Houston, TX (PRWEB) February 23, 2010 -- With the news of a big energy merger in the works between local drill bits maker Smith International and the world’s largest oil field services company Schlumberger, Houston could be facing more reductions its workforce. The talk of streamlining the two companies may easily be construed as a tidy corporate euphemism for workforce reductions and the loss of even more Houston jobs. While neither company has directly addressed the rumors that Houston jobs will indeed be cut, Michael Lighthall of local online job board, CareersInHouston.com, cautions all at-risk employees to not sit on their heels. “If we’ve learned anything in this economy, it’s that even the most seemingly secure job situations aren’t always as secure as we’d like to think,” commended Lighthall. “It’s important not to be paralyzed by speculation, instead, be proactive by updating your resume and taking a look at the other opportunities that exist in the local job market.”
Additionally, Houston-based Continental Airlines recently announced a cutback that could affect about 600 customer service jobs between the airline’s two call center locations in Houston and Salt Lake City. These cutbacks may also affect an estimated 1,000 employees who work from home. Continental Airlines currently employs about 2,600 reservations agents.
“Posting a resume to a local job board like CareersInHouston.com is,” according to Lighthall, “the #1 way for potential employers to find you” and in the case of his particular website, free for all job seekers. In addition to updating and posting a resume, experts also caution employees in fear of layoffs to not slack off at work. It’s not likely that every person will be let go, but it is more likely those with low productivity will be targeted. Individuals are also urged to decrease discretionary spending and increase their savings. Bottom line, said Lighthall, “It’s important not to panic, keep working and expand your skills and experience as best you can so you are ready for whatever situation that may present itself. In today’s job market, losing your job isn’t the scar that it used to be, as many employers are aware of the current economic conditions and are willing to recruit candidates who have recently been laid off. In fact, employers may find these candidates appealing as they realize many qualified candidates often fall victim to layoffs.”AboutCareersInHouston.com:
CareersInHouston.com is a premier local job board serving the Greater Houston area’s job seekers and employers since 2003.