"We're Gonna Have To Let You Go"
A
Guide To Surviving Your Layoff
Within
the last year there have been mass layoffs in both newspapers and
television news. Some of us has have experienced this first hand while
others have seen colleagues laid off. Having been laid off before
in another profession, I developed this quick check list to see if
you’re ready to face losing your job. Let’s take a minute to see if
you’re ready for the worst.
Debt
First find out how much you owe in credit card debt. Pay down the
amount owed to be better prepared for a potential layoff. In the current
credit crisis, variable interest rates and the minimum balance due
will go up the more you owe. If you have to carry some debt on a credit
card, try paying down the balance to around 30% of your credit line.
Also
some credit card companies offer credit protection insurance. If you
have good credit and or can handle a small minimum payment, this option
is pointless. But if your credit card is maxed out the insurance will
pay your minimum balance until you land a job. Having this insurance
would pay itself back with the higher minimum balance due these days.
Otherwise you’d have to pay those minimum balances charges out of
your savings or unemployment check.
Savings
It’s suggested that you should have six months worth of salary saved
as an emergency fund for unexpected bills or expenses. If you do online
banking you can set up a deduction from your checking account to your
savings account when you get paid every month or every two weeks.
But when you make peanuts like some of us do it can be hard to sock
a little money away every month. So I’m a realist when it comes to
putting a little money away a month. Look for ways to save money in
your everyday expenses. By cutting back on expenses you’ll quickly
see how much you can save just in three months.
If
you don’t already pack a lunch to work you’re missing out on big savings
both in time and money. Eating out at lunch or dinner can get expensive.
Even if you pack lunch times a week you can easily save $15 to $45
dollars a week. That money can be spent elsewhere within your budget.
I pack at least three times a week if not four times a week. I do
allow myself to eat out at least once or twice a week to prevent getting
bored with the same old turkey sandwich. Lastly, if you don’t clip
coupons already, start! If you buy convenience store sodas or a Starbucks
coffee, stop!
The
Exit Plan
Managers are always planning for the big story; so should you, if
there is a possibility of getting laid off. Planning your exit from
the building without forgetting anything is so critical. In the coming
days, take the time to make sure you have all of your story contacts
and colleague contact information copied at home. Ask a few of your
closest and respected associates if you can use them as a reference
in the future. Then make sure you get their correct information and
go ahead and make a reference list on your resume.
Speaking
of your resume, make sure that it’s up to date and that whatever changes
are needed can be done quickly at home. Purchase resume paper and
envelopes while you’re still employed. Same applies to any other materials
you’ll need if you’re on air or off air talent: blank DVD’s, DVD cases,
bubble envelopes, postage (10 Priority Stamps, 10 1st Class Stamps).
Having these items already purchased you’ll be saving $75 or $100
dollars for other expenses.
It’s
important to have your portfolio and resume tape updated. That way
you won’t have to worry about making this after being laid off. If
you do get laid off and you’re not up to date on this task, ask your
manager if you can come in during normal business hours and use the
equipment to get it done or to make copies of your reel.
If
you have any personal belongings or equipment stored at work make
sure it’s in one area if possible. Make a list of all of the personal
equipment that is yours and supply that list to your department head.
That way you and your equipment are protected.
Getting
the Word
There’s never a good time for a manager to tell an employee they’re
needed by Human Resources. As you head up to HR take a deep breath.
The next thirty minutes will dictate how well you’ll land on your
feet. Know that no matter whether you’re a good or bad employee, how
you act in this meeting is vital to your future. Trust me, you’ll
have plenty of time to be angry and upset after you’ve left.
Know
that in these times letting people go is a business decision and not
necessary personal decision. Know that management is simply doing
what has been handed down from corporate. It’s not their fault nor
is it yours.
During
the meeting with HR or with your department head be as positive as
you can. Make sure you ask if you’ll qualify for unemployment. Ask
about any other benefits they might provide to help ease the blow.
Ask them to pay for a month or two of health coverage while you actively
search for other employment. Don’t be afraid to ask for things. The
worst they can say is no.
