Own Your Job and Career. Keeping your job and staying on track with your career in today’s economy
Unemployment numbers are grim and it looks like we have not reached the bottom of the fall. If you are employed, the best advice today is to stay employed. Pay attention and be aware of how you are perceived by your peers and management. Companies are scrimping to reduce costs and combat the decrease in consumer spending. You cannot change the economy or the corporate budget. What can you do to increase your chances of maintaining your job?
There are no guarantees in the workplace today. Leverage your skills to impact how others perceive you and increase your positive brand. Here are three ways you can improve your image. Maintain your visibility, be positive and agreeable. Let’s look at ways you can implement each of these ideas in your job.
Be visible. Let’s say you are the best worker in the entire company. Though cost cutting and working more efficiently, you have saved a large percent of the budget. If you do not let anyone know what you have accomplished, you will not receive credit for your accomplishment. You can bet someone else will stand up and shine in that limelight. While you don’t want to be a squeaky wheel, you do want to toot your own horn to bring an awareness of your contributions to the team.
Be positive. Do you know someone who makes you groan when they walk into the room? It’s the person with the big black cloud hovering over their head. People like to be around people who make them feel good. Don’t be the black cloud in your office. Even if the dog chewed up your good shoes and the kids spilled on the rug, put on a cheerful attitude before you walk into the office.
photo credit: Sandy Austin
Be agreeable. When the boss asks you to take on a role, say “Sure” and get on with it. Volunteer for projects. Become the go to person for your team. Others will notice and begin asking for you on their team. You will create demand for your services.
With these three steps you can increase your value to your company, manager and your team by being visible and keeping your positive attitude. Stand out by being agreeable and amenable to the changing environment. If you were the manager, which employee would you choose? It is much easier to keep your job today in this declining market instead of landing the next one.
