Your Job and Future Security

In our December 2006 issue, columnist Bob Sacks shared tips for keeping your job in today’s publishing environment. The article seemed to strike a personal chord with a number of readers who have been part of or are afraid of being part of the fallout from the changes facing the industry. Unfortunately, no matter what you do to prepare yourself, sometimes things just happen. Notes we received from a few readers proved this to be sadly true. One reader’s company announced one day that it was closing up shop, and that very day would be all the employees’ last at the company. I have also seen the fallout firsthand. I have two friends who are—or should I say were—pretty high-ups in the New York publishing scene, who recently and suddenly found themselves jobless. Both are among the most knowledgeable people I know in the business. Another friend’s company was acquired, and all the staff was let go. I tell you these tales not to instill fear, but to offer a piece of potentially helpful advice to add to Bob Sacks’ words of wisdom. Bob suggested you should always be developing your career, networking, learning about the entire publishing process, making yourself as knowledgeable and valuable as possible. But, you also should be preparing for the worst just in case. Get your résumé and portfolio ready now. Start getting your savings account ready now. Don’t put it off because you’re too busy. What would happen if you were given a pink slip tomorrow?If you do all the things Bob suggested, I do believe you will increase your chances of keeping your job and advancing your career. But, as Bob has said, “stuff happens”—it happens to the corner office, to mid-management and all the way down to the proverbial bottom rung. And while you can’t always anticipate it, you can prepare for it … and remove some of the fear that accompanies industries in transition. Career Preparation Just in TimeNow for a little self-promotion that is also likely to be quite helpful to you in light of all this talk of career improvement, learning the end-to-end publishing process and new technologies: The Publishing Executive Conference is right around the corner (March 5-7 in Times Square, New York), and it has three days of content to help you in exactly these areas. And the accompanying Expo will feature more than 100 publishing technology solutions and services for you to browse and even test out. The conference is also a perfect place to network, so you can meet those people who can help you in your careers. Be sure to check out the conference program preview that came polybagged with this issue, or visit www.PubXpo.com for more information. While you’re at the conference, be sure to say hello during a networking event or whenever you see me, even if you pass me in the hallway. It’s a great opportunity for me to meet you in person and hear some of your thoughts on the magazine. … And, hey, maybe one day we’ll be calling each other if we’re ever out of a job.

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Your Job and Future Security

Noelle Skodzinksi

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Noelle Skodzinksi