Employee - What do I do during recession?

TGC Prasad, Bangalore

 Markets
o We all know that markets have slumped

o We read about job-loses in news papers

o People talk about atleast 24 months of recession

o Early entrants are not getting jobs

o Companies are closing

o Sales are not picking up

o Suddenly cash has evaporated from the market

o Profitability is severely hit

Simple tips for employees during recession times

 I am employee
o I need to keep my job

o I need to pay EMIs

o I have a family to run

o I need to keep working to sustain myself

o I need to feel secure

o I need to save a little money for a rainy day

o ….

Simple tips for employees during recession times

 Basic Don’ts

o Do not take too much vacation

o Do not ask for promotion. Don’t ask for a salary increase. If you ask, you may soon not have
a job. Remember, there are people available with better skills at lower salary levels.

o Do not complain

o Do not waste time gossiping

o Don’t resist a transfer

o Don’t resist travel

o Don’t resist a salary cut

o Don’t resist extra-work load

o Don’t resist extra time at office if needed

o Don’t change jobs in this market. It is too risky.

Simple tips for employees during recession times

 Basic Do’s
o Be punctual to office

o Ensure you pick up new skills

o Ensure you deliver as per deadlines

o Ensure that you contribute to knowledge forums etc

o Do something innovative

o Take training programs

o Organize team meeting to improve productivity

o Always be engaged & productive

o Work doubly hard and save money for your company

o Remember, your boss is always right and is the best (recession or no recession)

o Be cheerful, keep smiling, life goes on 

Simple tips for employees during recession times

 Daily Expenses
o Take a stock of your expenses – actually write it down

o Tick “Need to have” vs. “Nice to have”

o Knock off all “Nice to have expenses” – Right Now!

o Assuming you didn’t have a job – Plan for cash to survive for 24 months. Apparently,
this recession will take atleast 24 months to come out of. Sit on cash!

o Other tips to cut expenses –

o Going to malls is expensive

o Good restaurants are expensive
o Impulsive shopping is expensive
o Taking flights is expensive
o Eating out daily is expensive
o Check services which you are not using but have subscribed to
o Going on vacations is expensive

Simple tips for employees during recession times

 The big loans
o Home Loan & EMI

o If you own one home and you are living in it and paying EMI, then see if you can
partially fore-close it.

o If you have two homes and paying EMI on both –

o See if you can rent the second home – don’t bother about amount of rent.
Rent to get cash flows going. Don’t feel bad that rental is not good
enough. Trust me – it will soon be a great feeling to rent.

o If you have enough money, then fore-close a significant part of it. If your
interest rate is less than bank FD (which I doubt), then you don’t have to
fore-close.

o If you think the property will fetch a decent value, then sell it (though it is
a buyer’s market)

Simple tips for employees during recession times

 Do I buy anything now? Do I invest?
o Investing in stock and mutual funds?

o Generate spare money every month – take a Systematic Investment plan (about
15% of your salary) – keep buying at low values for the next 24 months

o Buy an asset – buy a house/apartment/land?

o If you have cash and feel secure, this is a great time to buy. You can negotiate
hard with builders/developers. Actually, you can write your own terms on the
agreement.

o First preference – Buy Land (always buy small sites, it is easier to dispose.
Else farm land is a great option – big land, low cost)

o Second preference – Buy House + Land (again buy from known developers)

o Third preference – Buy apartment (you always wanted to buy that 3-bed/4-
bed apartment from a reputed builder, but could never afford) – now is the
time to ask for free. Some are being sold at ridiculous prices.

Simple tips for employees during recession times

 I am looking for a job – what do I do?
o Enroll in a course / training / education as you are searching for a job. It enhances
your skills

o Enroll as a trainee anywhere you get an opportunity. Most trainees end-up getting
confirmed employment as a build relationships in the company

o Do not have any preferences regarding – City, Salary, Designation, Location, Shift
etc. Just take it and gain experience. It is the first step to a long career

o Go through references of people who are already working.

o During job-interviews – the keyword which employers are looking for is “flexibility”

o Agree for “any place/date/time” to take job interviews. If you don’t somebody else
will take that interview slot.

o Please improve your communication skills – this one skill fetches jobs!

Simple tips for employees during recession times

 These suggestions are tough – do I live life or not?
o The new principle – “Happiness is inversely proportional to expectations/desires”.
More the expectations / desires – lesser the happiness and vice versa

o Some other ways to live great life –

o Spend time with family – go for a picnic in a nearby garden

o Exercise and walk a lot, drink lots of water
o Listen to Radio, watch some TV
o Visit Libraries, read books which you purchased, but never had a chance to
open them
o Go to friends place a for a dinner
o Enroll into a hobby – music, painting etc
o Do social service – start teaching, mentoring etc
o Spend more time with your children
o Join laughter forum, attend conferences and meet interesting people
o Go for concerts

Simple tips for employees during recession times

 Don’t worry – what goes down will always go up
Markets will rebound – these tips will prepare you to be a winner

Simple tips for employees during recession times