In rough economic times, keeping your job should be one of your top priorities. Unemployment is rising and there is increasing competition for what few open positions remain – the last thing you want is to be a part of that group of job seekers.
If your employment is at risk (and even if it’s not), here are some ideas that might help you keep your job (and maybe even improve your job status).
Be the Best
It goes without saying that the best-qualified people are more likely to keep their jobs. They’re not immune from the risks of the down market, but their value to the company will put them in the later group of “at-risk” employees.
But not only do you have to be the best, your employer needs to know that you’re the best. Self-marketing of your abilities and skills is a delicate art but the people in charge of hire-or-fire decisions may not know you if they’ve never met you. It’s the best way to keep your job and maybe even get a promotion while you’re at it.
Make Yourself More Valuable
Even if you are “The Best”, there will always be people aiming to take that title away from you. Everyone who wants to succeed in any job market should always be concerned with self-improvement. Take a few classes, get a certification, or even get a degree. Your employer might even pay for your education so you’ll make yourself more valuable to them for little-to-no money out of your own pocket.
Stay Under the Radar
If things aren’t going well, the last thing you want to do is be noticed under any bad light. Of course, you should keep doing your job as you’re supposed to, but definitely don’t stick your neck out unless it’s protected. Make sure your successes are known and your failures are not too heavily noticed.
Offer To Take a Pay Cut
If you know your employer is hurting for cash, you can make a huge impact on your boss by offering to take a temporary pay cut. Having a job that pays a little less is far better than having no job. And if your boss accepts your offer, you will have ingratiated yourself to the company. It’s a risky move, but if you’re desperate enough to have to offer, it’s probably worth it.
Always Be Searching
You never want to be caught by surprise by a lay-off, so you should always be searching for new jobs. I’ve been at my current job for over five years, but I stay active on Monster.com and other job hunting sites. You never know when a better opportunity might come your way. Whether or not you feel like you need to make a switch, the connections you make through searching for a job can help when the day comes where you actually need one.
Hang Your Own Shingle
The best defense to the risk of job loss is to create your own work. Freelancing is a great way to make a side income, get yourself noticed by potential employers, or even become a career of its own. Starting your own company is easy and is an important tool to protect yourself professionally and legally. Whether you choose to freelance on the side or make it your full-time job, check out FreelanceSwitch for ideas that can help you as a freelancer and even as an employee.
Photo by: pixelpony
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Can’t agree more with your last comment. At the very least a side business that provides you passive income to give you what I like to call the FU fund so that if it ever comes to it, you do not need to take that pay cut. Thanks for the Link. Never realized Intuit had the incorporation product!