面臨眼下的疫情,人們會產生不同形式的恐懼——很多都是非理性的恐懼,如瘋狂囤購衛生紙;但有些恐懼是理性的。
比如擔憂飯碗不保,擔憂財務麻煩。
我們正處于前所未遇的境況,新冠病毒疫情所引發的經濟衰退有可能會帶來長久而嚴重的影響。你可以恐懼,但此時你更應該做的,是設法穩固已有的一切,準備好應對糟糕的情況,同時主動做點什么,來改善你的職業前景和避免陷入財務危機。
“做好失業準備,是所有人平時也應該做的一件事情,但這一次的恐慌不同于以往。”邁阿密資產管理公司Kaufman Rossin Wealth的理財規劃師查爾斯·薩克斯指出,“隨著各行各業的運轉被阻斷,全球各地同時出現生產活動的放緩,規模之大、范圍之廣前所未見。人們不再隨隨便便就能重新找到工作了。”
從研究數據來看,的確如此。穆迪分析公司的最新研究顯示,目前,美國經濟中有近8000萬個工作崗位處于中高等風險狀態——該數字占全國工作崗位總數的一半以上。其中,高風險崗位占2700萬個,涉及旅游、交通運輸、石油、酒店等多個你也可能想到的行業。
也許,新冠病毒疫情最令人不安的是,它仿佛一個在不斷擴大勢力范圍,且讓人看不見摸不著的敵人,你會覺得無能為力,完全拿它沒辦法。面對這些負面情緒,你能做的是,腳踏實地,一步一步地采取一些具體的措施,來盡可能地保障你的飯碗和財務安全。以下是專家們的一些建議:
更新在線簡歷
工作多年的員工放在網上的簡歷很可能已經過時。如果你是這一類員工,那么你要做的第一步是,更新簡歷,添加上近幾年的各類工作履歷:完成的培訓項目,完成的任務,參加過的行業會議,新增的技能,等等。
即使你現在的飯碗很穩定,也要這么做,因為你是在為一個未知的未來做準備,而不是在對你自己公司的財務前景做出判斷。“我甚至告訴我的團隊要隨時更新簡歷,”熱門求職網站Indeed人力資源高級副總裁保羅·沃爾夫說道,“要是想自己的簡歷變得鮮活有生命力,就得養成定期更新的習慣。”
指點:把你的LinkedIn主頁開放給招聘人員訪問,這樣即便你沒有在主動尋找工作,你也能進入行業獵頭的視線范圍。
提升自我,別有工作就志得意滿
如果你是名資歷豐富的員工,你可能沒那么積極主動地去發展新技能,也不怎么主動請纓接下高難度的任務。從今天開始,你應當做出改變了。例如,參加員工發展計劃,考取技能證書,接下別人不想接的項目。這樣的員工,雇主才十有八九會留下來。
據LinkedIn稱,目前最吃香的硬技能包括區塊鏈、云計算、分析推理和人工智能。最受歡迎的軟技能則包括創意、說服力、合作能力和適應能力。你可以利用像LinkedIn Learning (https://www.linkedin.com/learning)這樣的學習資源,來培養自己的那些技能。
注意:許多公司都在轉向遠程辦公,但別以為這樣就可以趁機偷懶,放慢工作節奏。“最重要的兩點是績效和敬業度,”沃爾夫表示,“你得確保自己能夠做到準時參加所有的遠程會議,參與工作討論,按時完成所有的任務和目標,及時向領導匯報工作情況。”
采取財務行動
每個人都應該有應急金,當中預留三到六個月的生活支出,以應付不時之需。如果你沒有,那么你首先要做的就是這件事。“應急金就是為像現在這樣的情況而準備的,” 納什維爾理財規劃師肖恩·梅爾比說道,“在你還能領薪水的時候,就應該準備應急金。”
任何額外的現金流或年度加薪、稅款退還等都能充實你的現金儲備。在這個動蕩不安的經濟時期,這不僅僅能緩解你的焦慮,還能避免更多災難性的后果,比如不得不動用你的退休金來償付當前的生活費用。
注意:梅爾比建議,“建立信用額度,無論是房屋凈值貸款、個人信用額度還是信用卡。”如非必要,不要動用這些信貸工具——它們只是備著以防萬一,讓自己在最糟糕的情況發生時也能保證一日三餐溫飽。
調整預算計劃
聰明的家庭有時會做兩種預算:一種用于正常時期;另一種用于經濟拮據時期,如被裁員或兩份收入變成一份的時候。也許,現在是時候啟用后一種預算計劃,防患于未然。
