With the national unemployment rate at 10% and with analysts predicting that unemployment will stay high for the next couple of years, it may be worth considering how to keep the job that you have since looking for a new job in this job market is challenging, to say the least.
Here are a few quick tips for holding on to your current position:
Align yourself with the direction of the company. Having worked in outplacement for a number of years, I have found that it is not necessarily the unproductive workers who are most vulnerable to layoffs and downsizings, but rather those who are not in sync with the vision of management for the company. My advice to employees is, Pay attention to what is said in company meetings (and even what is not said.) This kind of information can help you determine where management is trying to take the company.
Show your contribution to the bottom line. Even if you are not in sales, you should still be able to articulate how the work that you do is valuable to the company. As far as possible you should be able to quantify how much money you saved, what time-saving measures you instituted, and how you improved processes. Management tends to cut those positions that do not have a direct relationship to the bottom line.
If possible, find an internal champion who can speak knowledgeably about your contributions. A mentor is the best person to serve in this capacity. If you have a mentor who is well placed in the organization, this person is in an excellent position to speak up for you and let management know that you are too valuable to lose.









