AT&T Massive Layoffs 12,000 to Lose Jobs

Apparently AT&T has announced that they may cut up to 12,000 jobs.Apparently this will lead to the first time they have had a total drop in employment since merging with Bellsouth. Then there is DuPont which manufactures industrial products and they are looking to cut up to 2,500 jobs. Deep breath, let us not forget starbucks who has closed 600 underperforming stores to date, and I am sure there are more to come. This is in addition to the thousands of jobs already cut and only a couple weeks after Citigroup announced their massive layoffs of 50,000 jobs.
I know I sound like a broken record, but people need to tighten budgets and get some emergency savings in place. I am sure many of those who get cut in this next wave of layoffs are thinking to themselves , ” I never thought it would happen to me. ” People, if you have a private sector job, it is considered “at will employment”. That means at your will to work there and at the employers will to continue to employ and pay your salary. We are in hard times and can not stumble along with the dangerous mentality of shutting out worst case scenerios.

This all of course leads to my final point that you must always be learning and reading. The more skills you obtain the more marketable you remain and or valuable to your current employer. You need to make the time to continue to grow yourself as a person and as an employee. Because if they need you its less likely you will be let go , than if you are just going along with the flow like everyone else. Stand out, make a difference , and show how much value you are adding to the business. This of course will not make you invincible but it may be enough for them to hold on to you through the tough times.

~Matt