In the current economic climate, simply having a job is something to be grateful for. The latest unemployment figures show that about 14 million Americans are out of work and looking for a new job.
For those who have a job, holding onto it is getting tougher than ever. Everywhere you look, companies are downsizing, laying off workers and looking for ways to cut costs. Employees are being asked to do the work of two or even three people and raises and bonuses are often a thing of the past.
If you are worried about your job security, you have good reason. There are some things that you can do to make yourself more valuable and decrease the likelihood of being seen as expendable.
Here are 10 ways to keep your job in this down economy:
- Volunteer for work - Be the first person in your office to take on additional work or larger projects. This helps in two ways. First, you will be seen as a team player and as someone who is always willing to chip in to make the company successful. Second, and most importantly, these sorts of projects can lead to real accomplishments that will look great at your next performance review and even on your resume if you end up having to find other work.
- Become a resource - Further your education or attend specialized training in your field. By making yourself stand out from the others in your position, you can become someone that others use as a resource, rather than getting lost in the crowd. If your company has many people working in the same position, you will be the one they would least like to have to do without.
- Don't burn bridges - ever - I know that sometimes your co-workers or even your boss can be really, really annoying. There are times when I have worked at jobs where I constantly had to work on not snapping and saying things I knew I'd regret later. In this type of environment, you just can't afford to have enemies. Instead, be sure to not gossip or behave badly toward anyone. Treat everyone from clients to co-workers with respect. Your professional reputation will help you be viewed as an employee they have to keep.
- Don't play the blame game - When you make a mistake, be accountable for it. Even if you honestly feel that it wasn't all your fault, take the responsibility and look for ways to improve and solve the problem.
- Always network - It's so easy to get bogged down with work and not take the time to get to know others at your company. While this might make you a little more productive, it also makes you invisible. Instead, get to know your co-workers and develop good working relationships with them. Make sure that your boss, and even your boss's boss, knows your name. You should network with the heads of other departments and even with employees of your competitors. You never know when those connections could come in handy.
- Be the first - If your company comes up with a new procedure, a new slogan or a new technology, be the first in your office to adopt it. Whenever a company introduces a new change, there are always people who resist it with everything they have. Don't be that person. Instead, be sure that you are seen as someone who is flexible and willing to change based on the needs of the company.
- Pay attention to the writing on the wall - If you hear about the company's declining sales or talk about a merger, don't just ignore it. Make a note of it and prepare yourself for whatever may come. In addition, it's a good idea to not ignore the signs that your boss is unhappy with your performance. Look for ways to improve.
- Join professional organizations - Almost any industry of field has a professional association. You should try to join at least one of them and become an active member. It will give you motivation along with great networking opportunities.
- Keep in touch - If your company starts (or has already started) doing layoffs, keep in touch with your former co-workers. Go out of your way to meet up with them every once in awhile and always show them support. If you end up getting laid off, these people will be invaluable resources in your job search.
- Keep your resume up to date - Don't wait until the worst happens before you start updating your resume. When you work on it while you still have a job, you can look for areas where you don't have many real accomplishment and start working to earn some.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for ManufacturingWorkersBlog. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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