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Recession & Your Job
- Make Yourself Marketable
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- Common Résumé Mistakes
- Are You Working to Get Fired?
Recession & You
Recession & Your Life
Are you working to get fired?
Did you know?
- In a struggling economy, companies suffer too!
- Don't be a drain on your own workplace by avoiding the practices below. Put your best foot forward and management will notice.
- Learning good work habits will better prepare you in case you find yourself job-hunting, willingly or otherwise.
Are You Working to Get Fired?
Operating costs are on the rise but companies are working to maintain profitability.
By far, the highest expense for any organization stems from payroll costs and employee salaries.
A situation may arise where management are reviewing their teams and determining who can be let go — ensure that your contributions to the company are not ignored.
Are you:
Wasting company money?
Just as you are being more mindful of your gasoline consumption and personal costs, businesses are also struggling. Avoid wasting paper and ink by printing less and use both sides of paper when taking notes. If you use company stamps or postage machines to send out your bills and personal mailing, that habit should be nipped in the bud immediately. Drinking coffee or tea from paper cups? Bring your own mug.
Take initiative: look for inefficiencies in your particular department and keep your eyes open. Think of ways to generate additional revenue or cut costs and present those ideas to coworkers and managers.
Avoiding your superiors?
It may make sense to simply work harder as your company cuts costs. Working harder does not necessarily make you stand out to your managers. Put yourself in a good position with your superiors. Engage your boss in conversation, discussing issues about the health of the company or industry.
It may be as simple as asking your boss, "I know our budget is tighter than normal nowadays. How can I do my part? Is there anything I can do?"
Stealing from the company?
- Do you find yourself surfing the Web for more than thirty minutes each day for information that is not relevant to work?
- Are you taking personal phone calls for more than twenty minutes a day during work hours?
- Do you take office supplies for use at home (this includes drinks and snacks)?
- Are you printing or copying personal documents at the office?
The scenarios listed above illustrate different ways that employees steal from their employers. During a period of business slowdown, it is not in your best interest to repeatedly use office materials for your interests.
Behaving inappropriately?
Are you an office gossip? Have you purposely placed blame on a coworker to avoid the consequences of your actions (i.e. throwing someone under the bus)? Work towards being a good team player and steer clear of any wrongdoing. What goes around comes around.
Turning down all company sponsored events?
Though you see your coworkers at least eight hours a day, it is not in your best interest to reply "Not attending" to each and every company event. Company picnics, field days, and holiday parties are opportunities to mingle with everyone regardless of job title or position. Take advantage of social opportunities at least once a year.
Being a jerk?
It can be very hard to rid yourself of a negative reputation, but every effort is important. Have a good attitude at work, even when times are tough. Acting amicably helps boost morale and an overall feeling of teamwork — your manager will notice your attitude, too.
You may be laid off simply as a cost-cutting measure, without any regard to your skills or dedication to your work. Protect yourself and your career's health by actively making sure that you can bounce back. Are you:
Letting your skills become obsolete?
As has technology advanced, new laws passed, regulations and standards changed, the facts you knew five years ago may be outmoded. Staying up-to-date is of relative importance depending on your industry. The skill set of history teachers probably does not change as rapidly as Web professionals.
Consider joining a professional association to stay on top of current events in your field or enrolling in an online course or certificate program as a refresher.
Neglecting your résumé?
Whether the markets are up or down, it is best to keep your résumé or your curriculum vitae (CV) current at all times. Have you reviewed it since your last interview? Read it over. Be sure to add notations about your recent accomplishments, initiatives and projects you have managed or contributed to and professional recognition you have received. Remember to check your spelling!
Ignoring your network?
Networking is a helpful way to meet others in your professional field. It gives you the opportunity of meeting your peers in a comfortable, relaxed environment. Your network can also include groups that are not related to your work, but clubs and alumni associations. You can never predict with whom you might shake hands.
Digital social networks can work to your benefit as well. You might find an old friend — who knows someone who knows a guy — that can help find new opportunities.
Caught off guard by changes in industry standards?
Stay abreast of mergers and acquisitions, regulatory changes, and other important news by reading trusted, relevant Web sites and print publications. Newspapers like the Chicago Tribune and the Wall Street Journal can send automatic e-mail alerts to subscribers so that you will always have up-to-date information.
Sign up for a feed reader account and subscribe to RSS (real simple syndication) feeds to receive news and articles in real time. Google.com has a resource called Google Alerts that allows you to receive automatic, immediate e-mails whenever information is uploaded to the World Wide Web.
Waiting for bad news?
Be mindful of your work environment. If feelings of tension and stress are always imminent and you suspect that things may not improve, it may be best to start hitting the pavement and looking for work. Look for cues from executives and management to help read between the lines. Most importantly, trust your instincts!
Helen MacDermott, Victoria Patrick, and Elizabeth Demeo contributed to this article. Helen MacDermott is the Content Director at EducationDynamics and Victoria Patrick is the Web Content Producer. Elizabeth Demeo is earning an MFA in Creative Writing. She is a contributing writer at eLearners.com and GradSchools.com.
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