With Greece in economic crisis, poor GDP figures in Germany and the rest of Europe still in the midst of an economic slump, the spectre of a double dip recession looms large. And whilst the most recent unemployment figures are down, the change is small and many employees, hopeful at the start of 2010, will once again be evaluating the security of their role.
For those executives who are feeling unsure, careers site TheLadders.co.ukhas put together a checklist highlighting the telltale warning signs that your job is at risk and helps employees to protect their positions in periods of corporate cut-backs.
TheLadders.co.uk checklist for job security:
WARNING SIGN: You're not invited: You are closed out of staff meetings or omitted from mass distribution meeting requests and e-mails.
• Best Defense: BE VISIBLE: An omission can be an honest mistake or a warning sign; address it immediately. Make sure your boss and colleagues know the value you bring to the team.
• What Not To Do: DO NOT HIDE: There is a temptation to lay low until the storm passes; that is a mistake. If you are dispensable at a meeting, you are even more dispensable as a line item on a budget.
WARNING SIGN: Your job description shrinks: Your workload is diminishing; key tasks are being transitioned to other employees.
• Best Defense: STEP UP YOUR GAME: Be flexible. Step into any job and help the company move forward. Attend voluntary meetings and make your presence felt.
• What Not To Do: DO NOT SIT ON THE SIDELINES: If your responsibilities seem to be waning, don’t be idle until you get new ones; this is a time to be proactive.
WARNING SIGN: You can't get anything done: Planned projects are put on hold; your priorities don't match up with the company's goals.
• Best Defense: DO SOMETHING: Check in with your boss; keep the lines of communication open. If your project is put on hold, find a new one. Show that you are willing to adapt and accept new responsibilities.
• What Not To Do: DO NOT WAIT: Your project may never get back on track; digging in and waiting for a brighter day isn't an option.
WARNING SIGN: You have a new boss: Your company brought in a new boss for your department as part of a merger or reorganisation.
• Best Defense: BE SUPPORTIVE: A new boss can be a sign of expansion or contraction, depending upon the premise on which they are retained. The best leaders cannot function effectively without a strong supporting cast. Become vital to your new boss' success and you become essential.
• What Not To Do: DO NOT PLAY POLITICS: Entrenched, long-time employees often fall victim to office politics. Don't be a roadblock to progress. You cannot stage a successful coup in the current environment.
WARNING SIGN: Your company is not doing well financially: Sales projections, earnings and other indicators of financial strength are all in the red.
• Best Defense: BE READY FOR ANYTHING: Despite best efforts, you might not be able to avoid a mass layoff. Be ready to take action: get your resume ready; update your network; stay involved in professional organisations; and take the pulse of the job market in your industry.
• What Not To Do: DO NOT BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND: Read the writing on the wall and heed the counsel of trusted individuals who have more visibility than you do. Sometimes, job hunts can take from three months to a year; be prepared for this eventuality before it is a reality.
Derek Pilcher from executive careers site TheLadders.co.uk says, “Employees need to constantly be on alert in these uncertain times. Be prepared at work to put that little bit extra in and voluntarily take on a little more responsibility so that you are indispensable. Keep networking in your businesses’ industry and don’t be tempted to run away and hide from the current climate – embrace it and you will come out fighting on the other side.”
What do you think makes an employee indispensable to a company?
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