Survive the job loss spin cycle

Survive the job loss spin cycle

The U.S. economy averages a recession every six to seven years. The ad industry suffers more than most from these economic downturns. Advertising budgets are the first cuts and the last restored. This sensitivity creates a high likelihood that you will laid off from your job at some point in your career. To mitigate this possibility, practice these things.

  1. Be indispensable. The most productive people making less money than they are worth are the toughest to let go of.?
  2. Live under your means. Put away money for the inevitable rainy day. Have six-nine months of living expenses ready to support you. This may seem impossible, but saving 10 percent of your monthly pay won't take long to build that amount in the six to seven years between economic downturns.
  3. Invest in your portfolio. The day-to-day work usually isn't portfolio quality. Work on extra projects that give you quality work to keep your portfolio current and marketable. Investing in one of JPL's upgrade programs is an excellent way to make you more competitive.
  4. Know where the side doors are. The fastest way to a job is through the side door. Build connections and keep in touch when times are good. Those connections will help you find the few jobs available when times go south.

Remember, what goes down will go up. The economy will return, so don't panic. The better prepared you are, the less the downturn will hurt your career. If you have to do less quality work to pay the bills, do it knowing it's temporary, and always be working to get back to where you need to be in your career.

https://www.jobpropulsionlab.com/free-critique

#job #economy #laidoff #optimism #nevergiveup #dreamcareer #workinprogress #careerimprovement #career #careerchange #advertising #portfolio #creativity

Mike Thomas

Art Director, Creative Director, Branding and Advertising

1 年

While at The Creative Circus Bart taught us a thing or two. He's always been a bit of a sage. One of the projects he had us work on was for the brand Gold Toe Socks. I remember thinking, "What? Why?" But we worked on it just as hard as any other project. I'll never forget the presentation two weeks later. "What we're trying to do is connect tough guys, and tough socks." I then taped up the concept to the wall. The headline read, "Hey tough guy. Got tough socks?" Everybody laughed. And later is dawned on me in a Doogie Howser moment: Always be willing to put everything into whatever's in front of you. Because you might surprise yourself. That work helped land me my first job working at Lowe New York for Bob Jeffrey, Dead Hacohen and Gary Goldsmith shortly after Goldsmith Jeffrey was acquired. One step removed from Helmut Krone. The work we did was featured at Cannes and all the big award shows. Always be a force of nature in business, creativity and life. This is one way to become recession proof. Every recession is laced with opportunity—because people always have needs that you can provide. And creativity will solve every problem. Thank you Mr. Cleveland.

回复
Glen Sheehan

Redsam Photography Galleries and Fine Art Prints

1 年

Side doors is a critical on-going and growth strategy, I always called them “escape hatches” to build outside relationships and conversations that could be your next…

回复
Frances Kepes

Associate Creative Director, Copy MRM New York

1 年

wonderful and realistic advice!

要查看或添加评论,请登录

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了