Unemployment on the rise

Latest reports are that Australia’s unemployment rates are rising much quicker than expected and will most likely hit the expected 7% much earlier than mid 2010 as budgeted by Treasury.

The prospect of being made redundant or even being fired has always been in the back of my mind. Working in Marketing all my life, you are the first to go. I have however been fortunate (luck or good work) that I have never been fired or lost my job.

This situation is however a little different. Potentially, regardless of how hard I work, there is a very real possibility that if the company I work for is not making enough to stay afloat or to meet its expectations that cutting my wage is a saving that will help them.

I have always known that the more I make, the higher the likelihood that this will happen. So I will endeavour to work harder and be smarter. How? By trying to think outside of the square.

One fortunate thing for me (kind of fortunate) is that part of my salary is linked to sales results. This means that I am a cheaper resource if I don’t perform. It’s hurt me financially so far, but maybe it has also saved me.

So how do you work smarter in sales. What I am realising is that you need to look for angles. You need to find a reason to get yourself noticed. I try therefore try to look for low hanging fruit, ie opportunities that can be turned around quickly, don’t cost much to implement and hopefully deliver.

Secondly, I also look for longer term bigger deals. And as these can take months to move from step to step, I keep them bubbling along whilst I implement smaller opportunities.

What this means is that my employer is seeing partnerships implemented today as well as potential partnerships unfolding over time.  It also shows I am delivering.

In terms of thinking outside the square, I look for opportunities and deals that aren’t mainstream. In my business, selling AVG anti-virus as a partnership means I look for partners who have a client base that has a need for my products. They don’t necessarily need to be a large financial institution or an ISP. They can be Forums for stockbrokers or students at university.

It comes down to constatnly thinking and not worring about what we have always done (and being bound by that).

The last time we were in a recession, I had just finished Uni and was looking for my first real job. This time round, I have over 14 years practical experience behind me in large companies. I am more equipped to start again if I need to. I also have a family however and debts so the risks and impacts are higher.

If it came down to it though, I would work as a bus driver if I had to, to make ends meet. There are ads for drivers behind every bus I pass on the way to work. My father always says there is no shame in working. He is right.

Till next time.