Today I’m taking the unusual step of re-posting an old blog post. The following article was published during the summer - but in recent days I’m getting asked so many questions on “how do I deal with all the uncertainty” that I thought it may be timely to reproduce the following ”how to” tips on dealing with all the change and uncertainty in the economy and job market.  

How To Thrive During Uncertain Times

“Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.”
- John Allen Paulos (Writer and Speaker)

Over the last 2 years I have been learning comedy improvisation with the excellent London-based theatre company and corporate trainers, The Spontaneity Shop.  I have performed in about 5 shows so far and it’s been great fun.

But whilst I’ve really enjoyed it, it’s not something I have found easy.

You see, in a work environment, I can deal with change, think on my feet and “wing it” with the best of them. But when it comes to walking the uncertain tight-rope of comedy improvisation - on stage with no script and absolutely no idea what will happen next - I’ve found it challenging and consequently been a slow learner.

But earlier this year, I finally started to ‘get it’. Around May/June time with the direction of the tutors at the Spontaniety Shop, I finally started to learn and internalise the key lessons on how to handle (and indeed enjoy) the uncertainty that goes with making it up as you go along on stage.

There are 8 key lessons or rules I learned. Rules which I think apply equally to comedy improvisation as they do to walking the tight rope of managing careers during these uncertain times:

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As you can see below, Nomura tops the list:

Here’s the Top 15:

1. Nomura International

2. Morley Fund Management

3. UBS Investment Bank

4. State Street

5. Credit Suisse

6. Rabo International

7. GAM

8. Bank of America

9. Merrill Lynch

10. Daiwa Securities SMBC Europe

11. Dresdner Kleinwort

12. Citi Group

13. Barclays Capital

14. Goldman Sachs

15. Man Group

To see the full ‘Top 30’ listing, click here

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In just a few hours, I’ll be running our F.R.E.E teleseminar on “How To Find A Job During Recession.”   You can still register by clicking this link now:  

It’s a timely call given the level of job cut announcements this week across the banking sector.  Credit Suisse, Commerzbank Dresdner Kleinwort, Bank of America/Merill Lynch, Nomura and State Street all announced lay offs in the last few days. Coupled with that, we’ve seen the awful unemployment figures announced in the US yesterday.
 
So whether you’ve been laid off and looking for work or just uneasy about your job security during a recession, be sure to sign up to today’s call. I know it’s a Saturday so don’t worry if you’re out Christmas shopping and too busy to call in - just register and we’ll send you an audio recording of the call in MP3 format so you can listen to it in your own time.  
 
Click here now to register http://www.6figurecareermanagement.com/find-a-job-during-a-recession/
 
‘See you’ in a few hours
 
Sital
 
Sital Ruparelia
6 Figure Career Management
www.6FigureCareerManagement.com

P.S. If you know anyone else who would benefit from the call, then please forward this email on
 
P.P.S. Once again, if you can’t make the call at 3.30pm today (UK), 10.30am (New York), just register and we’ll send you the audio recording so that you can listen as and when you like
 
 

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• How To Recession Proof Your Career By Developing Your Network
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• Focus On Reinvention, Not Recession
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• Work-Life Balance? - What Nonsense

You may even find yourself using it frequently. If you’re struggling to find a job, it’s because of “the market” - or if you’re struggling to create sufficient career opportunities, “it’s due to the downturn.”

But having recruited in the 2002 financial services downturn (which was similar to the current market) and now working with an array of banking professionals - I can assure you that your level of success in finding the right job will have less to do with the state of the economy and the job market and much more to do with YOU.

You can sit around all day complaining about the markets and the recession - but if you’re not making progress with your job search, stop looking at what is happening outside and take close look at yourself. How are you stopping yourself making progress?

Here are 10 ways that you may be stopping yourself - and what you need to do to snap out of it:

(more…)

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• Focus On Reinvention, Not Recession
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• Work-Life Balance? - What Nonsense

You see, there is no such thing as a ‘permanent’ employee in the modern work place - we’re all consultants. Technology, globalisation and increased competition have conspired to create a world where change and restructuring are part and parcel of all our lives - even in a good economy. So even if you have a ‘permanent contract of employment’, in today’s work place the organisation can no longer promise job security. With increased prosperity and lifestyle changes, individuals cannot promise loyalty to a particular employer. Consequently we’re all consultants or free agents - the CEO of Me Plc / Inc.

It is a mindset shift. But once you ‘get it’ and start thinking like a freelance consultant, it pays huge dividends because it completely changes the way you behave. When you think like a consultant, a few things happen:

1. You take much more responsibility for your own career instead of relying on an organisation to manage your career

2. You’re forced to have plenty of other ‘irons in the fire’ in the form of other roles just in case required

3. You become more proactive in developing a wide network.

4. You become very results driven. Results lead to testimonials, repeat business and referals (the lifeblood of an independent consultant). So being focussed on results and the value you create for employers / clients makes of much more valuable in the market place

5. You’re more focussed on managing your personal brand in order to differentiate yourself from competitors

More valuable + Better networked + More career options + More proactive in managing career + strong personal brand = Less vulnerable to downturns

As this little ‘career formula’ illustrates, during a downturn, the typical behaviours of a consultant can protect you and your career. Every market has it’s winners and losers. Thinking and behaving like a consultant can help you become one of the winners.

By the way if you’re looking for further help in protecting your career in the current downturn, you may want to take a look at our FREE teleseminar “How To Find Job During Recession.” In this complimentary call you will discover what it takes to find opportunities in the current market. Further details and information on signing up click here now.

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 F.R.E.E. Teleseminar
Thursday 4th December at 8pm (London)
(3pm New York)

The last week has been one of the worst for job loss announcements. But with Christmas approaching, it appears that there are many more job cuts in the pipeline.

What started off as a downsizing within investment banking, primarily in New York and London, has now spread across most other parts of financial services and other sectors of the economy across the globe.

With constant rumours that many more firms are gearing up to announce redundancies in the coming weeks, I’m getting more and more requests for support and advice. Whilst I’d love to help more people, I simply haven’t the time to do it on a 1:1 basis.

So I’ve decided to offer a F.R.E.E. one-off solution to offer help to those individuals searching for work in the current market - as well as for people who want to start preparing themselves in case they may need to look for a new job in the coming months.

‘How To Find A Job During A Recession’

F.R.E.E Teleseminar
Thursday 4th December at 8pm (London)
(3pm New York)

During this 75 minute teleseminar, you’ll get the inside secrets on what I do with my 1:1 clients for F.R.E.E.

In this 75 minute call you’ll learn:

(more…)

Other Popular Posts

• How To Recession Proof Your Career By Developing Your Network
• 3 Reasons To Network Yourself Into Your Next Job
• Focus On Reinvention, Not Recession
• The Power of Less – An Interview With Leo Babauta
• Work-Life Balance? - What Nonsense