Recession, Depression, the United States financial system is in shambles and now the global markets are right behind it.
The sky is falling. Well, I would not go that far, as I see the sky overhead every morning when I wake up after another round of bad economic news.
Unless you are ultra-wealthy, you are feeling real pain from the markets. The last thing anyone wants to experience is job loss. Losing a job in these crazy times can make the pain unbearable. Unemployment is at a 5 year high at 6.1%. My advice to anyone who does not want to lose their job is the following:
1. Ask, look and take on more responsibility
2. If you take on more, make sure you are doing the job effectively.
3. Work harder and longer.
4. Make sure your workload and effort standout.
5. Avoid being negative about your current employer to others employees. As you can see, I did not say be positive (which does help if it is genuine). Just avoid being negative. That brings others down and it is extremely contagious. It is better to be silent than to complain negatively to employees who are already experiencing your feelings.
6. Keep in mind; taking on more work does not entitle you for an automatic pay increase. In tough times companies aren’t always able to give you the raise you’re hoping for. But know, chances are, your efforts will not be forgotten when the market turns and you’re due for a review.
7. Never stop learning. Sharpening your skills helps make you more marketable internally and externally.
8. Expand your network. The relationships you build by networking can become walking talking advertisements for you and your business. So what downside is there in that?
Wearing multiple hats is critical to organization effectiveness and efficiencies. These 8 points of recommendations are not the magic potion, but it could pay off for you short term (keeping your job) and long term (promotions, new skills development).
**If you’re a manager, you better embrace this staff now and recognize them as often as possible because when the market opens up again (and it will) their opportunities for advancement with your current employer will increase and new external opportunities will present themselves.
Hang in there and take on more (someone does appreciate it). Good Luck!
Related Posts
- An IT Career in THIS Economy? It Can Be Done.
- Be Needed to Control Your IT Career Destiny
- IT Workers in Healthcare Catching the Cold Economy
- It’s Time for Radical Patience
- IT Career Spotlight – Jim Tomczyk
Hudson IT
Subscribe to the RSS Feed
Tim-
Thanks for sharing, your points were clear and stuck with me. I could not agree more (especially on how contagious being negative can be). I am a reader of IT HIRE WIRE with a background of b2b sales, so staying focused and positive is key for me in my role. Your post gave me a daily reminder to not take my job for granted, thus making your points/advice even easier to follow on how to stay afloat.
I see the glass as HALF FULL in these tough economic times, it’s what I make of it.
Mirim Dunn
Comment by Miriam Dunn — October 23, 2008 @ 11:39 am