Robert’s employer asked to do something incredibly difficult…train his replacement (and keep a stiff upper lip the whole time.) If you’ve never been in this position, it’s hard to understand what it’s like. I’ve only been close (I’ve
trained outsourced replacements during layoffs but didn’t get immediately laid off) and even that feeling is difficult to explain.
It’s convenient to blame the people who your jobs are being shifted to, but ultimately, it comes down to the decision of an employer…an employer who is only marginally invested in your well-being. Accepting that fact was what got me started freelancing, and why I tell as many people as I can, that we all need to learn the skill of
selling our labor on our own.
On the freelancing side, there is a bright side here. The opportunity in being in a position like Robert’s or mine, is that you’ve got experience that gives you a couple legs up. I wanted to help mid-career freelancers understand how to take advantage of that opoprtunity, so I put
this short post together.
Even if you’re comfortably employed right now, give it a review, and even pass it on to your employed friends. Few employers out here are on our side and accepting that is one of the best things you can do for your work
career.
Megan