Amid company merger, put your best foot forward

With more than $4 trillion in global merger and acquisition activity last year, there are a lot of workers at companies being acquired asking themselves:

“The first thing is not to panic,” said Alisa Collins, president of Compass Business Solutions, a Pittsburgh-area human resources consultant.

“Trust me, that is not the typical response,” said Gillian Florentine of EchoHR Consulting, another Pittsburgh-area firm.

[...] just like the company acquiring their employer, they should perform due diligence on the new owner.

What you want to learn is the acquiring company’s culture, what made them interested in your employer, and what skills they value.

[...] many acquisitions will try to saving money by eliminating redundant positions in accounting, information technology, legal, human resources and other corporate functions.

Networking and having an up-to-date resume that reflects their skills is something employees should have regardless of whether their company has been sold, Collins said.

Ask your contacts whether they know of anyone who needs your skills and always send them a text, e-mail or written note thanking them for their help, she said.