Although someone may have just been hired, their job is not secure. While new hires might be some of the first to go, it is not always a safe bet that they will be. Their vulnerability lies in the fact that they haven’t been there long enough to establish themselves or even display their value to the company.
As mentioned earlier, the “last in, first out” rule doesn’t apply like it used to. What’s more important is that your role is aligned with the strategic direction of the company. Companies are looking at who is making an impact, not simply how long they’ve been there. What skills an employee brings to the table comes into play just as much as tenor these days. So while someone may have been with the company for years, a new hire might be more valuable because of how much they can do, what they bring to the table, and how they can be seen in the future of the company. They may have come at the biggest expense to the company, but new hires might also bring a fresh perspective.
In conclusion, it’s fairly safe to say that no one has job security these days. We are all replaceable, it’s just a matter of determining ahead of time how we feel about that and what we are going to do when faced with it. If you have seen signs that you are going to be laid off, start planning your next move. However, don’t leave too soon because, you never know, you may have misjudged the situation. Just don’t be naive and ignore the signs either.
