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Tittle's top ten: Signs your company is about to downsize

by Dave Tittle

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Dave Tittle reviews how to recognize when your company's going under.


Meteorologists claim, you can tell when you're about to get hit by lightening: The little hairs on the back of your neck stand straight up, a sure sign that the air around you has become electrically charged.

Ditto for the workplace. You can tell when your company is about to go into a downsizing storm and start zapping employees (although by the time the little hairs stand up on your neck, you're probably already in the middle of your exit interview), Here are ten sure-fire ways to predict that your company is about to ignite the firing fireworks.


  1. You go out to dinner and see one of your company's investors waiting tables.
  2. You're offered a lateral promotion to open an office in Haiti.
  3. You get a call from a recruiter who says he was referred by your ‘boss.
  4. Last year's holiday party was at The Inn at Little Washington. This year: The Vienna inn.
  5. Your CFO went to the Grand Caymans on business six weeks ago and hasn't been heard from since.
  6. Your face is removed from the company group photo.
  7. The venetian blind cords in the HR office have been made into little hangman's nooses.
  8. The company starts charging for coffee.
  9. People start measuring your office and trying out the furniture.
  10. Your intern is given your seat at the staff meeting.

David Tittle, a veteran of over three decades in the executive search industry, is a co-founder of Paul-Tittle Search Group, an executive search firm.  He leads searches for senior executives within the federal government and professional services communities.  Dave has a BS in psychology from Duke University and has done extensive postgraduate work in industrial psychology.  Dave is a frequent writer and speaker on executive search, executive recruiting and manpower utilization.  He is a regular contributor to the Washington Business Journal, Federal Computer News and other publications.  He is also a guest instructor at the William & Mary Graduate School of Business, founding member of the Potomac Officers Club and has appeared on local and national radio and television.
Article Source: www.businesshighlight.org
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