Family Finances |
|
Your Money > Family Finances Articles > How to keep...
|
|
by Sarah Modlock A few years ago I worked in a company which was full of rumours. The staff suspected - but did not know for sure - that it would be taken over. At first it was just theory, the odd memo being spotted on someone's desk or part of a conversation overheard in a lift. Then all the plants disappeared. It took us a while to work out what looked different about the office before we realised. Next the water coolers went. By this time there was little doubt that the company was in play and we were worried for our jobs. What was interesting is how differently people reacted to the situation. A few people felt defeated and down. Others spent as many hours of the working day as they could get away with in the wine bar next to the office. But some worked harder, came in a little earlier and stayed a little later. In the months that passed, it was interesting to see how the new management responded to the different outlooks. Of course no two companies are the same but if you are worried that your employer might be downsizing, cost-cutting, merging or selling then the following tips may help you stand out from the crowd for all the right reasons. 1. Stay positive However confused, worried or pessimistic you feel, wandering around the office with a little rain cloud of doom over your head will not help you feel better. And it won't encourage your bosses to keep you around if they're looking at job cuts. The same is true if you're moaning and complaining or spreading rumours and unsettling colleagues. Negative behaviour can seriously hurt your chances of keeping your job. No one expects staff to bouncing around like rays of sunshine when things are tough but keeping gloomy thoughts to yourself will help you case. Your bosses will be looking for a 'can do' attitude when the chips are down. 2. Work harder It's hard to put in more effort when you have no idea whether it will make a difference. But what have you got to lose. For starters, make sure you get in on time and don't start disappearing for hours on end at lunchtime. Show that you respect your job and your company by putting in a decent day's work. Better still, work harder and if you can bear it, longer, even if it's an extra 15 minutes at each end of the day. A workforce study carried out by global professional services firm Towers Perrin showed almost four out of five staff were not performing at their optimal level, with two out of five already effectively 'checked out' as they called it and simply waiting to be handed their P45. Maintain a professional approach and appearance and bosses will see that you're still engaged. It's much easier to lay off someone who behaves as if they are waiting for it to happen. 3. Be visible Assuming you have taken steps one and two, above, on board then you should make sure you and your efforts remain visible. If your colleagues prefer to keep a low profile in the hope that people forget to put them on a list of redundancies then let them. You need to make sure your commitment is noticed. Keep networking internally - it's much easier to make someone redundant if you don't know them. Make sure people understand what you do and how you add value. 4. Pitch in This is not just about being willing to help out now and again, it could be that a series of redundancies is happening and you're also expected to pick up some of the work of those who have gone. If you can demonstrate that you're a team player who is happy to stretch themselves, learn quickly, be flexible and get involved then you're someone most bosses will want to keep around. So be prepared to volunteer for or take on more work or more responsibility, providing you can cope with it. This is not the time to say 'sorry it's not in my job description' or ask for more pay. 5. Think of ways to help the company If you have bright ideas about how your employer could make more money then speak up. Now is the time to be brave. It may not be your job to think commercially or generate revenue but if you have some thoughts then share them. Your bosses will be impressed, even if it is too late to make the necessary changes. They will remember that you were positive and showed initiative. 6. Do your own PR Now is not the time to be a shrinking violet. If you are making valuable contributions then make sure they are getting noticed by the right people. There's no need to take the boss out to lunch but giving him or her an update on good news and success stories they might not otherwise hear about is well worthwhile. The opportunity may present itself - such as sharing the same lift. But you may also get 'face time' if you walk your reports to colleagues or send helpful emails, where relevant. 7. Get your skills up to date If there is a course that you can take in your own time without spending too much cash then consider freshening or enhancing your skills so you have more to offer. This is a positive step which will also be helpful if you end up moving jobs. It also pays to keep up to date with industry events and trade news. 8. Get your CV up to date Even if you are not actively looking for a new job, it pays to keep your CV updated. Make sure you add any new responsibilities, changes in job title and professional associations. This will ensure that you know exactly how to sell yourself internally but if you do lose your job, you'll be ready to go for interviews immediately. Aim to update your CV at home so that no one sees you working on it in the office. |
| ||||||||||||||