“先把你的支出分成兩類:哪些是必要支出——諸如食品雜貨、房租或者房貸的核心支出——哪些是非必要支出?”勞德代爾堡財富管理公司Harbor Crest Wealth的理財規劃師邁克爾·亨尼斯指出,“這樣,你就可以知道維持日常基本生活大概需要多少錢。然后,就開始削減支出項目。”
這可能意味著,在經濟前景變明朗之前,要減少每月的固定支出,如改用價格實惠些的有線電視套餐,取消一些訂閱;也要推遲大額支出計劃,如房子大幅裝修,換新車。你原本計劃花在春游上的錢,或許應當改為歸入應急金。
實話實說:沒有人真正知道接下來會發生什么。但是,采取所有的這些步驟,你就能更好地應對當前的難關。
“人們之所以感到焦慮不安,很大程度上是因為失去了對日常生活的控制。”梅爾比說道,“但如果你能制定出一個可執行的計劃,以防最糟糕的情況發生,那么你的焦慮感就會消失。如果最糟糕的情況沒有發生呢?那下一次危機你就能更好地應對了。”(財富中文網)
本文編輯對原文有修改
譯者:萬志文
面臨眼下的疫情,人們會產生不同形式的恐懼——很多都是非理性的恐懼,如瘋狂囤購衛生紙;但有些恐懼是理性的。
比如擔憂飯碗不保,擔憂財務麻煩。
我們正處于前所未遇的境況,新冠病毒疫情所引發的經濟衰退有可能會帶來長久而嚴重的影響。你可以恐懼,但此時你更應該做的,是設法穩固已有的一切,準備好應對糟糕的情況,同時主動做點什么,來改善你的職業前景和避免陷入財務危機。
“做好失業準備,是所有人平時也應該做的一件事情,但這一次的恐慌不同于以往。”邁阿密資產管理公司Kaufman Rossin Wealth的理財規劃師查爾斯·薩克斯指出,“隨著各行各業的運轉被阻斷,全球各地同時出現生產活動的放緩,規模之大、范圍之廣前所未見。人們不再隨隨便便就能重新找到工作了。”
從研究數據來看,的確如此。穆迪分析公司的最新研究顯示,目前,美國經濟中有近8000萬個工作崗位處于中高等風險狀態——該數字占全國工作崗位總數的一半以上。其中,高風險崗位占2700萬個,涉及旅游、交通運輸、石油、酒店等多個你也可能想到的行業。
也許,新冠病毒疫情最令人不安的是,它仿佛一個在不斷擴大勢力范圍,且讓人看不見摸不著的敵人,你會覺得無能為力,完全拿它沒辦法。面對這些負面情緒,你能做的是,腳踏實地,一步一步地采取一些具體的措施,來盡可能地保障你的飯碗和財務安全。以下是專家們的一些建議:
更新在線簡歷
工作多年的員工放在網上的簡歷很可能已經過時。如果你是這一類員工,那么你要做的第一步是,更新簡歷,添加上近幾年的各類工作履歷:完成的培訓項目,完成的任務,參加過的行業會議,新增的技能,等等。
即使你現在的飯碗很穩定,也要這么做,因為你是在為一個未知的未來做準備,而不是在對你自己公司的財務前景做出判斷。“我甚至告訴我的團隊要隨時更新簡歷,”熱門求職網站Indeed人力資源高級副總裁保羅·沃爾夫說道,“要是想自己的簡歷變得鮮活有生命力,就得養成定期更新的習慣。”
指點:把你的LinkedIn主頁開放給招聘人員訪問,這樣即便你沒有在主動尋找工作,你也能進入行業獵頭的視線范圍。
提升自我,別有工作就志得意滿
如果你是名資歷豐富的員工,你可能沒那么積極主動地去發展新技能,也不怎么主動請纓接下高難度的任務。從今天開始,你應當做出改變了。例如,參加員工發展計劃,考取技能證書,接下別人不想接的項目。這樣的員工,雇主才十有八九會留下來。
據LinkedIn稱,目前最吃香的硬技能包括區塊鏈、云計算、分析推理和人工智能。最受歡迎的軟技能則包括創意、說服力、合作能力和適應能力。你可以利用像LinkedIn Learning (https://www.linkedin.com/learning)這樣的學習資源,來培養自己的那些技能。
注意:許多公司都在轉向遠程辦公,但別以為這樣就可以趁機偷懶,放慢工作節奏。“最重要的兩點是績效和敬業度,”沃爾夫表示,“你得確保自己能夠做到準時參加所有的遠程會議,參與工作討論,按時完成所有的任務和目標,及時向領導匯報工作情況。”
采取財務行動
每個人都應該有應急金,當中預留三到六個月的生活支出,以應付不時之需。如果你沒有,那么你首先要做的就是這件事。“應急金就是為像現在這樣的情況而準備的,” 納什維爾理財規劃師肖恩·梅爾比說道,“在你還能領薪水的時候,就應該準備應急金。”
