Did they see it coming?

And why weren’t they prepared?

Edge knows the 41% of Jobster’s workforce that’s feeling the pain after the axe swipe this week probably feel like bugs under a microscope but what better way to gain exposure for their next jobs? Hey, Jobster – post a site on your site where all the bloody can post their resumes for the world to pick and choose from - it’s a humanitarian idea whose maybe time has come: “Hire our people – they’ll make the best employees for you like they did for us!” might go a long way in salving some of the wounds.

But hey, what does the Edge know? As a proponent of telephone names sourcing what the Edge would do is call your number (206 826-5627) and press 4 for your company directory and by pressing JUST ONE number that corresponds to a letter of the alphabet your directory will spit out every one (or most) of your employees - the smart ones will either: be at their desks over the next couple weeks and answer ALL incoming calls or put a message on their VoiceMails making it EASY for someone to find them (email addresses SPELLED OUT and cell/home numbers are always appreciated!)

But that’s what the Edge would do if the Edge was interested in contacting your employees. Now that Edge thinks about it, Edge would bet good money the majority of the disenfranchised will soon have NEW JOBS and now the Edge is beginning to see what all the “transparency’ has been about – good job Jason!

But the Jobsterees – here lies another conundrum. Did they have the good sense God gave a mule to see this stuff coming? Or were they secure in their ivory tower; grown lazy in their view of the world as the harsh and unwelcoming place it can be and off-guard as to their own future fates? As a recent Monster memo brought to our attention by Joel Cheesman in his memorable recent blog post “monster will fire your ass too” states:

“In a world where Wall Street can take 30% of a company’s market value for missing estimates by a penny, we need to insure that any expense, no matter how big or small, is justifiable and provides a significant return.”

That’s the way it is boys and girls. If you’re an expense and not providing “a significant return” you’d best just pick your coat up at the door and leave because your sorry behind isn’t welcome any more. “...by a penny...” Think about that. By a penny your fate is charged. By a penny you have a job (or not). Edge’s advice to you is to buy a penny or two out of your budgets and invest in your futures – invest and believe in yourself and realize if a company is willing to pay you a salary, in return they’re receiving “a significant” amount off the sweat of your brow. It’s your decision to make that trade-off. Or not. It’s your decision to become proactive about your own futures and keep your ears to the ground about “other” opportunities. It’s your decision to cull the best opportunity for yourself out of the maelstrom because, believe the Edge, that’s what the company you’re working for is doing. One penny drop in their earnings could mean the end of your employment and the reality is, most times it’s the workforce that feels the cutting edge of this dulled knife.

It’s not the elaborate office space; it’s not the stock options of the few C levels who control things, it’s not the fleet of planes waiting in a hangar to swift them to any destination in the world at their heart’s desire – it’s you – the Individual Contributor, the one who sweats it out day in and day out, who’s going to feel the real pain.

Make no mistake - don’t think for one minute more they’ll keep you on-board out of charity or some misaligned sense of loyalty – they know that’s your bailiwick. If they would, it’s not a company you’d want to be working for, anyway.

And that’s the way it is, today, January 5, 2007 here on the Edge.