Millions of people have lost jobs in recent months, with some losses permanent. What was assumed to be relatively secure employment for many individuals has turned into chaos and insecurity. Witness the educated, middle-class workers joining the ranks of the unemployed.

Individuals fortunate to find employment must view new jobs as situational at best. That is because they might be unemployed again. Wrote American author Henry Miller (1891-1980): "Chaos is the score upon which reality is written." Unemployment is chaos.

Unemployment demands adaptation and adherence to sound work practices. In "Drucker on Asia" by late management guru Peter Drucker is this advice: "Know your strengths; know how to improve on them; know what you can't do." Become more valuable at work.

Situational unemployment conjures up images where the competition for jobs pits individuals against each other for limited opportunities. It is not unusual for hundreds of applicants to be vying for a scant number of jobs. Are well wishes for others in these unemployment situations reasonable? It depends.

Said Austrian psychoanalyst Alfred Adler (1870-1937): "There is a Law that a man should love his neighbor as himself. In a few hundred years, it should be as natural to mankind as breathing or the upright gait; but if he does not learn it, he must perish." Mankind must register to be kind and civil to others. To violate civility is gross.

When it comes to unemployment during turbulent economic times, people must fend for themselves first and foremost in gaining employment conditions favorable to them. Here are seven suggestions for new employment-related adaptation:

1. Finesse written and unwritten rules of a new corporate culture. Some rules will be obvious; others might not be. Learn the rules; practice them very well.

2. Maximize the benefits of employee orientations. Questions are raised with answers shared at the sessions. Issues and uncertainties at the time will also be resolved.

3. Publicly questioning the actions and decisions of a supervisor is a no-no. Should a serious matter surface at a crucial point, request a private audience with the supervisor.

4. New employees are "outsiders" for periods of 3-6 months. Understand this well; maximize opportunities to shine organizationally.

5. Embrace advice of veteran workers. Choose one, or two, as mentors in learning your way in the corporate mix.

6. Envision a new job, even one of uncertainty, as a new beginning. That job might turn out to be the most exciting one of your career.

7. Use wisdom from your previous jobs to advance in the hierarchy. But be cognizant that the new job could be akin to a previous one: a route to unemployment.

Unemployment situations, particularly new ones, present teachable lessons. Use them in positioning user-friendly adaptations relative a career (or job) during turbulent economic times. This is what most unemployment situations are about.

Reach T&D Columnist Howard D. Hill via www.educationconsultant@sc.rr.com

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