We've written this book to help you negotiate the best possible severance deal. Maybe this just happened to you. Maybe you are worried that it might happen to you. You are called into your supervisor's office, a human resources person is sitting there, and your boss starts by saying, "This is not going to be a pleasant conversation." Within ten minutes, you discover that you have been laid off. You might also find out that that your email account has already been locked, that you must immediately remove all personal items from your office, and that you will hand in your company ID badge today as you walk out of the building for the last time (perhaps escorted by a security officer.) But before you leave, your boss adds, "I'm so sorry we have to do this, as I really care about you personally. Luckily, I've been able to get you a decent severance deal. All you need to do is sign this release letter." Not wanting to jeopardize the "gift" they are offering you, you lean over the desk to sign the letter. STOP! Don't sign anything! Never agree to anything in that meeting. The dance has just begun.

A truly masterful book on career transition and job seeking, especially in light of the current state of our economy. It addresses a wide array of topics that are important for almost every job seeker. " -Carmen Croonquist, Director of Career Services, University of Wisconsin HOW DO YOU MOVE ON AFTER BEING LAID OFF? You can't always control losing your job, but you can control your reaction and the decisions you make afterward In Getting Back to Work, Linda Rolie, an expert in strategic career development with a background as a psychiatric therapist, gives you time-tested tools for finding a new job in today's tough economy, while also working through the psychological challenges you might face after being laid off. In Getting Back to Work, you'll find: Guidance managing emotions and stress while searching for a new job Exercises to identify transferable skills, knowledge, abilities, and qualifications Templates for writing impressive resumes, cover letters, and thank-you notes, Tips on networking, resume building, interviewing, and how to answer the “why did you get laid off?” and “aren't you overqualified?” questions Research methods for finding a job, helpful Internet sites and other resources

From the creator of the popular website Ask a Manager and New York’s work-advice columnist comes a witty, practical guide to 200 difficult professional conversations—featuring all-new advice! There’s a reason Alison Green has been called “the Dear Abby of the work world.” Ten years as a workplace-advice columnist have taught her that people avoid awkward conversations in the office because they simply don’t know what to say. Thankfully, Green does—and in this incredibly helpful book, she tackles the tough discussions you may need to have during your career. You’ll learn what to say when • coworkers push their work on you—then take credit for it • you accidentally trash-talk someone in an email then hit “reply all” • you’re being micromanaged—or not being managed at all • you catch a colleague in a lie • your boss seems unhappy with your work • your cubemate’s loud speakerphone is making you homicidal • you got drunk at the holiday party Praise for Ask a Manager “A must-read for anyone who works . . . [Alison Green’s] advice boils down to the idea that you should be professional (even when others are not) and that communicating in a straightforward manner with candor and kindness will get you far, no matter where you work.”—Booklist (starred review) “The author’s friendly, warm, no-nonsense writing is a pleasure to read, and her advice can be widely applied to relationships in all areas of readers’ lives. Ideal for anyone new to the job market or new to management, or anyone hoping to improve their work experience.”—Library Journal (starred review) “I am a huge fan of Alison Green’s Ask a Manager column. This book is even better. It teaches us how to deal with many of the most vexing big and little problems in our workplaces—and to do so with grace, confidence, and a sense of humor.”—Robert Sutton, Stanford professor and author of The No Asshole Rule and The Asshole Survival Guide “Ask a Manager is the ultimate playbook for navigating the traditional workforce in a diplomatic but firm way.”—Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together

There's no doubt about it, today's workplace is an uncertain and treacherous territory. Newspaper headlines are proclaiming near record-high levels of unemployment, and, in these tough times, companies are making swift judgments about human capital. The bottom line: No job is safe. But there are tried and true ways to fight off sudden unemployment successfully, and the number one weapon in your arsenal is workplace expert and television and radio personality Stephen Viscusi's career manifesto, Bulletproof Your Job. Based on four simple strategies for dodging the layoff bullet and a long list of ways to implement these strategies, Bulletproof Your Job may save you from your worst enemy at work—which just so happens to be you. Quite simply, observe these imperative rules: Be visible. Be easy. Be useful. Be ready. With plenty of distinct action items, dozens of anecdotal illustrations and examples, and lists and tips for adapting bulletproof strategies to your own situation, Bulletproof Your Job will show you how to leverage the black-and-white stuff—your title, salary, and tenure—with the gray stuff—your relationship with coworkers, visibility in the workplace, and ability to make your boss look good—to ward off the pink stuff—the dreaded layoff notice. While you're at it, you'll be creating a long-term strategy for job security and career advancement that ensures you'll never feel this vulnerable again.

