Job security is a major concern that can impact every facet of life. The fear of losing one’s job can cause a delay in certain goals, such as buying a new home. Companies, meanwhile, are often looking for less expensive ways of doing things, and one cost-cutting measure is downsizing staff.
A company’s priorities may conflict with employee goals. The key to job security is making yourself indispensable to a company. This requires commitment, attention to detail, and creative thinking. Dedication can be rewarded if it is combined with a demonstration of unique value that can not only help you hold a job but can earn you a raise.
Learn a Unique and Useful Skill
Without realizing it, you may have a skill that can be useful for your company. Do you speak Chinese? Have a degree in biology? Did you once live in a city or a country where your company wants to open new markets? It doesn’t pay to be bashful about these accomplishments or experiences. Find ways you can contribute.
Develop Valuable Relationships
Don’t have tunnel vision when you go to the office. Look around and notice things about fellow employees. Strike up a conversation when there are some free moments. Even small talk can build up a relationship over time. Developing a rapport may be gradual, but if bonds are there, it can be harder to cut them if the company wants to tighten its budget.
Make Your Supervisor’s Job Easier
Put yourself in your supervisor’s place. Why leave a mess for them to clean up afterward? Few employees do this consciously, but working at the last minute to write a report that may not be formatted correctly and supposing that the supervisor will fix the problem is likely to be remembered. Being conscientious and trying to reduce work for your supervisor will be noticed and appreciated.
Be Available
We all have lives after office hours, whether it is that novel we have been working on for years or time with our families. Although your job may be 9 to 5, many managers expect employees to stay until a job is done. Even if he or she says “You can go,” treat that as a subtle test to see how committed you are. If something needs to be fixed, be on hand whenever you can. Assume that any extra work you do will be remembered.
Know How the Business is Structured
It is all too common for employees to show up, do their job, and go home. They may be reluctant to ask questions about how the business is structured either because they think they should know already don’t want to seem uninformed or they feel the questions are none of their business. However, too few questions about the business to some managers may seem like indifference. Show you are interested in the company by finding out its history, structure, and goals.
Think About Why You Are Dispensible Now and Change It
This task may be hard, but putting yourself in a manager’s position, as yourself what would make your manager prefer you to another employee if there was a need to let one of you go. Think about the things you do few can match. Similarly, also consider what parts of your job or style can be duplicated. Try to make those aspects of your role that are dispensible more unique, if possible. Find a new way of doing things that few can replicate.
Refine Your Personal Touch
Companies increasingly want to hire creative people who will not only do their jobs but will add a personal touch. They can justify letting go employees who work in a cookie-cutter fashion, but those with something unique to offer and who connect with their fellow employees as members of a team are employees to keep.
People typically change jobs several times throughout their lives. Gone are the days when someone could work at a firm right after graduation and retire with a gold watch after forty years. The upside of moving jobs is that it allows employees to gain new skills that can add value and help them hone their skills. Bringing this unique skill set to a company can help increase your value and may make you irreplaceable.
