert in something. For example, if you're a project manager, know what kind of a project manager you are. Are you the turn-around magician, who gets parachuted in when things are tough? Are you the project manager who knows how to take a project across the finish line? Are your strengths in the set-up, the myriad of details and complexities of starting a project? Are you best with short 4-6 week engagements? Or do you excel in the long game? Most project managers are capable of all these projects. Knowing what you excel at can set you apart from the field.

Then, read about it. Write about it. Blog, tweet, Instagram. Study it. Take classes. Do practical exercises. Practice deliberately and get recurring feedback on your performance.

Don't be That Person

Second, don't be That Person. Perhaps this is a military thing. (So much of what I say and do is colored by my Veteran status.), If you haven't met That Person, let me introduce you. That Person last employee to finish their required training. That Person comes to the meeting one minute before it starts, or worse, is always walking in late with some completely reasonable excuse. That Person is the one who loses their luggage on every trip and shows up wearing inappropriate attire.

If you're That Person, please stop planning for perfection. Firefighters know that you create time and energy to address the inevitable crisis by building hydrant systems, training, cleaning, and preparing.

Plan for traffic. Plan for issues. Build wiggle room and consider contingencies. Finish your training early. Get your timecard done on time. Figure out how to properly submit your expense report, the first time, every time.

That Person makes a manager's life more difficult. That Person has to be chased down, and reminded, and coached again and again and again. That Person is always in need of being lifted up. Lift others up instead. Make your manager's life easier by getting the operational excellence done right, and by making the routine tasks routine.

?Get and Stay Certified

Third, get your certifications and keep them current. Whatever field you're in, a professional organization exists to certify your knowledge. If there isn't, consider what certifications might be valuable. Ask your peers and your mentors to guide you to the most appropriate certifications. Some certifications, such as CISSP and PMP, require that you document significant work history in addition to certification exams. No matter what your industry, you can always become certified in CPR and First Aid.

While certifications aren't sufficient unto themselves, they are useful to document your knowledge and experience.

Certifications are outwards signs of your capability and knowledge.?They are often used as an easy filter for hiring managers who are overwhelmed with resumes. Usually, a few certifications are sufficient to demonstrate and document your expertise.

Lift Others Up

Finally, come to work, every day, determined to make the lives of those around you better. Fulfilling your job duties is certainly a part of that. Completion of your core job responsibilities are what you're trading for your paycheck, on an extremely basic level. You are being paid for the value that you bring to the organization.

Beyond simply doing your job, you should be known for your helpfulness and the joy that you bring others. If other people feel better and are better for being around you, they will want to be with you. They will seek you out for future opportunities. They will sponsor you into new endeavors.

Simple. Not Easy.

That's it. Four things. Simple? Of course. Easy? Well, like anything, habit and practice will bring ease.

Ask yourself these four questions:

• What am I the recognized expert in?
• Do I make my manager's job easier or harder?
• Are my certifications current?
• Do people like working with me?

Experts who are easy to work with, who can document their experience, and who make the lives of others better are highly employable.

What are you doing today to lift others up?