I’m worried that I might be in the next wave of layoffs at the startup I work at. How can I find out more information?

Elaine Varelas advises on ways you can try to gather more information about your company's situation.

Q. I’ve been with a tech startup company for over two years now. They recently had two waves of layoffs. I love my job and the company and want to stay, but I’m worried I could be next on the chopping block. I’ve already started looking for a job, but is there any way to find out if I might also be laid off in the future? I’m just not sure the company is going to end up being successful.

A. It’s understandable to be concerned about job security, especially working at a tech startup. Being aware of your personal risk of being laid off is in your best interest. You are also most likely at a higher risk than many people because you’re at a startup and sadly they don’t always succeed. If an organization has undergone two rounds of layoffs, it could indeed indicate potential financial instability and increased risk for the company. It can also indicate restructuring with a great new vision and purpose. Consider the size of the organization, the depth of the previous cuts, the money on hand, and debt to help predict what your future looks like. What’s the track record for leadership? How visible is senior leadership? What is management saying? It is okay to ask questions of your leaders and management. You may not get answers, but it’s always worth a try.

It’s understandable to be worried and you want to be strategic about finding out more information if you can. Pay close attention to any company communications and attend any All-Hands meetings where they may provide updates on the company’s performance and financials. While you may not be able to find out if you’ll be impacted in the future, what you do want to do is be prepared if you might be impacted. The first is by having an exceptional resume. A results-oriented resume is far more effective in catching a hiring manager’s attention and demonstrating your potential value to their organization. Many resumes continue to sound too much like a job description. Hiring managers want to see what you’ve done for the organization so that they can create a vision about what you can do for their organization.

The next most important part is developing and maintaining a strong network. If your network has been dormant, which happens to many people while they’re working with their heads down, it’s time to spend time investing in networking. The easiest way to do this is on LinkedIn. If you do start to actively update your LinkedIn profile, make sure that you don’t notify your network of any changes. (check the system to make sure you turn that off, then back on). Hiring managers want to know who you know, and make it a diverse group – senior, junior, range of industries and roles. And 15-minute touch base zoom calls can revitalize long lost contacts. It takes more time for new people, so start figuring out how to make that dedicated time happen.

You might also consider having a candid conversation with your manager and say, “I love my job and the organization.” And then disclose whatever your personal circumstances are. “Married with a child on the way”, “The breadwinner of the family”, etc. Let them know that you are financially responsible and in a in a position where a layoff would be a significant financial hardship for you and your family. And that having a heads-up would be extremely valuable to allow you more time to look for a job since most severance packages no longer carry someone from leaving a job to the start of a new job.

Managers are told not to give people a heads-up because they frequently can’t predict what the future is. And things change. You might be on a potential separation list and off just as quickly if someone gives notice pre-RIF. But you might have the kind of relationship where additional information might be forthcoming.

Look around your organization, see who is key to the success of the business. See if you fit in that category. If you are a “nice to have”, then kick your job search into high gear. You can always turn down an offer if it’s not right for you. But if you are core to the business, having a conversation with your manager might put you in the position to negotiate a severance package or might give you the opportunity to negotiate a stay bonus. Unfortunately, some of the people who are impacted by the first or second round of layoffs may get a better severance package than what might be available by the time the next round of layoffs occurs.

Having an open and honest conversation could be advantageous for you, and it takes courage to make sure it’s professional.