You, Your Job and the Economic CrisisBefore and After

This article was printed in the CONTROL's March 2009 edition.

By Katherine Bonfante, Managing Editor, Digital Media

First of all, congratulations to all those automation professionals who still have a job. You did it! You dodged the bullet. Your job skills and experience were the differentiators that separated you from the individual who also has skills, but who is not a “must-keep.”

In the March print issue of Control, my article “Job Hunting in a Tough Economy,” (www.controlglobal.com/0903_Job.html) talks about how to keep those skills honed and about what to do if you didn’t make the cut. If you find yourself in that latter category, also don’t forget to check out our Control Connection, which can be linked to directly from the CG home page.

Above all, don’t despair. There are some tasty job offerings on the site right now. At Control Connection, you can also post your resume, sign up for email job alerts and take advantage of our Career Resources page.

But in the meantime, still having a job probably means you also have additional responsibilities—way too many. They allow you to show off your multitasking skills, prepare you to perform different jobs, and generally beef up your resume—yet, at the same time, they’re driving you nuts. In the not-so-distant past, you wanted added responsibilities to show the skills you’ve been polishing for so long, but now the sheer number of them is getting in the way your performing at your best. You’re stressed, irritable and sleep-deprived, not to mention suffering from the general anxiety that’s running rampant everywhere these days, like a low-grade fever.

Relax. Take a deep breath. This too shall pass.

Meanwhile, remember that if you have survived a round or two of layoffs, it’s because you are the man or woman for the job. You have the best skills, the most experience and the best preparation to get the job done and done right. Take advantage of the situation. Manage your time, prioritize your duties, and do what you can in the time you are given. And remember to be good to yourself. Take care of your physical and mental health. Spend time with people you like and love and, insofar as you can, with your outside interests. A crash-and-burn event won’t help either you or your company.

Don’t let the crisis get the best of you. Stop, analyze the situation, and then take action. Show your supervisors that keeping you was the right decision because you and only you have what it takes to keep the plant running. Hey, if it wasn’t for you and your colleagues doing your jobs right, the company wouldn’t still be standing.