Keeping Your Job in a Bad Economy

My very first suggestion, for anyone seriously worried about job loss, is to check your attitude. By that I mean, are you a complainer, the office gossip, a feisty person who is difficult to get along with, or a backbiter? If so, you might want to remember that you work with people, people who can fire you because you don't get along well with your co-workers.

If your boss has to choose between firing two equally competent workers, one of them a negative person always causing trouble, and the other a person who gets along with everyone and speaks positively about the company, management, and his or her co-workers, which of the two do you think the boss is going to fire? The negative one that's who! 

So, get a grip on your attitude, your gossiping, complaining, and any negative talk about other people you work with or the company you work for, because it can seriously hurt your chances of holding onto your job.

Get yourself noticed, but in a good way. You want management to see that you work hard, do the job they hired you to do, and then some.

What you don't want is to get noticed for coming in late, taking extra long lunches or breaks, or for dressing in any way that is not appropriate for the job you do.

So cleanliness counts, both your clothes and you, and especially watch out for bad breath. No one likes to be around someone with bad breath. 

Ladies should avoid excessive or too blatant makeup, and everyone should wear their hair in ways that fit with their companies policies and image. This is not the time to dye your hair green or stick thirteen studs through your body. Keep those things for after work.

Take care of the basics-arrive on time or a bit early every day, don't take lunches or breaks that are longer than the time you are allotted, and stay off the phone for personal calls. This includes using your own cell phone while at work. People notice these things, and you could get reported to the boss. Just the thing you don't want.

Add to your skills and your value to the company you work for whenever you can. Take courses in whatever is being offered that will make you more valuable at work. This depends on the kind of work you do of course, so whatever that is, you know the things that would help make you an employee that management can't do without.

Bring in business for your company even if that isn't your job, and make sure people know about it.

Look for areas in your company that need improvement and offer suggestions to fix them. Even if management doesn't use your ideas they will remember that you had them.

Network with all the valuable people in your company whenever possible. You don't need to become their best friend but hang around with them every chance you get. Some of their glory may rub off on you. Plus, you can learn from them. Maybe watching how the company "stars" operate can teach you how to do some shining of your own.

Take good care of yourself when you're not at work, get enough sleep, exercise, eat properly, and have some fun and relaxation on your days off. 

Be prepared in case you do get laid off, it can happen to anyone. You'll have a bit more peace of mind if you are prepared for any eventuality, including losing the job you are working so hard to hold on to.

Keep your resume updated, and be aware of what is happening in your field. Don't, however, actually job hunt while you are at work in your current job. That could lead to getting you fired if your boss hears about it.

Start a savings program immediately. Try to save several months income if you can, because it could take months to get another job and you'll feel a lot easier in your mind with a bit of a cushion behind you.

This might be a good time to take on a part-time or weekend job, doing anything you can find that interests you. If you do lose your main job, at least you'd still have the income from your part-time job. Having a side hustle or secondary income just makes sense during times like this.