HOW TO RECESSION PROOF YOUR JOB

We not only want to assist our applicants in finding a job but also give them some ideas of how to hold on to it, once they have it!

Behave Like a Business Owner and not like an Employee!

In this economy times are tough and finances are tight. Look at your job as a business owner rather than an employee. See where you can save costs for the Company and present your ideas to your Manager. It could be something as small as stationery or as large as a new idea on how to bring on a new line of clients.

Make your Contributions Measurable

The quickest way to endear yourself to Management is to add positively to the bottom line! This can be done by streamlining processes, adding value to customers and to the Company and being a “contributor” rather than a “taker”. If you are adding positively make sure that your Manager is aware of your contributions – this can be done without appearing boastful. When times are tough, we tend to go into “survival” mode – change that mindset and ask yourself – “what value did I add today and how I can I improve on that tomorrow?”

Make yourself Invaluable

The quickest way to evaluate yourself and your contribution is to ask yourself if you had to start your own Company who would you employ? Look at yourself critically and assess whether you are someone that you would want to approach with a job? Also, if you had your own Company how would you behave and would you be working longer hours, trying to save money, coming up with new ideas – if so, do it now, don’t wait until it is too late and the Company has to make cut backs.

Have a Positive Attitude

In South Africa currently the general feeling is one of negativity and people with a positive attitude really stand out from the crowd. Wake up every morning and start your day with an attitude of gratefulness that you have a job and try and “contaminate” your co-workers with your great attitude. It is so much more difficult to get rid of someone that is a great motivator than someone that is always moaning and complaining. Try and stay away from the water cooler gossiper who only spreads negative gossip – rather use that time to do something positive for the Company or a co-worker.

Put 150% into your Job

Don’t be the person that picks up their bag and rushes out of the office at exactly 5pm! Try and arrive early for work and always leave after the majority of your co-workers have done so. Senior management are always aware of who the staff are that are putting in extra time and effort. The key is to be actually adding value and not just staying later to “appear” busy. Many clock-in systems today record staff’s working hours and these are often looked at when management is looking at paying bonuses or incentives.

Make Yourself Irreplaceable

The key to being irreplaceable is making sure that you are the “go to” person in the office. Ensure that you are able to do more than just your job. If someone is asked to learn or take on a new task – make sure that you are the first in line. The more tasks you are able to do the more difficult it is to let you go. Make sure though, that whatever you are doing, you are doing it well! There is no point if someone else constantly has to correct your work or redo tasks to get them up to standard. By taking on new tasks, it demonstrates that you are able to learn new skills and if the Company is going to restructure, you will be viewed as someone that is more likely to adapt to the new environment, than someone that just continues along the same path with no real deviation from what they have been doing previously!

Remain Relevant

This is particularly important if you have been with your Company for a long time. Make sure that you are keeping abreast of what is happening in your industry and do courses to stay topical. There are a number of free courses that you could do in your own time and even if you need to pay to do a course yourself, make sure you do it. Investing in yourself with training is never wasted and will not only make you feel better about yourself but also add to your skill set, both at your current Company and if you should move on!

Be a Low Maintenance Employee with High Value

Perception is everything in the work place. Make sure that you are a “low maintenance Employee” who is not someone that management tries to avoid engaging with because you are negative and constantly moaning. Cultivate a situation where the majority of interaction with management comes when you are being praised for your work and making contributions to the Company. Management is under enormous pressure at present and they want to work with people who are problem solvers and not staff who drain them further with petty issues of negativity!

Align Yourself with the Company’s Goals

Familiarise yourself with what the Company is trying to achieve. Even if you are not part of the management team, make sure you are aware of where the Company is going and always focus on being the best team member you can be! Nobody wants to keep a staff member in a tight economy who isn’t really interested and is constantly talking about working in a different industry or wanting to move to a different role. Be grateful for what you have and always make the most of it.

Don’t “Abuse” the Company

Don’t use Company resources for your own personal use. Everybody occasionally needs to make a personal call or send a mail but do so sparingly. The Company is paying you a salary to do a job, not to be utilizing their time and resources to run your life. Stay off Facebook and social media during office hours – you don’t want your boss to see that that you are spending your working hours on social media, especially if the Company is battling financially. Focus and add value!