Fired, Laid-Off or Forced Out takes the fear out of the possibility of losing your job and replaces it with specific guidelines any worker can use to protect his or her rights.

So, you've been laid off. Or you see it coming. You're not alone. And it's not your fault: you're just one of millions of smart, high-quality people who are being shown the door. But none of that makes it feel any better! What can you do? What should you do? How do you cope with the havoc that losing your job can cause? This sympathetic, practical book brings together all the answers you need to empower yourself, and come back stronger than ever. Author Martha Finney is one of the nation's leading workplace experts: her research has been featured on CNN, NPR's Morning Edition, and in major newspapers across the country. Drawing on powerful insights and personal stories from an enormous network of experts, she brings together all the knowledge and resources you'll need to regain mastery over your life. Finney answers questions like: How can I keep getting laid off from wrecking my life? How can I protect my professional reputation and career path? How do I get past the anger? Why haven't I heard from my coworkers? How do I keep all my options open? How do I tell my family, without damaging their faith in their own futures? What are my rights? Can I sue? Should I? How do I keep this from happening again? From start to finish, this book will help you identify your best next steps: the steps that'll help you get past the trauma and move forward, emotionally, financially, in your career, and in every part of your life.

Firing at Will shows managers and employers how to do the most difficult part of their jobs: firing employees. Written by a leading employment lawyer in a refreshingly unlawyerly style, this guide takes the reader through the always-risky process of letting an employee go. Many employers and managers are afraid to pull the trigger when the employment relationship has broken down, and will postpone the decision by using progressive discipline and performance-improvement plans. However, an employer must be able to unload employees who threaten to undermine the company and its prospects, regardless of the risks involved in a termination. This book explains how to do it, how not to do it, and how to minimize the danger of an expensive employee lawsuit. No one said being an employer or a manager was easy. Fortunately, knowing how to fire employees will make your job much, much easier in the long run and save you heartache. Firing at Will teaches you what you need to know, without any legalese or boring recitations of statutes and case law. This book is filled with plain-English common sense, based on Jay Shepherd's 17 years of protecting employers in court. The style is conversational and often irreverent, but the lessons and tips are battle-tested. If you want to be a successful manager or employer—and sleep easier—you need to know how to fire at will. Gives employers and managers real-world advice on how to fire employees Teaches how to keep your company—and yourself—out of expensive employee lawsuits Guides you toward building a workplace where you'll need to fire fewer employees

Regain your confidence at work, transform your sensitivity into a superpower Being highly attuned to your emotions, your environment, and the behavior of others can be the keys to success, but they can also lead to overthinking, overworking, and overgiving. It’s time to Trust Yourself. Over the last decade, award-winning human behavior expert and executive coach Melody Wilding, LMSW has helped thousands of Sensitive Strivers (highly sensitive, high-achieving professionals and leaders) get out of their own way. And now, in this groundbreaking book, Wilding offers practical, research-based strategies to reclaim control of your career and reach your full potential. You’ll discover: PRACTICAL STRATEGIES to harness your sensitivity and emotional intelligence, turning them into a superpower in the workplace. PROVEN TECHNIQUES to quiet your inner critic and make decisions with confidence. STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES to set healthy boundaries and protect your energy from difficult co-workers CONCRETE, ACTIONABLE TOOLS to develop resilience, bounce back from setbacks, and navigate workplace challenges with grace. WORD-FOR-WORD SCRIPTS to push back on extra work, promote your accomplishments, and more. Through her refreshingly approachable yet deeply empathetic approach, Wilding offers a life-changing roadmap that has helped readers across the globe to break the cycle of self-sabotage and self-doubt by transforming your perceived weaknesses into your biggest strengths.

Dave Ramsey explains those scriptural guidelines for handling money.

A leading executive coach pinpoints three vital traits necessary to advance your career In Getting Ahead, one of the top 50 executive coaches in the United States, Joel Garfinkle reveals his signature model for mastering three skills to take your career to the next level: Perception, Visibility, and Influence. The PVI-model of professional advancement will teach you to: (1) Actively promote yourself as an asset and valuable person inside the organization, (2) Increase your visibility to gain others’ recognition and appreciation for your efforts and (3) Become a person of influence who makes key decisions inside the organization. Getting Ahead will put you ahead of the competition to become a known, valued, and desired commodity at your company. For more than two decades, Joel Garfinkle has worked closely with thousands of executives, senior managers, directors, and employees at the world's leading companies, and has authored 300 articles on leadership Offers detailed guidance on how to increase exposure, boost visibility, enhance perceived value for your organization, and ultimately achieve career advancement Explains how to get your name circulating among higher levels of management so others know you, see your results, and acknowledge the impact you bring to the company