Recession Proof Your Life Part 3

Part 3 of my 5 part series on Recession Proof Your Life contains some guidance on keeping the best job in the world … the one you have!

I will argue against that being true in the long run (see Part 4 of this series), but if you are currently gainfully employed, good for you. Let’s assume for the moment that you want to keep your job.  This is generally a good choice, particularly in troubled economic waters.

There are 6 things you can do to have increase your chances of keeping that job.  The first 5 are listed below.  Item 6 is pretty long and will be included in Part 4 of this series.

1. Add Value. This is a business.Your boss, and his boss and however far up it goes to the top are there because in theory, they are a part of a much bigger system that actually produces a profit for the owners/shareholders.If you can figure out how to pull it off, become indispensable.  Know how to do things (expertise with a particular piece of software, machinery or relationship with a customer).  Show that you can multi-task.  Take on additional responsibilities, especially where there is the opportunity to learn (and become the expert: see previous point made above).
2. Be Visible. If you really are pushing it to be of some credible use around the salt mines where you work (and, as a result, you really are not busy), this is an good time to work hard on looking busy. Also, if you are a cable modem cowboy (telecommute) or largely work remotely for whatever reason, it’s important to be visible, make sure that out of sight doesn’t mean out of mind.Make sure you are regularly create a tangible work product (reports, widgets, software code, websites, etc) or other evidence of your value (if you are in sales, keep selling!).
3. Practice the Art of Being Low Maintenance. Don’t confuse this with being invisible (see above).This is not the time to complain about your office space or the quality of the coffee. Human beings make firing decisions, so don’t have a bad attitude or be the first person they think of when deciding who doesn’t need to be a part of the team anymore.
4. Your Boss is Your New Best Friend. It’s the time to get close to your boss; you want him or her to really like the idea of you being around.Remember that part of your job is to make your boss look good. This is even more important now as your boss may be thinking about how solid his employment future is.
5. Avoid the Top Ten Ways to Get Fired. Everyone loves lists. This is a good one to keep in mind to not get canned.  Please note that these are the things you DON’T want to be doing (they ARE the top ten ways to get fired).

• Keep a copy of your resume in your company computer.
• Have a MySpace page that talks about how hammered you get every weekend or any other sort of weirdness you frequent in your personal life.
• Openly discuss salary needs for the new job with HR people and recruiters while you are at work.  From your cubicle.  Where everyone can hear.  If you do this, you should be fired: you’re too stupid to have a job.
• Send interview thank you letters to a new prospective employer using your current company’s letterhead.
• Start talking about why you should be paid more.
• Be a high-maintenance employee.
• Lie on an employment application. This includes things like education and previous work experience. You might already be in trouble as it always catches up with you, sooner or later. If you’re caught in a lie, see ya!
• Be late for work. A lot.
• Threaten to quit, or else.
• Offend your boss’s spouse, partner, children or talk smack about his or her pet project.

Whereas I have never actually been fired, I can vouch for at least 4 or so of the above as not doing a thing for your career or helping to create productive office relationships!

That’s all for now.  Part 4 is coming soon!