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By Ramon Greenwood
There is no such thing as guaranteed job security in today’s tumultuous, paradoxical world of work.
Companies are laying off people as a result of a declining market for their products. Some employers are using the down economy as an excuse to cull their work force and turn to technologies to get jobs done in spite of the fact that their business is still relatively strong. Many of these jobs will never return. Other employees are outsourcing responsibilities to workers abroad or to contract employees here.
Meanwhile, paradoxically, more workers are quitting their jobs or planning to jump ship just as soon as the market improves. At the same time, an increasing number of persons eligible for retirement are postponing the day when they hang up their spurs. In other cases, where family incomes have been hit by layoffs of breadwinners, the number of persons seeking to re-enter the workforce is on the rise.
This means massive reshuffling of talent. There is a downturn in employee morale. “Employees feel disengaged with their jobs, which is going to lead to a lot of churn as we come out of the recession,” declares Brett Good, an executive with Robert Half, International, an executive recruiting firm. In this environment, there are forces beyond your control that can disrupt your career path and put your job at risk. But there are at least 13 steps you can take to help secure your employment and advance you toward your career goals.
1. Come to work early and stay late. This schedule demonstrates, like nothing else, that you are making the extra effort. The extra time enables you to plan your day and review your performance at the end of the day. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity to get to know the boss and his challenges.
2. Take on extra assignments with a can-do attitude. Volunteer to help others with their work.
3. Recognize that resources, once readily available, are probably now harder to come by. Find ways to do more with less. Be a solution, not a problem.
4. When you come to work leave your personal problems behind. Nobody really wants to hear about your troubles. Dwelling on them diverts your attention and saps the energy you could apply to reaching your career goals.
5. Meet deadlines. Stay on budget. Promise what you will deliver, and deliver what you promise. If you can’t deliver, say so up front and explain why. Be prepared to offer alternatives.
6. Accentuate the positive; don’t complain about your workload. Accentuate the positive.
7. Don’t criticize your boss, your employer or your associates. Recognize and respect that they are under greater pressure on the job just as you are.
8. Pay close attention to the state of your employer’s business. Know where you and your job fit in. Don’t pass along rumors.
9. Maintain and expand your network of contacts on and off the job. Keep your resume up-to-date…you never know when things can go wrong with your job.
10. Learn new skills that will improve your performance and prepare you for a promotion.
11. Maintain your sense of humor; but don’t horse around with practical jokes. Work with a positive attitude.
12. Don’t resist change. Be flexible. Manage new conditions and requirements to your advantage.
13. Be sure your boss knows of your contribution and accomplishments. If your employer doesn’t provide regular performance reviews, ask your boss to discuss your performance and your career goals.
These 13 steps can help assure career success in good times and bad.
Author Resource: For more career advice click Common Sense At Work to participate in Ramon Greenwood’s widely read” http://www.commonsenseatwork.com blog. He coaches from a successful career as Senior VP at American Express, author of career-related books, successful entrepreneur, and a senior executive/consultant in Fortune 500 companies.
Now that you know how to secure your job in uncertain times, are there other steps to add?
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