Gather
your things and say your goodbyes if you can. Remember, be positive!
Leave the building with class just as you entered. You have to be
in the frame set that they’re doing you the favor by letting you go.
This will help you in the coming weeks to come as you search for other
employment. Once you’re in the parking lot you’ll be glad that your
exit plan worked.
The
Day After
You’ll
go though several emotions after being laid off. It’s important not
to get out of your work routine during this time. The sole purpose
of your day now is to land a job quickly. There will be a lot of factors
you’ll have to consider during this time: What's best for your family?
Do you want to stay in the area? Do you want to stay in the profession?
The
first calls you should make is to competing stations in the area to
see if they have any openings. If they do, go ahead and apply even
if they're not in your area of expertise . If nothing more you may
get a lead on other employment elsewhere or maybe another character
reference. From there make a round of calls to production houses in
the area. Tell them your situation and advise them if they need assistants
in the near future to call you. Follow that up by listing yourself
on freelance websites. It will help you with landing short term gigs
before you get your next job.
There
are plenty of job listing sites for our industry. If you don’t already
subscribe to one I suggest you pick one and add a year membership
even if you’re currently not looking for work. That would be another
expense you can save yourself if the worst happens to you.
Once
you have access to job listings that are updated daily you need to
plan your attack wisely. One thing I’d suggest is getting your reel
on-line for quick review by potential employers. Call newspapers or
stations within the state if you want to stay in the area. Otherwise
get your resume and reel out to other markets for review.
Lastly,
just because you’re out of work doesn't mean you should settle for
the first thing that comes your way. But you do need to realize how
tight the job market is currently. A lot of companies have openings
right now but some are in a hiring freeze. Keep this in mind: You
might have to take a step back in your career to take a step forward.
By
Brad Ingram, photojournalist, WGHP-TV@newslab.org
HOME
Headlines
How
Bad Will It Get in Local Markets?
Fox
TV station technician facing child porn charges
Thai
politician assaults TV journalist after live interview
SC
TV station dumps local sportscasts
Layoffs
announced in Denver
Veteran
DC reporter Bob Strickland is dead at 72
KOMU
cuts overnight shift
New
Orleans anchor booked for DWI, not suspended
TV
anchor Solarski charged with DUI
Hurricane-crazed
steer attacks Beaumont news crew
"
TV
producer found dead, kid at feet
KLAS
Las Vegas Cuts 17
Cutbacks
expected at WNBC
Powerful
Senator Sees Potential DTV-Transition 'Crisis'
Trade
group calls switchover 'a catastrophe'
More
D.C. Cuts for ABC News
Ch.
6 to extend early-morning news show'
Sports
anchor arrested
Charges
Dropped Against Reporters Arrested During RNC
Amy
Jacobson sues CBS 2 for airing bikini video
News
anchor arrested on DUI complaint
Overlap
on KSDK angers viewers
Some
Press for More Notice of Transition in TV
Layoffs
Keep Coming
KWGN-TV
to launch 5:30 p.m. newscast
Officer
and Photog Scuffle
TV
reporter, cameraman plead guilty to trespassing charges
Black
Anchor Out After Using "N" Word
TV
news helicopter violates Presidential airspace, says FAA
Kitten
Rescued from Fox 17 Station Car
Final
hour for newscast
Suspect
in fatal crash found in TV vehicle
NBC11
Reporter Robbed While Covering Story On Smash-And-Grabs
LA
TV news stringers to become TruTV series
Wilmington
to be digital TV test market
Barrington
To Slash Staff
WNBC
Plans 24-Hour News Channel
ABC
News to launch on-campus bureaus
Some
Pappas Telecasting Stations file for Chapter 11
Deputies
use Taser on sportscaster in jai
l
Jane
Fonda Slips C-Word Past NBC Today Censors
CBS
Lays Off CSTV Staffers
Man
charged in snowmobile crash that killed TV anchor
Former
Tampa Reporter busted for Child Porn
Former
Boise TV anchor arrested for domestic abuse
Former
Meteorologist Wants Jail Sentence Tossed
Davenport
TV station lays off 12, cancels 2 newscasts
Can
Columbus' famously combustible news director be tamed?
