How to prepare for job insecurity
Ramon Padilla
Published: 02 Dec 2004 11:55 GMT
A recent survey conducted by Forrester Research states that companies are less likely to outsource their database administration than any other IT functionality. Does that make you sleep better at night? Personally, my contacts in the industry continue to talk about cutbacks and outsourcing at all levels, and everyone's opinion seems to be the direct opposite of the rosier picture this survey paints. So what is the real truth?
The fact of the matter is that the management in many organisations is still focused on short term profitability, and the only way many of them know how to achieve that is by cutting expenses. Furthermore, most companies have already chewed their way through those employees they have deemed "expendable" and are now faced with finding ways to eliminate as many of those that remain and still keep things running. Combine this with many technically talented individuals in economically impoverished countries who are willing to work for next to nothing, compared to Western salaries, and the handwriting seems to be on the wall.
Delay your departure
So how does one prevent being downsized or outsourced? The short answer is -- you can't. If someone is determined to send you along that path, there is little you can do to stop it, no matter how brilliant, wise, funny or good-looking you may be.
On the other hand, while you can't stop it from happening, there are things you can do to delay your departure, influence the decision, or remain one of the last men/women standing. You can lump these strategies into personal strategies for yourself and strategies for your programme, area or department.
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