By George M Tomko

The past few weeks have been terrible, from my standpoint. I have never received so much bad, depressing news about IT jobs. Whether it is the jobs report released by the U.S. Department of Labor, weekly reports on the number of new claims for unemployment benefits, or the veritable flood of requests from associates for recommendations, networking meet-ups, referrals, etc. — things are not good out ‘there’.

Many companies are holding back, shutting down (or downsizing) projects and deferring investments. This is a time of hunkering down into something we all know as “maintenance mode”. For some organizations, it may even be a situation close to flirting with disaster by encroaching on what I call “the line of viability”. Basically, that “line” is the edge of the proverbial cliff.

This brings me to the well-known phrase that I have used to title this article: “a friend in need is a friend indeed”. Basically, this is a statement that suggests that “true” friendship is tested by what one does when a friend is in trouble or otherwise needs help. More on that in a minute….

The current state of the economy has had a miserable effect on jobs and has led people to develop and nurture their professional networks and/or head out on their own as independent consultants or professional service providers. Between June 2008 and June 2009, 3.5 million jobs were lost in the top 100 job markets and 1 million of them came from the top 6:

“Ninety-eight of the nation’s 100 largest cities lost jobs between June of 2008 and June 2009, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.The top three were Los Angeles (259,100 jobs lost), New York City (226,900), and Chicago (207,600). Three more cities lost more than 100,000 jobs; Detroit, Phoenix and Atlanta.The only two exceptions in the top 100 were Baton Rouge, Louisiana and McAllen-Edinburg, Texas, which each added a few hundred jobs over the 12-month period.The 100 major labor markets lost 3.5 million jobs overall.”

As if this isn’t bad enough, whether we have hit “bottom” or not is under constant debate. So, in all likelihood, things are not going to get better any time soon. In fact, because of the duration and depth of the recession, (some would say depression), I believe that there will be fundamental change in the social “contract” between employer and employee.

Employment used to be a relationship for life. Global competition and, what international financial scholars would call “comparative advantage” between countries and regions, have changed the rules of the “game”. The market for talent is no longer bounded by the city limits.

There will not be mass hirings to match the mass layoffs. Companies that have weathered the storm by maintaining skeleton crews and using contractors and free-lancers to fill resource needs may prefer to move more and more labor into the variable cost column. “Careers” as we knew them will morph from a measurement system that relied on the corporate “ladder” to one that is much more self-based and achievement-oriented. Of course, this is not necessarily “bad”. However, for those who have lived, worked and planned retirement under the old “system”, this is a big shock.

All of this is fine with me and many others. I say “bring it on”, embrace it. Running scared usurps the power of individuals and, collectively, of the entire team, workplace, workforce, etc.

We could pine all day “….oh, if only I was one of the fortunate to have had tremendous mentors and leaders who challenged them and prepared them for this very day.” Those are thoughts that must be erased or otherwise released.

So, now, it takes more — much, much more — than just “showing up” or “putting your time in”. You now have to be proactive, energetic, curious, adaptive, giving, communicative, interested, committed and plugged-in. You have to reach-out because no one is reaching in. For many, this will be like being a fish out of water. Years and years of inattention have dulled the senses and now, what? — all of a sudden transformed into a networking machine? Almost like thinking that recruiters are actually working for you. (See my post “Recruiters and Your Job Search“)

With that “slap” in the face, let me get back to the friend analogy. Flipping someone a LinkedIn connection request or posting your need to find a position in a forum post is not going to make up for time wasted waiting for a “package”. Friending people on FaceBook or following all the Twitter users you can find is not necessarily going to get it done.

The bottom line is that it is going to come down to who your “true” friends are and the situation that they are in. If you haven’t cultivated business friendships when times were better, you are in trouble. It will be easy to make friends with others that share your plight. But, all the “markers” are being called in. All of the “haves” are extremely busy working on helping the “have nots” that previously helped them. These “true” friends will take care of the people they know, trust and have faith in. They will regard these people as extensions of themselves. They will go to “bat” on behalf of their respected colleagues.

Better to get to work, jump into the fray, eat some crow and, perhaps, start over. Maybe a long distance commute is in your future. More likely free lance or contracting. Flexibility, for sure, will be required.

And, most of all, make sure that there is substance to your business relationships. You never know when you again will be that friend in need.

What do you think? Please offer your comments.

©2009 George M. Tomko All Rights Reserved