GM
apologizes for weatherman's goof
L.A.
mayor's girlfriend demoted by TV station
FCC
urges fine for Comcast
BBC
to integrate news operation
NFL's
new vest policy is out of line
Another
news chopper incident
Ex-forecaster
insists she's not guilty of shoplifting
'Early
Show' bails on flooded studio
Pit
bulls attack TV, radio station workers
Police
review actions of TV crew at office protest
Voice-over
actor tapped as traffic reporter
Family
files civil suit against anchor
Eyewitness
News back on after fire
Broken
Pipe Cripples TV News
Philly
shooter slugged
Photog
arrested
Camerawoman
files claim against Los Angeles
Global
TV cameraman saves toddler
Pittsburgh
station sorry for misplaced news tease
Hopefuls
jam station's traffic-reporter tryout
News
anchor jailed, charged with felony
Man
accused of threatening TV reporter
Another
TV News Copter Goes Down
TV
Station Fires Worker Over Porn Prank
TV
Reporter Found Guilty Of Contempt
TV
Helicopter Pilot Saves Stranded Deer
*Watch
video
Pols
Call For Warning Labels on Analog-Only TV Sets
No
charges in arrest of 'Car Czar' reporter
Former
Channel 7 analyst arrested on child sex charges
Philly
station launches mostly unscripted newscast
Boston
TV's Ansin defends mass firings
Charity's
director sues WFLA-TV reporter
Boston
radio giant fires entire news team
Roanoke
TV station fires meteorologist over MySpace photo
'Borat' duped TV producer
Former TV Reporter Indicted For Cruise Ship Conduct With Boys
KTMD
losing most of news staff
Broadcast
Workers Oppose Dereg
TV
Takes a Page Out of Newspaper Hardships
Students
make 'Point' on TV news
Fox
journalists released in Gaza Strip, ending nearly two week hostage ordeal
Cincy
TV stations settle sideline-camera flap
Death
stuns, angers reporter's family
Bossier
City businessman accused of attacking TV crew
Wife
of kidnapped Fox cameraman makes tearful plea for release
Ex-news
anchor arrest
Popular Weatherman
Passes
Former
TV personality charged with soliciting a child
Voice
of the Razorbacks Dies in Car Accident
Sentence
in crash that kills photog
Cameraman
tossed from tour
TV
station editor beaten up over report about broken privatisation promises
Chopper
4 crashes during search
Once again a near death incident. Glad everyone's safe...but
here's another reason why I've given up helicopters for good.
Cameraman
Claims He Slept With Princess Diana
Now that's what I'm talkin' about. You go get 'em
cameraman!
Broadcasters'
audience size sets new low
The least-watched week in history. Going downnnnn....
Bank
robbery foiled by TV reporter
Fox,
AP Settle Photog Flap
"Miraculous
Recovery" for CBS' Dozier
Holdin'
Globes
New
pandemic fear as cameraman falls ill in bird flu village
Reporter
killed in head-on collision
NBCU
Puts Four Stations Up for Sale
PGA
Announces New Agreements With CBS, NBC
Fire
kills anchorman
Former
TV reporter charged with shoplifting
Anchorwoman
Accepts Proposal on Air
Ex-TV
reporter Barth joins race for seat in Congress
ABC
Cameraman shot dead in Baghdad
Shootout
video cameraman drops out of sight
Spitting
at TV cameraman earns suspension
Pittsburgh
TV Reporter Cited For Trespassing
TV photogs attacked outside court
Break-in
delays W. Va. newscast debut
Viacom lays off 11 at KOVR, KMAX
Colo.
station suspends local news
NFL
won't act on Benson altercation with TV crew
Cameras
Captured a Disaster but Now Focus on Suffering
Cameraman Assaulted
