Unfortunately the rumours of major layoffs in an industry that is close to my heart - surgical robotics - is growing. But it does happen across all industries. Sometimes it is just a mass change of management that causes a company to let you go, sometimes it is downsizing. I have been a victim of this in the past - and I know that you will go through a series of emotions. Just like I did. Sometimes a new CEO just wants a new team around them - it doesn't matter - it all hurts.
But my one message today is that if this is happening to you - has just happened to you - is going to happen to you - stay strong and do these things and you will be fine.
The emotional rollercoaster
Everybody has a very different initial emotion to the news that they are being terminated. How you get terminated will also affect greatly which emotion sits on top. If your manager has the guts to do it face to face - that will elicit one reaction. If it is just a letter that comes in an email, that might create a different one. If you have a mass zoom call and are told - "Your terminated" - yet another. It depends on you and depends on the how. The why doesn't really matter at that initial point.
But at some point in that initial process you will feel anger, disbelief, frustration, shock, sadness and a whole raft of strong emotions.
However in some cases - if your work environment has been totally toxic - and you just haven' had the courage for that final push to leave - then for a few people - the emotion can actually be relief.
It doesn't matter - whatever emotions you feel in this first few hours and days is NORMAL !!! It's human. There is no shame or shock in it. Live the emotion - and go though the emotion. You need to get it out of your system so that you can then focus on the more important thing - you and what's next.
Know your rights
Often companies will rely on the hope - especially some toxic HR departments - that most people don't know their actual legal rights. Or they will spin it to say "No you don't really have those rights..." hoping you will back down and shuffle off quietly if you turn to them for help.
My first advice is 100% distrust your human resource department. They are there for the company - not for you. Don't get me wrong, there are some people in those HR departments that are great - but "The Department" is an organ of the company that is firing you. Not a service to help you. No matter what they say. And they are as involved in firing you as anyone - even the CEO.
The first thing you must do is get independent legal advice in the way that they have let you go - for what reasons, and is the company following the correct legal process.
You can get that advice from a ChatGPT as a good starting point - or some deep googling. To give you some background. But I do suggest a visit to your local employment citizens rights office (whatever form that is in your country.) And if we are talking a "payment" when you go - then I would spend a few hundred Dollars - Pounds - Euros on talking to an employment lawyer and making sure you get what you are legally required to get.
Often the redundancy is genuine because the business is failing. But often this is a convenience to just have less people do more work and spend less money. Remember your position and work is being made redundant - not YOU. So technically they can't give your work to someone else. But they do of course.
But your first action is to know your rights - get advice - and fight for those rights.
Fight for your rights
You will get hit with a boat load of emotional blackmail and sob stories from the company.
"We have to do this because of changing economic circumstances"
"We have no choice because the macro economics have changed"
There will often be this utter crap in your termination letter. Managers will say - "We have to let you go so we can save the rest of the company, so we don't have to fire everyone. please help us to save the ones that remain." etc etc etc
Watch for this - the minute you see these phrases and sentences - you should understand that the failings of the management have brought you all here. Full stop. And those managers will be hoping that you will just shuffle off quietly.
If this is a mass redundancy - you need to as the impact on salaries for the people that brought you to this point.
If you feel it's a fair deal - a fair treatment - a fair way you've been dealt with - then that is great and my compliments to the company. But if on taking advice, you feel that you have been wronged (in a redundancy / layoff / management change) then you should fight. For you, your family and for the remaining employees. Yes your actions will set the tone for the way they deal with people in the future.
Start with a lawyer sending them a strong letter outlining your rights and how they have trampled on them. See if they will meet your demands.
(I know it is an emotional time but you will regret this if you don;'t do it.)
I'm not going to turn this post into a tactical battle plan of how to get what you deserve - I'll leave that you and your lawyers. But do not roll over and take it. If you have rights - then fight for your rights or they will continue to treat the next group in the company worse. You must fight for you and anyone that remains in the company.
The Plan
Okay, legal stuff and compensation aside - I want to focus on you and what you can do.
The first thing to do is "Don't panic!" Despite the bullshit you are being fed that this is an "industry wide issue!" It rarely ever is . It is more likely than not an issue of mismanagement of your inept managers. I know because I've been part of inept management teams and made my own stupid mistakes. I have been as inept as other managers (sorry.)
Your initial thought will be - "what the hell do I do now?" "I need to act fast and now!"
Again, it all depends on personal circumstances - but the more time you can digest - step back and see the situation from above - the better. It will allow a much better decision making process over the next weeks. It will allow you to make a much stronger plan for "what next" with more distance between you and the raw emotions.
You need to take a bit of time - but then get back to understanding your own value and self worth. A simple thing to do is to write down all the great things that you have done - achieved - and are capable of. You need a good solid positive list - and pin it to your desk - computer - fridge. You are valuable and you need to reinforce to yourself that value. It's important.
And if you can, do share this entire experience with your friends and family and colleagues. There will be an immense pressure from your old employer to "Not discuss this with others in the same position." Screw that. Speak to people that are being fired. Speak to remaining employees.
So discuss it - and find some like minded people and start to get a positive vibe going - reminding each other of how great you all are. It is critical that you spiral up and don't spiral down. Talking about things can lead to everyone dissecting the body - try to avoid that and plan together - brainstorm together - and lift each other up if you can. You may find a few colleagues that want to build a business with you !!!! You'll be amazed what this can lead to.
