If your company has been bought, then you may be saying, “Now what?” For employees, there’s a lot of uncertainty in the world of mergers and acquisitions.
Let’s face it, being gobbled up by a bigger fish should make you nervous, especially since these negotiations usually happen behind closed doors. Recently, I asked my LinkedIn connections, “What’s the first thing you do when you find out your company has been acquired in a merger?”
Their survey answers may give you some good ideas about what to do if your company has been bought. Let’s go through their responses and I’ll share some thoughts.
Research the Buyer: 49%
Jump on Google and find out what you can learn about your new owner. News stories may give you greater insights than you may get from your colleagues.
You may also notice patterns if the owner has a habit of layoffs and downsizing. On the other hand, the new parent company may like to grow companies it acquires.
Just looking at the company’s website may provide some good information. You can also find out more about their leadership.
Update My Resume: 27%
This option is probably something everyone should do in today’s world. Think of an updated resume as sleep insurance. You don’t want to have sleepless nights, waiting for your new owners to decide what to do with your company.
When you update your resume, you’re able to take a proactive step, giving you a sense of control about your future. Maybe you’ll never need to use the new resume but it’s good to have one before you desperately need it.
Stay Calm and Wait: 13%
Since the merger is likely to be out of your control, does it make sense to worry about it? If you weren’t in discussions during the sale, you’re likely in the dark about the future.
While there’s a chance things could turn out poorly, you don’t know that for sure. And it’s possible the new ownership may not value the business much but may be ready to embrace its employees.
Good times could be ahead. For instance, a larger company have better and less expensive benefits.
It’s tough that you don’t know what’s ahead but you may want to choose not to worry excessively. Whether it’s bad news or good news, it will find you. And whatever happens, your life will go on.
Talk to My Supervisor: 11%
There’s a chance your supervisor may have some insider information about the merger. They may say, “Relax,” or “Can you help me put together these moving boxes?”
Keep in mind that any information you receive may be confidential, so you may not want to share it with anyone else in the business.
Checking in with your supervisor can also open the door to other opportunities. Your supervisor may be moving to a new company and might want to bring along someone they already know and trust. Or their departure could give you the chance for advancement.
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