| Topic Name: |
How Headcount Reductions Work |
| Message Name: |
This is Excellent Info |
| Date Posted: |
03/15/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
First, there's this thing called "Succession Planning." It can be a double edged sword, so beware!
Succession planning is going on when management starts asking for you to update your personnel file to make sure they have all of your credentials, degrees, certificates, awards, etc. They are building a database that will also include info on your tenure, any reprimands/performance problems, and your annual evaluation score.
This information will be used for two things:
First, the good news. In my case, the succession planning committee noticed I had a really fancy degree from a great school, lots of career enhancing extension classes, and certificate programs, commendations for working on the United Way Campaign, etc. It got me a promotion to the most rewarding job I have ever had.
The Bad News: they are developing a matrix for who is going to go in the next headcount reduction. You are vulnerable if: your tenure and annual review scores fall within their target range. Departments get the "10% across the board edict from above," and they start cutting using the matrix.
A Clue: that your boss knows it's coming and is trying to protect someone other than you: you get a much lower evaluation than the previous year, and it makes no sense - you did more, met more targets, produced more than your peers. And he/she can't give you a good reason, or gives you a bogus reason like "we're trying to reverse the inflated evaluation scores to more realistic numbers."
It's a death march from there on, so you might as well start fluffing and buffing your resume NOW and jump start your job search while still employed. You are in a situation beyond your control. The boss is simply covering the back of someone who is better/more politically connected to him than you are.
Don't take it personally - it happens. It's part of the great lifetime career dance. Plan ahead!
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| Message: |
Don't miss this info - it very valuable to know how this works.
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