Career Development: Managing career through tough times: by Muhammad Faheem Safdar, Comsats institute of Information Technology, Sahiwal.

1. MANAGING CAREER THROUGH
TOUGH TIMES
Presented By:
M. Faheem Safdar
MBA 3.5
MS department,
CIIT Sahiwal.
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2. INTRODUCTION
• No matter wherever we work as employees whether they are medium sized
organizations or major corporations, these businesses may face inevitable
adverse circumstances regarding business or profit due .
• Sometimes employees can foresee the tough times of companies but
sometimes they just can’t. In either of situation, they can face the cutting
axe of their employers.
• The following brief presentation is about managing career through tough
times.
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3. THE TOUGH TIMES
• The tough times for employees come when their companies are about to
decide for downsizing or layoff.
• Companies’ HR departments according to corporate strategy start to
analyze which employees should be targeted.
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4. 4
THE TOUGH TIMES
• In such a situation, majority of employees usually not only get panic but also
start to make mistakes on workplace which even increases more chances of
loosing their jobs. Because it’s the time when vigilant leaders choose to pick
up less productive employees to remove as priority.

5. HOW TO SURVIVE IN TOUGH TIMES
• Yes, survival is possible in many cases. But how ?
• A person with courage, an scenario appropriate behavior and a pro-active
thinking can possibly survive an ordeal of tough times.
• If you don’t have the courage to survive then remember courage can be
built as a SKILL !
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6. ACT LIKE A SURVIVOR!
• Remain pessimistic observe carefully by keeping keen eyes on surrounding
but act cheerful and confident.
• Put on a happy face and look forward for good times.
• There is no better way to look forward than to stay focused on customers
and assigned activities by the leader
• Lay low and be more cooperative with your colleagues
• Be ambidextrous and prove your leaders that you can handle various
responsibilities at the same time
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7. GIVE YOUR LEADERS, HOPE!
• The times of uncertainty are also tough for leaders as they don’t enjoy layoff
or downsizing of employees.
• Avoid arguing with leaders to keep you in or promote because its not the
right time for it.
• Try to help your leader defending your department.
• Inspire and unite your colleagues.
• Avoid all those activities and thoughts which can disempower you, your
leader or your department as a whole.
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8. BECOME A CORPORATE CITIZEN
• Be more visible by taking active part in activities especially in social
gatherings of employees and leaders.
• In such bad times, leaders always look for enthusiastic employees around
them. So be energetic.
• Changing your personality to survive may contradict with your need for
authenticity
• In such situation, its time to move on
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BECOME A CORPORATE CITIZEN
• It means, if you have a better alternative job at hand or you are near to your
retirement, offer your leaders to voluntarily leave your job for someone other
who might need it most.
• Don’t get greedy and remember such a graceful exit will give you nice
references & notes by leaders for your CV.

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PREPARE FOR PLAN B!
• Whatever fluctuations in your organization predict you something or what
level of certainty of job retention you might feel, prepare a Plan B along.
• Keep looking for alternative jobs, income resources or side businesses to save
your future from financial crisis in case worst case of losing job or a possible
layoff.
• Don’t wait for layoff to update your CV. Revise it now so that you can
capture job opportunities in time critical situations.
• Always keep reading self-helping books.

11. NOTE:
I prepared this presentation after studying :
Harvard Business Review on Managing Your Career in Tough
Times
Thanks 
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