When the economy isn’t faring so well, the ways to
improve job security take on a certain significance. Gone are the days where
jobs for life were commonplace across a whole slew of sectors and industries;
indeed, even public service and federal employees no longer enjoy a sense of
security. Although there’s never going to be a guarantee, there are some ways
to improve job security you can employ, especially if you like your job.
1. HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
It’s a tough economic market, and to set yourself above
your co-workers you need to show that you are dedicated to and happy with your
work. If you are negative, that attitude will spread around the office and
you’ll find yourself on the targeting list by the manager. If you really want
to stay in your job, you have to develop the right attitude to make a positive
influence on the workplace. If you are looking for ways to improve job
security, you simply need to show that you love what you are doing.
2. KEEP TRACK OF WHAT YOU HAVE ACHIEVED
Nobody wants to lose their star performer, so make sure
that you remind your boss of the value you have brought to the company. Have
you sold the most in the last quarter? Are you consistently rated the highest
by clients? Do you have the biggest address book for potential clients? Remind
your boss of these things subtly, and you will find that he doesn’t want to
lose you as an employee. Few other ways to keep your job secure are better than
reinforcing how great you are for the company.
3. TAKE THE INITIATIVE
Make yourself useful! Among the ways to keep your job
secure always touted by experts is that you need to make a good impression on
your employers. Taking the initiative is a great way to do this, as you will
demonstrate that you are looking to better the company. Can you find ways to
cut the office costs? If you can, give them to your boss without trying to be
in their face about how great you are; you have to let your boss come to that
realisation of their own accord! By taking on more responsibilities without
being asked to, and completing tasks that you assume might be needed in the
future, you’ll show what a valuable asset to the office you are.
4. BECOME THE HEART OF THE COMPANY
Whenever there is an opportunity for a long-term
project, make sure that you put yourself forward. Nobody wants to terminate an
employee who is dealing with the big project, or who will have the best
contacts with clients. This is a really good way to make sure that you are
always needed by the company, and thus your job is secure for as long as
possible.
5. NETWORK
Being successful in business is all about contacts and
networking. You want to make sure that you have an address book filled with
clients, and that you can work with companies who are beneficial to the office.
The better you network, the better your reputation will become: if you are
well-known in the business, your boss won’t want to let you go and you’ll find
yourself with a much more secure job. You might want to use LinkedIn to your advantage,
so that you can correspond with others who are in the same business and might
help you to improve your professional reputation. It never hurts to make
friends in business.
6. LEARN NEW THINGS
You need to stay at the top of your industry if you want
to remain in your job for the foreseeable future. Another of the best ways to
improve job security is to stay informed. Don’t get lazy and think that you
know it all – in many sectors, new developments are happening all the time and
you simply cannot afford to be left behind. Read journals and take courses that
will help you to be better at your job – who is your boss more likely to let
go, the girl with the best IT skills in the company, or the guy who
accidentally deletes his emails every few days?
7. PREPARE YOURSELF
While you may never find that the ways to improve job
security here work for you, you can always make sure that you are prepared for
the worst. Keep your resume up-to-date, and make sure that you are on the
lookout for jobs that might come up. If you are keeping up-to-date with your
correspondents and making new connections, you will find that even if the worst
occurs, you will have somewhere else to go and will be able to sell yourself
better.
These ways to improve job security are applicable to
all career levels and ages. The market is so tough that any ways to stave off
unemployment should be used. How are you faring in the job market? Are you
settled, or maybe you’re struggling to find your path?
