I interviewed with 3 people last week - recently retrenched or in the midst of it

One of you wrote me last week as well - I always appreciate people getting back to these emails I write, so please feel free, mi casa, i mean, mi mailbox es su mailbox.

But yeah, today I want to talk about Retrenchment and how you should be thinking about it

Btw, my brother also got retrenched, and his one was so bad, it became mainstream media news…

More on that in the Career Advice section

JOBS

EU Jobs for Days

This job board is awesome

• Very very active

• Lots of great companies (some are my clients)

• Awesome filters to easily find your technology stack

You know what to do

• Find the company on LinkedIn (target smaller company sizes)

• Find Recruiters, Tech Talent and Heads of IT/Software Development

• Connect with them and start a conversation

Good luck out there boys and girls

P.S why the fook are my clients posting on job boards and not giving me all the jobs to head hunt for!!! 😡 😅 

CAREER ADVICE

So you just got retrenched

This is your ultimate guide on retrenchment.

But honestly, even if you are doing great in your career and company and have no risk of it, I think this article is going to help

So carry on reading, grasshopper

I’ve highlighted the bullet points in BOLD to show what is helpful whether you’ve been retrenched or not

1. Feel sorry for yourself - this is the one time that its okay and only for a few days, you don’t immediately need to jump to solutions

2. Go back to your employer with a more level head - understand your package, don’t let them screw you over! This happened to my dad like 20 years ago, honestly, i’m pissed at him that he accepted such as shitty package, he could have gotten more but he gave up

3. Check yourself before you wreck yourself - mental and physical health is always important, even more so now. Then check your financial health, how long could you go on for without taking out a piece of cardboard and a permanent marker

4. Alywas be networking - Events, LinkedIn, Twitter, Me, Colleagues, Friends, References and Introductions from your current employer to potential ones

5. Do Something - Learn something related to your career, pick up old hobbies, spend time with family and friends, travel. I know this sounds a bit privaledged, but if you can afford it, it’s a great opportunity to just explore the world or your country that doesn’t come by often

My final thought - Retrenchment usually isn’t a YOU thing (sometimes it is, and you need to work on yourself big time then!)

And since it’s not a you thing, you shouldn't take it too personally or emotionally - employers know it happens, recruiters know it happens, friends and family know it happens - you being embarrassed is a you thing, not a them thing

Now - lets take some time to laugh at my brother 🙂 

My brother worked 11 years for HSBC - he was a Senior Vice President at one of their divisions and drives a porsche 911, lives in a sick house - has a nice fat bonus at the end of the year

Then this happened - instead of walking into a Friday afternoon and collecting a 3 million rand bonus - he collected a retrenchment notice and forwent his bonus

He literally got fired on the day he was meant to bonus! I found this awesome meme which I promptly sent to him - he didn’t find it as funny as I did!

Now the question is, why was I taking this so lightheartedly and happily for my brother

1. he is very good at his job

2. he is well networked and connected

3. he is in a niche that is growing and currently hiring

4. he hated his job and always spoke of quitting all the dam time

He would have never left if he wasn’t fired and 2 months later, he has a new job, that pays WAYYYY more lol.

He also got an awesome retrenchment package - so yes, he loses the bonus, but his package was way more than the bonus and his new job pays 50% more lol

I was happy for him from the FRIDAY that it happened and told him as much, he was feeling sorry for himself until he got the new offer (7 weeks or so of this lame feeling sorry for myself shit… We watched Rocky movies to help with that haha)

Like I said, a day or a few days of sadness, fine - but after that… Thats a character flaw lol

This actually happened to my dad, which is maybe why I have such a strong opinion on retrenchment

He was never the same after being let go from a place he spend 15 years at! And it really messed up my family, he was just devastated by something that is quite meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

So don’t be like my dad, pull up your socks and go back into the world with your chin held high AKA, don’t be a little bitch - the world is yours for the taking!

INTERVIEW ADVICE

How do you speak about it (being let go)

Another plagiarism picture, taken straight from a lazy Google search - sorry Asian man - not only were you let go, now hundreds of South Africans are aware of it too

So you’ve been let go and you know the questions going to be coming up in your interviews

1. Dont lie too much - some people will try say the company wasn’t for them, that they didn’t like the job anyway, or try softening the blow, just tell it like it is.

2. Show initiative - “I was let go and i’ve been praying to get a new job” is not a good look, you want to show resiliance and tenacity.

3. Show initiative continued - “I’ve been attending events, focusing on networking online through LinkedIn and i’ve picked up some new courses - also, picked up an old hobby doing XYZ, because I want some more enjoyment and a way to deal with the stress.”

4. Dont be desperate - don’t take on a new job because you need one, companies might not hire you, or if they do, drastically underpay you and take advantage - you’ll be relieved you have a new job and then hate your new job lol replacing one misery for another

Lastly

Just dont mention it - unless you were retrenched because you suck at your job, its no ones business and plenty of people will try take advantage of you in your desperate situation

So if they dont need to know - if it doesnt come up - if you dont have to talk about it

DONT

THATS A WRAP

Before you go: Here’s 3 ways I can help you

1. LinkedIn - I’m always hiring - but only 2 to 4 people a month - connect with me on and send me your CV - currently, I only hire people with 7 or more years of experience - if you have less, but are EXCEPTIONAL, i’ll make exceptions

2. Youtube - i’m always making content to help you out, subscribe and binge

3. Free Career Advice - i’m going to be giving away CV feedback for early subscribers for free, I usually charge $100 for a resume roast - i’ll make a recording and send you feedback - just reply back to this email with your CV - its totally free for first 5 people