任何額外的現金流或年度加薪、稅款退還等都能充實你的現金儲備。在這個動蕩不安的經濟時期,這不僅僅能緩解你的焦慮,還能避免更多災難性的后果,比如不得不動用你的退休金來償付當前的生活費用。
注意:梅爾比建議,“建立信用額度,無論是房屋凈值貸款、個人信用額度還是信用卡。”如非必要,不要動用這些信貸工具——它們只是備著以防萬一,讓自己在最糟糕的情況發生時也能保證一日三餐溫飽。
調整預算計劃
聰明的家庭有時會做兩種預算:一種用于正常時期;另一種用于經濟拮據時期,如被裁員或兩份收入變成一份的時候。也許,現在是時候啟用后一種預算計劃,防患于未然。
“先把你的支出分成兩類:哪些是必要支出——諸如食品雜貨、房租或者房貸的核心支出——哪些是非必要支出?”勞德代爾堡財富管理公司Harbor Crest Wealth的理財規劃師邁克爾·亨尼斯指出,“這樣,你就可以知道維持日常基本生活大概需要多少錢。然后,就開始削減支出項目。”
這可能意味著,在經濟前景變明朗之前,要減少每月的固定支出,如改用價格實惠些的有線電視套餐,取消一些訂閱;也要推遲大額支出計劃,如房子大幅裝修,換新車。你原本計劃花在春游上的錢,或許應當改為歸入應急金。
實話實說:沒有人真正知道接下來會發生什么。但是,采取所有的這些步驟,你就能更好地應對當前的難關。
“人們之所以感到焦慮不安,很大程度上是因為失去了對日常生活的控制。”梅爾比說道,“但如果你能制定出一個可執行的計劃,以防最糟糕的情況發生,那么你的焦慮感就會消失。如果最糟糕的情況沒有發生呢?那下一次危機你就能更好地應對了。”(財富中文網)
本文編輯對原文有修改
譯者:萬志文
In stressful national moments like these, there are different types of fear—irrational fear based on panic, like buying vast quantities of toilet paper, and rational fear based on evidence and common sense.
Your fear for your job and finances is legitimate.
We are in uncharted waters here, and the effects of a coronavirus-related economic slowdown could be prolonged and significant. That doesn’t mean you should freak out—but it does mean you should shore up what you have, prepare for bad outcomes, and take active measures to improve your career outlook and bulletproof your finances.
“Preparing for job loss is something that all people should be doing all the time, but this recent scare is different,” says Charles Sachs, a financial planner with Miami’s Kaufman Rossin Wealth. “There is a simultaneous global slowdown of work on an unprecedented basis, as entire industries shut down. You can no longer just walk across the street and get rehired.”
