Krishnan Sivaraman, a software professional from Pune, who was himself laid off in 2002 shares his experience here.
I was laid off in 2002 by my then employer because they didn't get any new project. The reason given was my performance was not good. May be they were correct at that time. But then they didn't give me enough chance to prove my performance.
DON'T MISS: 10 tips to survive a pink slip, financially
Remember these key points if, God forbid, your employee ever gives you a pink slip or if you have been sacked already:
~ Be confident that you have very good knowledge of your industry
~ Don't panic. I have never seen a graduate sitting at home and doing no work. They work somewhere or the other. So be sure that you will get your next job soon
After I lost my first job, I panicked initially as to what to do next. But one of my friends needed my skills to finish one of his projects for a small petrol pump. I joined in making software for their accounting department. I worked there for 3-4 months where I gained so much knowledge and confidence that I could write good software codes on my own.
Then one of my neighbours in my native place saw an advertisement in a newspaper from a software company in Kerala. The salary, however, was only Rs 6,000. I used to earn nearly Rs 13,000 in Mumbai in my first job and in the second job I used to get money every month just for my survival.
I attended the interview in Kerala and got selected. I worked there for nearly a year. That was the best time in my life because the company's managing director taught me so many new things and made me an all-rounder in software development within a year.
Unfortunately I couldn't continue my career there because I got an opportunity in Pune with a salary of Rs 20,000 per month. Hence I joined the software company in Pune.
I am currently working in Pune since March 2003, and in 2007 I was awarded by group CEO as a 'One of the Best Performers' out of 10,000 employees.
Since then I have been a star performer of my company.
I am sure my story is exactly what's happening currently to thousands of employees in different industries in India. Don't blame your employer; instead work wherever you can and be confident that you will get your next job very soon in the same industry or some other industry with a good package.
ALL THE BEST to everyone who have lost their job and we all Indians will pray for you.
Also read: What we love and hate about credit cards
Reader invite
Were you ever laid off by your employer? How long did you remain unemployed? How did you cope with your unemployment financially? How did you get your next job? What would be your advice to those laid off recently or fear the pink slip?
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Photograph: Arun Patil
Image: Jet Airways employees protesting after their layoff.
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