Reach out to some people that are your fans. It is important to have a friend or colleague that really appreciates you and helps get your head in a better place. A little sycophantic support at this stage goes a ling way!
You need to be in a more positive frame of mind to be able to plan. And just having someone say "Fuck them - they are idiots - you are great - you are special" can help in that moment. Find that person and let them lift you up. Absorb the positive compliments and build on it.
Reminding yourself, and having someone remind you of your incredible value, skills, abilities is fundamental for you to move forwards and get into action.
The Action
The industry is always hiring - and always looking for amazing talent. In surgical robotics there are many companies coming up and getting ready to go to commercial - or continue R&D. And I can tell you - they are all looking for talent with experience.
I'll use the example of Surgical Robotics - as that is my space - but you could apply this to any area of MedTech - or any area of industry.
So for you to get your skills back into that workplace and let people know you are a skilled, experienced asset - you need to do a few things.
The first thing is - do NOT make an "Open for work" border on linked in - please. Data shows that has a negative impact for many employers.
Instead get your linked in profile up to date with your experience in the field you want to get back into. If you want to be back in surgical robotics or health robotics (as an example) then get your linked in laser focused on your skills and abilities there. Have no issue with starting with - "Due to the downsizing in my former company..." Let people know you were let go with another 300 people. There is no shame - it is a positive spin. "Their loss - your gain"
To do this you may first want to get a bang up to date CV - Resume. And if I can suggest - do not do a generic resume that tells people what primary school you went to. Focus on what you have done in the last role - and how any company would thrive with that talent on board.
In the first few paragraphs you needn't to say why you are amazing and would be an amazing asset - very specifically - for any other company in your space. Be targeted.
"I'm the world's best clinical trainer that knows surgical robotics and how to build, run implement training courses in surgical robotics. I am ready to go and know how to do this - and will save you time by being oven ready..." - well word smith it right - but you get my drift.
A super targeted CV / Resume to get you back at it will shine for those other companies that are waiting to fill the void where your company failed. You are that opportunity to take all the education and knowledge from your last role and apply it with learnings to the new role. Be specific.
Get to a dedicated recruiter. Someone that is working in your field and placing people in the sector that you are in. Send an email to the recruiters and ask if they are specific in your sector or if your CV is interesting to their mandates that are under to look for new staff for emerging companies - or even some of the bigger companies that are ramping up.
(Recruiters please comment in the post comments you are looking for expertise in the robotics space and people can reach out to you..)
Also. Do not be shy about writing to all of the competitors.
Let me spend a minute here. You just spent the last X years being brainwashed by people like me (that was my job) that all the competitors are secondary to the great technology you are being fired from! Forget that. It is now you. Have zero ideology about "I would never work for a competitor. The product is inferior."
Now, I understand that much of this comes from a misguided "My customers would lose all respect for me."
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you've been following any of my advice over the years (and you should) then your customers buy into YOU as the brand not the PRODUCT you are representing. Your customers will follow you. Your customers will follow you. Don't ever pass up a role because you think a customer will be "disappointed". No they won't because they will care about you.
Please also talk to your customers - explain what has happened - and ask them to help you and support you. Companies rely (especially in downsizing) that you do NOT contact your customer for the exact reason that you should. Because that loyalty to you is a threat to their relationship and business with that customer. Please don't fall into that trap. Go - talk to your customers and explain your position and what is happening. I guarantee you 9 /10 will support you - because they buy into YOU.
Your company will try everything to discourage that - Nope - sorry - let them know. Because you would be amazed at how well they are connected into the other companies and they can be one of your biggest mouthpieces at letting other companies know they need to hire you.
Stay up to date
Often when you are in your company - you do become a little blinkered by the internal propaganda. You need to be fully up to date (in an uncensored and unbiased way) to what is happening in the industry. Get on all the podcasts and listen - get on all the blogs (mine as you know is www.howtostartupinmedtech.com/blog) Listen to Device talks, Joe Mullings - read Mass Device and any industry news and feeds on your sector in MedTech or robotics. use you free time to now get up to speed and knowledgeable.
You need to have the vibe in which companies are up and coming, and which ones will be ready for your help. Need your help. Research research research.
You need to be super current on the industry and what is happening - and if you can invest to go to SRS, or another of the conferences - it is worth to go and physically visit every single booth and spend time with the competitors and build relationships - network networks network. Now is the time to say "Here I am - I'm free and ready and who will be the luck one to get me?"
And on social media - make some posts that help people read into the industry and don't be shy about adding comment saying "I can help". Don't be shy about commenting on others posts - like this one "I'm here - I'm available and feel free to contact me if you need help."
Don't be shy about connecting with team metres, managers and even leaders of other companies in linked in and direct messaging them. Because you are way way way more valuable than the company that just ket you go led you to believe.
Be strong
Get through the initial emotion - and then get that positive action orientated mindset going. I promise you there are tons of great roles out here. Great companies that need your help. Just make sure you get support - get organised - get up to date - have a solid plan and list of companies you would love to work at... and then systematically wok that list - work Linked in - work recruiters... and you will be adding value into a company faster than you think.
Find out more about Steve at www.howtostartupinmedtech.com
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