Indeed, almost 80 million jobs in the U.S. economy are at moderate or high risk, according to new research from Moody’s Analytics—more than half of the total jobs in the country. The 27 million high-risk jobs include sectors you might expect, like tourism, transport, oil, and hospitality.
Perhaps the most unsettling thing about the coronavirus is that it involves a spreading and invisible enemy, which foments a personal sense of helplessness. You can deal with those feelings by focusing on small, concrete steps to safeguard your career and your money. Some advice from the experts:
Update online profiles
For longtime staffers, odds are your online résumé probably has cobwebs on it. Step one is to update it with everything you’ve been up to in recent years: training programs completed, tasks accomplished, industry conferences attended, fresh skills added to your repertoire.
Do this even if your current job seems solid, because you’re preparing for an unknown future, not making judgments about your own company’s financial prospects. “I even tell my own team to keep their résumés updated,” says Paul Wolfe, senior VP of human resources for popular jobs site Indeed. “You want it to be a living and breathing document and get into the rhythm of updating it on a regular basis.”
Insider tip: Mark your LinkedIn profile as open to recruiters, which will get you on to the radar of industry headhunters even if you’re not actively looking.
Cement yourself in your current position
If you’re a veteran employee, it’s likely that you haven’t been as proactive as you should have been in developing new skills or volunteering for tough assignments. That should end today. Take advantage of employee development programs, acquire skills certificates, and take on the projects that no one else wants, which will make employers much less likely to let you go.
Top in-demand hard skills right now include blockchain, cloud computing, analytical reasoning, and artificial intelligence, according to LinkedIn. Meanwhile the top-ranked soft skills are creativity, persuasion, collaboration, and adaptability. You can brush up on those skills with resources like LinkedIn Learning (https://www.linkedin.com/learning).
A side note: Since many companies are pivoting to remote working, don’t take the occasion to ease back on the throttle. “Performance and engagement are key,” says Wolfe. “Make sure you’re attending all virtual meetings, contributing to the conversation, hitting all the deadlines and objectives, and keeping your leaders informed.”
Take financial action
Everyone should have a so-called emergency fund, consisting of enough to cover three-to-six months’ expenses to tide you over in times of turmoil. If you don’t have one, that is now your No. 1 priority. “This is what emergency funds are made for,” says Shaun Melby, a Nashville financial planner. “Build that cash emergency fund while you are still receiving a paycheck.”
Any extra cash flow or annual raise—or perhaps your tax refund, which is upcoming if you expect one—goes into shoring up that reserve. That will not only ease your anxiety as we enter this choppy economic period, but will also stave off more catastrophic errors, like having to raid your retirement funds to pay for the present.
A related note: “Establish lines of credit, whether they are home equity, personal lines, or credit cards,” advises Melby. Ideally, don’t tap them at all—just have that access to credit ready, if worse comes to worse and you need them to put food on the table.
Revise your budget
Smart households sometimes have two budgets: one for normal times, and a leaner one for financially stressful moments, such as when a layoff hits and two incomes are reduced to one. It might be time to invoke the second, as a preemptive strike.
“Break down your expenses: What is absolutely vital—your core expenses like food from the grocery store, or your rent or mortgage—and what is discretionary?” asks Michael Hennessy, a financial planner with Harbor Crest Wealth in Fort Lauderdale. “That gives you a baseline for your sustainable, survivable expenses. It’s a good idea to start dialing back spending.”
That could mean reducing monthly fixed costs, such as switching to a more modest cable package or canceling a few subscriptions, and putting off major spending plans, like a big home renovation project or a new car, until the nation’s economic picture becomes clearer. Perhaps the money that you were planning to spend on spring break goes straight into the emergency fund instead.
Let’s be honest: Nobody really knows what’s coming. But take all of these steps, and you will be better equipped to ride out the storm.
“Much of the anxiety people feel is because of things being out of their control,” says Melby. “But if you can create an actionable plan in case the worst happens, then that anxiety you feel will dissipate. And if the worst doesn’t happen? Then you’re better prepared for the next crisis.”